The world’s first decentralized network for global supply chain data exchange is here! As we speak, the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet is bringing the benefits of the blockchain and decentralization to global supply chains. The mainnet is now up and running, with nodes successfully joining the network and applications for running a node in full swing.

We announced the launch of the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet at a special surprise event last month. This is a pivotal moment for OriginTrail, since the OriginTrail Decentralized Network is the backbone of the protocol we set out to build when we first presented our project to the public last year and successfully finished the token generation event this January. With the launch of the mainnet, the vision of the decentralized network outlined in our White Paper is now meeting real market conditions. OriginTrail is now bringing tangible benefits to global supply chains by providing a stable, decentralized network built for scalability and efficiency of data exchange with integrity.

In the Vostok stage, the network will gradually introduce litigation mechanisms. Therefore, node holders are being onboarded to the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet via the application. An initial stake of 1000 TRAC tokens is needed for participation eligibility.

It is important to point out that there will be no token swap — TRAC will stay an ERC-20 token. OriginTrail’s mainnet is not a blockchain, but a blockchain-agnostic decentralized network that utilizes TRAC as means of compensation. No action is required if you are holding TRAC tokens either on your own wallets or on an exchange.

Vostok’s First Published Data Set Is About the Longest Supply Chain Ever Made by Humankind

To introduce the Vostok Mainnet — named after Yuri Gagarin’s 1961 space flight, which was the first ever by human kind — the OriginTrail team decided to commemorate another monumental human achievement: the longest supply chain known to mankind. Although not a traditional case of goods being exchanged between several supply chain stakeholders, we believe that tracing the object we as humans sent on the longest road ever, the monumental Voyager 1 spacecraft, is a highly appropriate start for the Vostok mainnet.

The significance of the Voyager is not only in it being an object we have sent the furthest away in space, but also in the data it carries with it. The Voyager houses precious information coming from Earth, collected in a mutual effort by all nations and religions, and represented in greetings from our planet in 55 languages, magnificent music from various historical periods, imagery from all over the globe and scientific explanations for the location of our Solar system and human DNA and anatomy.

To look up the first data set, visit the OriginTrail Network Explorer and look up the Generic identifier with value urn:epc:batch:id:voyager1 identifier in the search box.

The OriginTrail Decentralized Network is Here to Help Businesses Speak the Same Language with Integrity

At the moment, only a small fraction of innovative front-running companies are already taking tangible steps towards implementing blockchain technology. However, many more companies are in the exploration phase, collecting insights, acquiring knowledge, and setting aside budgets for technology investments in the following years. Decentralization is here to stay and it has brought about a new paradigm for data exchange and collaboration, ushering in the 4th industrial revolution.

The OriginTrail Decentralized Network enables companies to quickly, efficiently, and seamlessly share data with trusted mechanisms, utilize the blockchain for data integrity, and use the blockchain. We are seeing a growing genuine interest in the technology from all kinds of companies. Among the interested are innovation departments in large corporations, private entrepreneurs looking to grow their niche brand, and family-owned businesses looking how to sustain their long-term competitiveness.

Over the past year, we worked with many companies that are in different stages of blockchain adoption. We were also happy to see the Trace Alliance — a collaborative association of businesses, developers, and other organizations working together on blockchain-based solutions — steadily grow to more than 70 members.

We are bringing blockchain technology to global supply chains with amazing partners that include:

Do you want to use the blockchain in your business? Start here.

An Overview of the Technology

The OriginTrail Decentralized Network was designed to increase the integrity of the data shared between parties and tackle the problems of data interoperability and interconnectivity. It operates as a peer-to-peer network of OriginTrail nodes, which can have several roles within the system depending on context. There are Data Creator nodes (DC), Data Holder nodes (DH) and Data Viewer nodes (DV). Each node is nevertheless equal, operating on the same code and communicating via the OriginTrail protocol.

Publishing data to the network employs a bidding mechanism where DC nodes negotiate terms with DH nodes in a two-step protocol designed to randomize the choice of DH vault nodes, while keeping the replication factor in the system high. DH nodes apply to DC offers to compete for providing a high quality service at a market-driven cost, for an agreed upon amount of time. Therefore, all the data sharing is performed on the ODN, while the blockchain performs the role of data fingerprinting and enforcing game theoretical mechanism which keep the system trust-minimized, with a high degree of data replication and incentivised good behavior.

Each data set shared on the network has to conform to certain data standards, including the GS1 EPCIS for event-based tracking and the WoT for internet of things devices.

Whenever a data set is replicated over the network, the nodes try to automatically connect its representing data graph to already existing data which it relates to — mainly specific supply chain events or identifiers. This is the basis of the consensus check, the protocol feature aimed at tackling the “garbage in, garbage out” problem by comparing claims from several different parties about the data in question.

Finally, this data can be in different forms, one of the most interesting being the encrypted data with zero knowledge algorithms that allows for certain supply chain level validation even in the case that this data is not publicly viewable.

The prerequisite for such data sharing to happen is that it occurs on “neutral ground”, away from the forces of data centralization and lock-ins of the current technological landscape.

The OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet network applies the appropriate incentives and market mechanisms, underpinned by technology, to support such conditions and is a major milestone for the OriginTrail team.

Explore the code on GitHub, view the documentation, and join our Discord community for tech-related discussions.

How to Run a Node on the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet

If you want to run a node on the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet, you can start by reading the instructions here. After you setup your node, fill out the application form to join the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet.

If you want to take the technology for a test ride first, you can always start by setting up a node with test tokens on the OriginTrail’s testnet. The testnet is open — you don’t need to fill out an application form to participate.

The official documentation is available at http://docs.origintrail.io. We also have a lively tech community on Discord, the go-to place for all additional questions you might have. You can discuss the setup and everything else node-related with fellow node holders.

Timeline for Further Development

The development of the OriginTrail Decentralized Network doesn’t stop with Vostok. In the coming months, we will place special attention on auditing the network and also launching bug bounty.

The next stage of the OriginTrail Vostok Mainnet will be the OriginTrail Freedom Mainnet, targeted for Q1 2019. In the Freedom stage, the network will become open to all participants, meaning we will not require applications for participation. It will also include fully implemented litigation mechanisms in real market conditions.

Going forward, the next — Gemini — stage will introduce further data layer and privacy abilities and will be focused on bridging different technology worlds and the ease of integration with other enterprise software. (OriginTrail’s recently announced partnership with Oracle is already an example of such an integration). Finally, the Pioneer stage will bring further data tokenization abilities.