When cloud storage went mainstream, people reimagined what they could do with computers. Suddenly the size of one’s hard drive was irrelevant. What good was 500 gigabytes of storage if you could access terabytes beyond terabytes over the internet. People used to store and access large files on CD ROMs. Nowadays they back up the entire contents of their computer online.

The blockchain only stands to bring improvements and innovation to this uniquely mainstream space. Individuals and businesses alike commonly use the cloud to share their files online, but this provocative emergent technology stands to unlock new features and capabilities.

Here are the companies bringing blockchain to computing and storage applications.

0chain is a free, decentralized cloud storage solution tailored to app creators. The zero in 0chain stands for zero-cost, as it is marketed as free-to-use. Despite not charging for the service, the 0chain team believes that their offerings are top-notch. Their products include the 0Box, a storage solution that gives users complete control over their data. Further, 0Box lets users monetize their data by willingly sharing their content. On top of this, the 0chain blockchain has the capacity for what its developers refer to as “infinite scalability”. Regardless of its future potential, the 0chain offers users up to a terabyte of securitized storage right now. Plus, it also comes with a customizable digital wallet for those with crypto assets.

Date Founded: July 2017

Funding Type: ICO

The process of cloud transcoding, or converting computing language from one form to another, is clunky and costly. But Transcodium is making peer-to-peer file sharing and editing easier and less expensive using blockchain technology. Users rent idle machinery from other participants in the network, then use that computing power to get their job done. In the end, those who rent out their computing space are rewarded with TNS tokens that can be redeemed for more liquid currency. The goal of the Transcodium platform is to reduce server outages and crowdsource the hardware for file sharing, transcoding, and distribution.

ICO: March 1, 2018

Funding Type: ICO

BonusCloud provides cloud storage solutions using several different computing types. Based on what users and user-developers require, BonusCloud pairs those seeking extra bandwidth of a specific type with those who can provide it. Their resource-matching framework ensures that, whether a BonusCloud participant is using a decentralized app or developing it, the necessary computing power is alloted and no more. It is a marketplace for users to exchange computing power based on their specific budgets and project types.

Date Founded: April 2018

Funding Type: Private

iExec is a platform for decentralized applications (dApps) built in the cloud. The applications are secure yet easily accessible, and built using the computing power necessary for smooth operation. Short for “I Execute”, the France-based project was initially created to serve dApp creators. But in time it will evolve into a marketplace where users will be able to use market their goods and services. Ultimately, the iExec market will be made up of five classes including dApp providers, server hosts, data providers, mining farms and miners, and emerging application classes. Each class will have the opportunity to monetize their good or service and pay others for what they aren’t able to provide in-house.

Date Founded: 2016

Funding Type: ICO

Golem Factory GmbH, also known as Golem, is a supercomputer made to global scale. It’s open-source, meaning that users can rent their computer processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) for money. The typical user will be able to pay to tap into Golem’s computing and processing power to run several different kinds of program. Whether their goal is to create a decentralized app or simply use a faster, more robust network for their daily computing needs, Golem is tailored to an array of users. The hosts aren’t letting out their equipment for free, either; they are paid in Golem Network Tokens (GNT), which can be exchanged for Ether. Ultimately, the network’s creators want to link the storage and bandwidth-deficient with the computing-rich at a reasonable price point.

ICO: November 13, 2016

Funding Type: ICO

DADI is a peer-to-peer medium of exchange for computing power. DADI established its mission on efficiency and environmental-friendliness. By removing intermediaries and setting up a peer-based network of exchange, DADI aims to lower costs for its users. Furthermore, by taking advantage of excess computing power already in circulation, it aims to reduce the environmental impact that new, large server farms have on the environment. DADI doesn’t discriminate when it comes to devices on its network. Anything from an Xbox to a laptop can be connected to the network, and users may be compensated in DADI tokens for making their spare computing power available.

Date Founded: July 1, 2013

Funding Type: ICO

DFINITY, also known as “the internet computer”, is a public decentralized cloud that doesn’t rely on servers. More specifically, the DFINITY platform is a blockchain-powered computer that functions in a manner similar to Ethereum blockchain. It is marketed as infinitely scalable, and is ideally suited for business applications that would otherwise be vulnerable to hacks of legacy databases. In fact, the selling point for DFINITY is simplicity; in terms of physical storage space, necessary manpower required, and cost. Without the manpower seen in older, non-blockchain networks, DFINITY relies on randomized security algorithms meant to keep hackers guessing and data safe.

