EncrypGen is harnessing blockchain technology to return the ownership of genomic data to individuals and to empower you to control who and what gets access to your data no matter who provides your tests.

Blockchain technology is quickly becoming the gold standard ledger and database tool in practically every corner of the global industry. It’s being applied to things like cloud storage, manufacturing, education and more. EncrypGen, however, is the first company to take this technology and use it in genomics.

The company’s lead product is called Gene-Chain and it is intended to mediate the searching, storing, buying and selling of genomic data. For anyone that knows how a blockchain works, the concept will be relatively clear. For those new to this sort of technology, a blockchain is a secure ledger that allows for the recording, time stamping and – critically – encrypting of data of any type.

When data is added to a blockchain, it’s recorded in a block along with other data, which is then encrypted and hashed. The hash means that the data can’t be tampered with or altered once it’s secure on the chain. Nodes on the blockchain constantly verify new blocks and maintain the integrity of the ledger against hacking and tampering.

What EncrypGen has done with Gene-Chain, is take this concept and created a secure database (blockchain) of genetic data. Anybody can store their genetic data on the Gene-Chain securely and, once it’s in the database, can control access to the data they’ve created and stored. They can also be reimbursed for its use through the Gene-Chain’s native cryptocurrency, aptly named DNA.

For example, imagine a woman who has her genetic information stored on Gene-Chain wants to allow a physician to see the data and use it to diagnose a condition or as the basis of a treatment. All she has to do is use the EnrypGen application (which can be accessed on pretty much any internet connected device) to grant the physician access to the data she has stored.

Now imagine the same woman wants to sell her genetic data to a research laboratory that wants to aggregate it with the data of other individuals to inform the design of a new drug. She grants access to the laboratory and the latter pays her for the privilege. And the best part? Her data is anonymised so it cannot be traced back to her!

Never before have people been able to take control of and monetize their own genetic data in this way. In this regard, Gene-Chain really is a first-of-its-kind application of blockchain technology to genomic science.

And the exciting thing is that this technology is real and it’s here now. The company was founded back in December 2016, funded back in July in part by way of a very successful token sale and started co-selling DNA test kits ( with Codigo46) in December 2017. In Jan 2018, the MyGene-Chain customer portal opened for genetic data uploading.

And what’s next?