Read on Twitter
This is one of the most dramatic news for the young dWebsite scene, EVER.
It shows a potential problem with how this whole scene operates. We have a disproportional dependency on gateways.
@siatechhq, @IPFS, @EnsDomain
// THREAD https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329049833689243650
It shows a potential problem with how this whole scene operates. We have a disproportional dependency on gateways.
@siatechhq, @IPFS, @EnsDomain
// THREAD https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329049833689243650
dWebsites are
1. hosted on decentralized storage (Skynet, IPFS, or Swarm)
2. registered on a decentralized name service, ( @EnsBot @unstoppableweb or @HNS)
All this "decentralization" supposed to make dWebsite censorship-resistance.
Did anyone ever block a p2p network?
1. hosted on decentralized storage (Skynet, IPFS, or Swarm)
2. registered on a decentralized name service, ( @EnsBot @unstoppableweb or @HNS)
All this "decentralization" supposed to make dWebsite censorship-resistance.
Did anyone ever block a p2p network?
Old decentralized storages (Bittorrent) required users to install a software.
But it's 2020; no one (besides super geeks) install softwares anymore. People install apps. On their phones,
P2P apps tend to drain the phone's battery, so it's not a solution.
But it's 2020; no one (besides super geeks) install softwares anymore. People install apps. On their phones,
P2P apps tend to drain the phone's battery, so it's not a solution.
Instead, all the modern decentralized storage protocols rely on gateways.
Actually, they may just rely a bit TOO much on gateways.
Actually, they may just rely a bit TOO much on gateways.
Skynet tell users to use "Skynet Webportals". These public portals fetch content from Skynet's network.
You don't HAVE to use a Webportal; in theory, you can configure your own Sia node to be a private portal. But Skynet's documentation hardly mentions that.
You don't HAVE to use a Webportal; in theory, you can configure your own Sia node to be a private portal. But Skynet's documentation hardly mentions that.
In IPFS it's easier to use your own node. Simply launch the IPFS daemon!
But IPFS daemon was obviously not designed to be "common-user friendly". It opens hundreds of connections, kills your resources, and - pre-Corona - killed the wifi networks of more than one cafe I sat in.
But IPFS daemon was obviously not designed to be "common-user friendly". It opens hundreds of connections, kills your resources, and - pre-Corona - killed the wifi networks of more than one cafe I sat in.
One difference between Skynet and IPFS is relevant here.
In IPFS, you can pin content from your own laptop I do that often). Gateways simply relay this data from you to users.
In Skynet, content comes from the Sia blockchain, meaning someone is paying for its storage.
In IPFS, you can pin content from your own laptop I do that often). Gateways simply relay this data from you to users.
In Skynet, content comes from the Sia blockchain, meaning someone is paying for its storage.
At the moment Skynet Webportals mostly pay for it.
I guess it puts more liability on them than on corresponding IPFS gateways.
I guess it puts more liability on them than on corresponding IPFS gateways.
Back to the incident today.
Someone, probably one of the Skynet Webportals, put an interface for Uniswap in Skynet.
I have no idea who did it exactly, but it was there at least since March. https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329057241408921600
Someone, probably one of the Skynet Webportals, put an interface for Uniswap in Skynet.
I have no idea who did it exactly, but it was there at least since March. https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329057241408921600
@uniswapprotocol is possible the most popular Etherem DEX (decentralized exchanges). The code is fully on the Ethereum blockchain, the interface is on decentralized storages.
It's so popular, that @GoAlmonit stopped collecting all the different ways to reach Uniswap.
It's so popular, that @GoAlmonit stopped collecting all the different ways to reach Uniswap.
Self-promotion break: the easiest way to reach Uniswap in Skynet is:
1. install Almonit browser extension https://almonit.eth.link/#/extension/
2. type http://uniswap.dwbst.eth/build/index.html
Voilà!
1. install Almonit browser extension https://almonit.eth.link/#/extension/
2. type http://uniswap.dwbst.eth/build/index.html
Voilà!
Back to the incident:
Namecheap (the registrar of http://siasky.net ) or Verisign (the owner of .net TLD) took http://siasky.net off because it gave access to Uniswap's interface.
It came back online after it blocked Uniswap's interface. https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329060070500470788
Namecheap (the registrar of http://siasky.net ) or Verisign (the owner of .net TLD) took http://siasky.net off because it gave access to Uniswap's interface.
It came back online after it blocked Uniswap's interface. https://twitter.com/DavidVorick/status/1329060070500470788
The reason is probably someone deciding that Uniswap is an unregistered exchange.
I disagree with this interpretation.
I disagree with this interpretation.
Uniswap is not an exchange more than Word is a publication platform.
Uniswap is a software. It has no operators.
Uniswap is used for making OTC trades. Since OTC trades are legal afaik, Uniswap is a completely legitimate tool.
-- not a lawyer, this is not legal advice! --
Uniswap is a software. It has no operators.
Uniswap is used for making OTC trades. Since OTC trades are legal afaik, Uniswap is a completely legitimate tool.
-- not a lawyer, this is not legal advice! --
There's a question of the portal's liability for this kind of content.
If http://siasky.net is the one paying for Uniswap's interface host in Sia, then there may be a liability.
However, if it's just a middleperson for content from Sia, not sure what's the legal status.
If http://siasky.net is the one paying for Uniswap's interface host in Sia, then there may be a liability.
However, if it's just a middleperson for content from Sia, not sure what's the legal status.
Btw, Uniswap is not really down!
It's available in all other Skynet Webportals (use Almonit extension to verify that!).
It's also still available via IPFS, see http://ipfswapper.eth and http://uniswapexchange.eth.
The censorship-resistance nature of the dWebsites withhold!
It's available in all other Skynet Webportals (use Almonit extension to verify that!).
It's also still available via IPFS, see http://ipfswapper.eth and http://uniswapexchange.eth.
The censorship-resistance nature of the dWebsites withhold!
But it did show problems of relying too much on portals, gateways or bootstrap nodes.
Once dWebsites become popular, I expect more and more such incidents.
It's an issue. We don't want to put the whole legal problems of the community on gateway operators.
Once dWebsites become popular, I expect more and more such incidents.
It's an issue. We don't want to put the whole legal problems of the community on gateway operators.
What should be done is two things.
One, to focus more on direct access of users to dWebsites.
Yes, some content is illegal and should probably be blocked, but it's not gonna be Namecheap who's gonna decide this for the rest of the world. right?
One, to focus more on direct access of users to dWebsites.
Yes, some content is illegal and should probably be blocked, but it's not gonna be Namecheap who's gonna decide this for the rest of the world. right?
Second, we need decentralized moderation of content.
The communities of Skynet, IPFS, ENS, and the rest of the dWebsite ecosphere, should make mutual decisions which content they don't want.
Otherwise, we may end up with lots of really immoral porn on our hands.
The communities of Skynet, IPFS, ENS, and the rest of the dWebsite ecosphere, should make mutual decisions which content they don't want.
Otherwise, we may end up with lots of really immoral porn on our hands.
In Alpress, Almonit's latest project, we put lots of resources to design a self-governing platform. Alpress community would make moderation decisions.
Interested? Join our effort! We need lots of help and great minds!
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/F6R8BlQ-tHG3590le0n9EQ
Interested? Join our effort! We need lots of help and great minds!
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/F6R8BlQ-tHG3590le0n9EQ