Date Founded: March 2015

Funding Type: ICO

Ankr Network is making use out of the spare computing resources in edge devices and data centers. The idea is to pay those who can spare storage and computing power from their devices and sell it to those in need. By relying on the Sharing Economy economic model, where peers exchange directly with peers, the Ankr team hopes to lower costs for buyers and increase revenues for sellers. The simple idea is that with fewer intermediaries crowding the marketplace, both parties will benefit. There’s also a geographic component to the Ankr Network; parties exchange resources based on how closely a buyer and seller are located. By decentralizing the way that computing power is bought and sold, Ankr Network aims to bring greater selection and value to its user base.

Date Founded: November 2017

Funding Type: ICO

Oasis Labs is bringing a privacy-first vision to cloud computing by using blockchain technology. Their core platform is made up of three elements: the Oasis Devnet, the Oasis Startup Hub, and the Oasis Community. The Devnet is tailored primarily for developers building customized, legally-binding smart contracts from the ground up. These contracts, along with the other technical aspects of the Oasis Labs platform, allow developers to create applications that are inherently protective of user data. Privacy is the centerpiece of the Oasis Labs pitch; from developers down to the users who use their apps, creations and interactions on the cloud-hosted platform are not subject to third-party mining. Thanks to a highly-scalable model, the Oasis Labs team claims that anybody, from the indie developer to the Fortune 500 company, can build on their platform. The Startup Hub and Community serve as sounding boards for technical help and updates regarding the platform.

Date Founded: 2018

Funding Type: Venture-backed

KRAMBU designs enterprise-level blockchain hardware and software solutions from their headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It also sets up and maintains blockchain data centers from which it hosts services including cloud mining. Technically known as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), KRAMBU’s computing hardware is used to several ends, whether the uses lie in government or the private sector. Above all, KRAMBU has set up the sheer processing power so that even the largest institutions can have their distributed ledger needs met. In 2018, the company unveiled proprietary hardware which was the first enterprise-grade graphics processing unit in the industry. Their data centers are built with “plug and play” capability, so that no matter the respective need of a project or enterprise, the KRAMBU team can meet it.

Date Founded: September 2017

Funding Type: Private

The Genaro Network offers remote storage to developers seeking to build decentralized applications (dApps) and create smart contracts. In using the Genaro cloud network, developers can securely store their information on the company’s nodes. Additionally, the Genaro public blockchain lets users share data securely on a peer-to-peer basis using decentralized ledger technology. One feature of note is a framework for the creation of unique tokens, called the Sustainable Token Model Design. Further, the G-Box is a downloadable platform where users can access dApps developed using the Genaro Network. While different features of the Genaro Network will have varying appeal to users, the entire experience is designed to serve as a “trustworthy internet and sharing community”.

ICO: November 17, 2017

Funding Type: ICO

Canada-based LuminCX is a file sharing and storage platform that uses distributed methods to minimize points of failure. The basis of the platform is the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), a peer-to-peer protocol designed for the sharing of media in a distributed system. When users upload a file into the LuminCX platform, it is kept in a regional IPFS cluster, so that it is preserved on several nodes but also subject to relevant laws and regulations. This distributed design reduces the reliance on any single system, meaning faster downloads and less bandwidth consumed than in centralized storage databases. All data on the LuminCX storage platform is encrypted, and all transactions executed on the network are recorded permanently. This decentralized, encrypted design offers many of the perks of legacy remote cloud storage services – Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. – with fewer vulnerabilities.

Date Founded: February 1, 2018

Funding Type: Private

Sia connects those in need of file storage room with those who have it. The Sia blockchain is the conduit between these parties, acting in the space where human or corporate intermediaries otherwise would. Sia uses smart contracts to ensure that information is not transferred between parties without first being encrypted. The Sia framework is an attempt at spreading out the stakes in cloud storage; instead of a single company reaping the profits and bearing the responsibility of maintaining others’ information, an entire community of peers does. Those who rent out their space using Sia get paid, and those who use the service to unlock more storage space can do so for less than more recognized alternatives. According to the Sia team, users save as much as 90% compared with the cost of incumbent services.

Date Founded: 2014-15

Funding Type: Private