"bro wat is irys?"
An explanation of @irys_xyz, in (very) simple terms. 🧵
"what's that?"
Irys is a programmable datachain.
On Irys, people can upload onchain data and deploy smart contracts that can access it and perform verifiable computations.
"wth??"
Let's start with what a datachain is.
Put simply, it is a blockchain built for one job: storing data.
"ok but isn’t that what all chains do?"
Not really.
Most blockchains like Ethereum or Solana are made to run smart contracts. And storing anything big like files, models or logs on them is super expensive.
Datachains focus on making onchain storage cheap and scalable.
"sounds like arweave?"
Similar idea, yes.
Most datachains simply store data permanently. Once stored, it just sits there forever.
Irys differs by also offering temporary storage (so just for a limited time) and by turning that data into something programmable.
"programmable?"
You can attach rules directly to the data.
Think:
- This ticket can only be scanned once
- The ticket is IP-protected
- This file expires after 7 days
Smart contracts on Irys can read and enforce those rules.
"how is it different from other chains?"
Other chains don’t store the actual data. They use a pointer. It’s like a link to a file, not the file itself.
The file lives elsewhere and you have to trust it’s still there.
On Irys, the data lives and acts onchain
"okay but why would someone do that?"
Imagine you're building an event app.
Instead of minting NFTs that link to offchain tickets, you store the real ticket file on Irys and add logic directly to it like: valid for entry once and only visible to the buyer’s wallet.
"tldr?"
Irys is a datachain that stores any type of data affordably onchain.
It also makes that data programmable, so smart contracts can interact with it directly.
🫶
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