Akasha

AKASHA (Advanced Knowledge Architecture for Social Human Advocacy)[1] is a decentralized, alternative social media network, built using the Ethereum blockchain and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).[2][3][4] Some of the other technologies used to build the social network are React, Redux Saga, and Node.js.[5]

AKASHA has no servers, and so people can share information without depending upon a centralized entity; because of the network’s usage of IPFS, all communication is done peer-to-peer.[6]

The network was originally built to be like a decentralized WordPress, but the project gradually evolved into something more interconnected and social that could be compared to a decentralized Medium or Reddit.[7]

Contents

Functionality and Features

AKASHA users can search by tag, username, and context text to find and follow content and creators, and users can create boards that represent their different interests.[8]

When a user posts content, an IPFS hash gets broadcasted to their network of followers. The IPFS hash then declares where people can access the content. No files get uploaded into the network until users start accessing the content.[9]

In the AKASHA alpha and beta, users’ Karma score keeps track of their overall contributions to the network. Users also earn Mana on the platform by locking up the native AETH tokens; this Mana is spent when voting on content.[10]

The network uses a quadratic upvote/downvote mechanism similar to Reddit; these votes trigger smart contract microtransactions that earn authors token rewards. Unlike centralized publishing platforms, the more people access something on AKASHA the faster it gets.[11] The AKASHA beta is accessible, using Metamask, at beta.akasha.world.[12]

History

The Akasha Foundation, which created the network, was founded by Ethereum and Bitcoin Magazine Co-founder, Mihai Alisie.[13]

AKASHA was unveiled on May 3 2016, World Press Freedom Day,[14] the name is taken from the Sanskrit word for ether, a permanent repository embedded in the fabric of space-time for all the information that is ever produced in the universe.[15]

The Akasha Foundation stated that it intended build a network that was immune to censorship,[16] as well solving the problem of the impermanence of information online as websites, documents, email archives, and video can be either purposefully deleted by the governments or corporations, or just disappear for lack of maintenance of the central servers where it’s hosted.[17]

The company, AKASHA International GmbH, has its headquarters in “Crypto Valley,” Zug, Switzerland.[18] Ethereum Co-Founder, Vitalik Buterin, is listed as one of the project’s advisors.[19]

Social media

Twitter

Telegram

Facebook

Blog

See Also on BitcoinWiki

Resources

Project website
  1. ↑ } |“Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” |”Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” }} (in en). https://www.ethnews.com/alpha-in-action-an-interview-with-the-akasha-project.
  2. ↑ Hertig, Alyssa (2017-02-15). } |“The Next Wave of Ethereum Applications is Almost Here” |”The Next Wave of Ethereum Applications is Almost Here” }} (in en-US). https://www.coindesk.com/next-wave-blockchain-ethereum-applications-almost.
  3. ↑ Camdir, John. } |“Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” |”Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/censorship-free-social-network-akasha-aims-to-tackle-internet-censorship-with-blockchain-technology-1464810249/.
  4. ↑ Prisco, Giulio. } |“Advancing Toward a Decentralized Internet in the Real World” |”Advancing Toward a Decentralized Internet in the Real World” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/advancing-toward-decentralized-internet-real-world/.
  5. ↑ Prisco, Giulio. } |“Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” |”Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/akasha-project-unveils-decentralized-social-media-network-based-on-ethereum-and-ipfs-1462551273/.
  6. ↑ } |“Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” |”Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” }} (in en). https://www.ethnews.com/alpha-in-action-an-interview-with-the-akasha-project.
  7. ↑ Camdir, John. } |“Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” |”Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/censorship-free-social-network-akasha-aims-to-tackle-internet-censorship-with-blockchain-technology-1464810249/.
  8. ↑ } |“Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” |”Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” }} (in en-US). 2018-09-13. https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/top-5-blockchain-projects-currently-in-alpha/.
  9. ↑ Camdir, John. } |“Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” |”Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/censorship-free-social-network-akasha-aims-to-tackle-internet-censorship-with-blockchain-technology-1464810249/.
  10. ↑ } |“Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” |”Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” }} (in en-US). 2018-09-13. https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/top-5-blockchain-projects-currently-in-alpha/.
  11. ↑ Camdir, John. } |“Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” |”Censorship-Free Social Network AKASHA Aims to Tackle Internet Censorship With Blockchain Technology” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/censorship-free-social-network-akasha-aims-to-tackle-internet-censorship-with-blockchain-technology-1464810249/.
  12. ↑ } |“Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” |”Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” }} (in en-US). 2018-09-13. https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/top-5-blockchain-projects-currently-in-alpha/.
  13. ↑ } |“Mihai Alisie: Signposts for The Crypto Renaissance” |”Mihai Alisie: Signposts for The Crypto Renaissance” }} (in en-US). 2018-12-03. http://anewdomain.net/qa-ethereum-mihai-alisie-facebook-levine/.
  14. ↑ Prisco, Giulio. } |“Advancing Toward a Decentralized Internet in the Real World” |”Advancing Toward a Decentralized Internet in the Real World” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/advancing-toward-decentralized-internet-real-world/.
  15. ↑ Prisco, Giulio. } |“Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” |”Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/akasha-project-unveils-decentralized-social-media-network-based-on-ethereum-and-ipfs-1462551273/.
  16. ↑ } |“Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” |”Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” }} (in en-US). 2018-09-13. https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/top-5-blockchain-projects-currently-in-alpha/.
  17. ↑ Prisco, Giulio. } |“Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” |”Akasha Project Unveils Decentralized Social Media Network Based on Ethereum and IPFS” }} (in en). https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/akasha-project-unveils-decentralized-social-media-network-based-on-ethereum-and-ipfs-1462551273/.
  18. ↑ } |“Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” |”Alpha In Action: An Interview With The AKASHA Project” }} (in en). https://www.ethnews.com/alpha-in-action-an-interview-with-the-akasha-project.
  19. ↑ } |“Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” |”Top 5 Blockchain Projects Currently In Alpha • Live Bitcoin News” }} (in en-US). 2018-09-13. https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/top-5-blockchain-projects-currently-in-alpha/.