The internet plays such a major role in our everyday lives, that we rarely pause to consider the consequences or to think about its shortcomings. But like any human invention, the internet leaves plenty of space for improvement, and this process of incremental changes and adjustments is taking place all the time, all over the web.

However, every once in a while, a visionary idea comes along, which shakes the very foundations of the internet and changes how we interact with it, and with each other. Such was the impact of the introduction of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the creation of the first internet browsers and web pages; of the proliferation of Social Media with all their benefits and downsides; of the invention of Blockchain and proceeding decentralization, or, most recently, of the accelerating adoption of AI, which yet to be seen consequences.

What’s the next big thing?

Naturally, such revolutionary leaps, while easy to see as such in hindsight, are challenging to predict looking forward. How then do we determine which technology is here to stay, and which will fizzle out like many before? One useful way is to go back to the basics.

Ask yourself: did the inventions listed above solve any fundamental problems of the internet? If yes, what were they? Take the example of the WWW, which democratized access to information and empowered individuals and organizations to connect and interact globally. Or social media and how they revolutionized online communication by enabling users to actively create, share, and engage with content. Or blockchain, which facilitates peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. Each of these technologies addressed the real, practical shortcomings of the internet. The next leap forward will aim to do just the same.

Solving online identity

One longstanding issue that has haunted the internet since its foundation is the lack of a robust identity layer. Currently, individuals manage multiple usernames, passwords, and profiles across various platforms, each with its own authentication process. Moreover, identity and other data are not only fragmented but held in silos, often controlled by corporations. This fragmented and siloed data model inconveniences users and poses significant security and privacy risks. The absence of a secure identity layer undermines trust and authenticity in digital interactions, hindering the internet’s potential for safe and seamless connectivity. The technology that addresses these issues will have the power to transform the internet as we know it.

Enter Empeiria’s End-to-End Verifiable Data Infrastructure (EVDI). With its innovative approach to digital identity and its promise of high-quality, verifiable, interoperable, and decentralized data, EVDI is not just revolutionary; it’s necessary.

Much like TCP/IP, the foundational protocols of the internet, EVDI will profoundly impact many aspects of our lives, online and beyond. Drawing another parallel, it holds a significance akin to another revolutionary concept currently shaping digital interactions — Bitcoin.

The foundational value of Bitcoin lies in its underlying technology: a network of nodes upholding a structure that allows for direct, peer-to-peer interactions, bypassing traditional intermediaries. This architecture is not just a technical breakthrough, but a paradigm shift in how transactions are managed. Importantly, Bitcoin shares this essence with EVDI.

EVDI is built on the principles of decentralization, user control, and impregnable security, employing Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs). This approach mirrors the decentralized ethos of Bitcoin, where power is distributed among network participants rather than being concentrated in a central authority. Similar to Bitcoin, EVDI operates on a trustless system of cryptographic protocols and decentralization.

Furthermore, both Bitcoin and EVDI go beyond their initial purposes. Like Bitcoin, which gives traditional financial systems a run for their money, EVDI is not just a tool for distributing and verifying data; it’s a foundational protocol that paves the way for a secure and decentralized web — an actual Web 3.0.

EVDI has the potential to reshape the fabric of the web and digital interactions. Imagine a new, user-centric internet where data is verifiable, reusable, and decentralized. EVDI is the path to that future. We believe it’s a vision worth investing in.

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