Datum Selected as Sovrin Steward to Bring Encrypted Data Storage to All

ZUG, SWITZERLAND (June 12, 2018): Datum, a decentralized data storage network and marketplace, today announced its collaboration with the Sovrin Foundation, an international non-profit dedicated to building a self-sovereign digital identity network. As a Sovrin Steward, Datum will bring its data storage ecosystem into Sovrin’s open-source system of distributed identity technology — a fundamental step in establishing an immutable and reliable public identity system.

At the core of the foundation is the Sovrin software ecosystem for private, secure, and powerful digital identities. Sovrin wants to equip every person with an indestructible, adaptable smart identity — a secure way of presenting your credentials, like a digital driver’s license — to replace the current patchwork system of usernames and passwords strewn across the Internet. Instead of using one central silo, which leaves data susceptible to illegal selling, tampering, or other misuses, Sovrin uses open-source, distributed ledger technology. These ledgers form a database maintained collectively by Sovrin Stewards.

As a Sovrin Steward, Datum joins organizations like IBM, the Crypto Valley Association, and Royal Credit Union in operating and maintaining the foundation’s decentralized digital identity network. Datum recognizes that establishing a linkage between the exchange of personal data and verifiable identity is an important milestone in the fulfilling the vision of control and monetization of personal data by everyday people.

Datum and Sovrin share a common vision in helping individuals protect, prove, and regain ownership of their digital identities. The Datum network is run on a secure smart contract blockchain that allows users to regain control of their personal data. Users decide how much data they want to disclose, what it’s used for, and how long it remains in the system — then they have the power to earn money from the data they choose to share.

“I’m very excited to welcome Datum as a Founding Steward because they fully represent the principles behind the Sovrin Foundation. Together, we are transforming online identity to build a digital world that protects users, organizations, and connected devices. Datum’s ecosystem establishes them as a leader in blockchain technology, and we’re proud to add Datum to our accomplished network of Sovrin Stewards,” said Dr. Phil Windley, chair of the Sovrin Foundation.

“Becoming a Sovrin Steward is a huge step in achieving the new data economy. Allowing the Datum identity to be used within Sovrin and allowing use of Datum with other identity providers within Sovrin is a key milestone in expanding both ecosystems. With the backing of the Sovrin Foundation, Datum is equipped to take our blockchain technology to the next level — protecting personal information, eliminating data breaches and cyber-crime, and streamlining data transactions like never before,” said Datum CEO Roger Haenni.

About the Sovrin Foundation

The international, non-profit Sovrin Foundation is governed by a constitutional Trust Framework that ensures its independence from government or industry influence and codifies its dedication to providing a self-sovereign digital identity for all. The Sovrin network is operated by independent stewards and uses the power of a hybrid distributed ledger as a fast, private and secure framework for providing every person, organization, and connected device a permanent identity with which to transact online and operate securely in everyday life. Learn more about the Trust Framework underlying the Sovrin network here.

About Datum

Datum is building a new data economy. With 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created every day, data is our economy’s most precious resource — but it’s primarily owned and stored by large private organizations in huge data silos, where personal data can be sold, altered, or exploited. Datum empowers consumers to retake control of their data. Datum offers an open source data network and marketplace run on a secure, smart contract blockchain. Users set their own privacy policies, and consumers can securely store and sell structured data for free — the DAT smart token enables optional selling and buying of stored data. Join the Datum community on Telegram, Twitter and Facebook: @datumnetwork.

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