I finally understand what Irys is doing.
To be honest, I've been researching Irys for a long time, but I never quite understood what it was really doing.
I understand Arweave's permanent storage; it's about storing data on the chain, which will never be lost.
But what about Irys? It also does storage, but claims to be different from Arweave.
What exactly is different?
It wasn't until recently when I saw the concept of "Programmable Data" that it suddenly clicked for me:
Irys is not building a warehouse; it's building a factory.
Data shouldn't just be goods sitting in a warehouse.
Previous data chains, including Arweave, are essentially "warehouses."
You store data in it, and it just sits there, untouched by anyone.
For example:
If you store an image on Arweave, it will always be just an image.
If you store a piece of text on Arweave, it will always be just a piece of text.
Data is static; it doesn't move, it doesn't change, and it doesn't interact with other things.
This is certainly better than centralized storage—at least the data won't be lost or deleted.
But the question is: how much value can such data create?
I've been pondering this question.
If data is just "stored," then its value is only as much as the "storage fees."
But what if data could "work"?
What if data could execute logic on its own, interact with other applications, and generate revenue by itself?
Then its value would be more than just "storage fees"; it would be "asset value."
That's what Irys aims to do.
Programmable Data: Making Data Work
Irys has proposed a concept: Programmable Data.
What does it mean?
It means data is not just "stored"; it can "work."
Specifically:
1. Data can preset interaction methods.
For example, if you store an NFT on Irys.
This NFT is not just an image; it can also preset:
Who can view it
Who can use it
Who can modify it
These rules are written into the data itself, without needing external contracts to manage them.
2. Data can carry royalty rules.
For example, if you store a song on Irys.
This song can carry royalty rules:
Whoever uses this song must pay you royalties
What the royalty percentage is
How royalties are distributed
These rules are executed by the data itself, without needing a third-party platform to take a cut.
3. Data can include encryption standards.
For example, if you store a medical record on Irys.
This record can carry encryption standards:
Only authorized doctors can view it
It won't be cracked during data transmission
It won't be tampered with during data storage
These security measures are guaranteed by the data itself, without relying on centralized servers.
IrysVM: Connecting Data and Contracts
So, how does Irys achieve all this?
The answer is: IrysVM.
IrysVM is Irys's virtual machine, and its role is to connect data and contracts.
Previously, data was data, and contracts were contracts; the two were separate.
If you wanted data to "work," you had to write a contract and have the contract call the data.
But this approach has two problems:
High cost: Every time you call data, you have to execute a contract, and gas fees are expensive.
Inflexibility: Data and contracts are separate, and the logic of the data cannot propagate with the data itself.
IrysVM solves these two problems.
It allows data to carry its own logic; wherever the data goes, the logic goes with it.
Moreover, the execution cost of IrysVM is much lower than traditional execution chains because it doesn't require consensus across the entire network; it only needs to execute when necessary.
It's like giving data an "autonomous driving system"; the data can run itself without human intervention.
My Understanding: Data Transforms from Assets to Employees
I like to use a metaphor to understand Irys:
Old data chains are warehouses, and data is like goods that gather dust once stored; Irys is a factory, and data is like employees that can work on their own.
In a warehouse, the value of goods is fixed—what it's worth is what it's worth.
But in a factory, the value of employees is dynamic—how much value they can create determines their worth.
What Irys aims to do is transform data from "goods" into "employees."
This transformation could fundamentally change our understanding of data.
Previously, data was an "asset"; if you owned it, you owned its value.
But in the future, data could be "employees"; if you own it, it can help you create more value.
What does this mean for us?
If Irys's vision is realized, what will happen?
I think there could be several changes:
1. The creator economy will explode.
Previously, creators' earnings mainly came from platform shares.
But if data can carry royalty rules, creators can benefit directly from data usage without platform cuts.
This will truly unleash the creator economy.
2. Data privacy will improve.
Previously, data privacy relied on centralized servers for protection.
But if data can carry encryption standards, users can control data access permissions themselves.
This will truly put data privacy in the hands of users.
3. Applications will be cheaper.
Previously, the costs of on-chain applications mainly came from contract execution.
But if data can execute logic on its own, the costs of applications will significantly decrease.
This will make many previously unfeasible applications feasible.
My Judgment
I've been thinking lately: what technology will truly change the industry in the next cycle?
One of my answers is: Programmable Data.
Because it is not optimizing existing things; it is creating entirely new possibilities.
Irys may not be the final answer, but it at least points to a direction:
Data shouldn't just be goods in a warehouse; it should be employees in a factory.
I will continue to follow Irys and see how far it can go.
If you are also researching the data track, I suggest you take a look at Irys.
This could be the most noteworthy data project of the year.
@irys_xyz
Show original5.56K
17
The content on this page is provided by third parties. Unless otherwise stated, OKX is not the author of the cited article(s) and does not claim any copyright in the materials. The content is provided for informational purposes only and does not represent the views of OKX. It is not intended to be an endorsement of any kind and should not be considered investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell digital assets. To the extent generative AI is utilized to provide summaries or other information, such AI generated content may be inaccurate or inconsistent. Please read the linked article for more details and information. OKX is not responsible for content hosted on third party sites. Digital asset holdings, including stablecoins and NFTs, involve a high degree of risk and can fluctuate greatly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition.