iExec recently held an X Twitter Spaces broadcast to provide an end-of-year community update. Hosted by Community Strategy Manager, Blair, the Spaces brought together iExec CEO Gilles and Head of Adoption, Nelly, to discuss iExec’s biggest milestones from 2023, before touching base on the iExec Strategy and giving a first look at the iExec Roadmap for 2024.
This is Part 1 of a 2-part series of blog posts recapping key points from the recent X Spaces community update.
This blog post (Part 1) briefly summarizes iExec’s updated Vision and Mission, and what was discussed regarding some key milestones from the latter half of this year. Part 2 will cover the first look iExec gave at the roadmap for 2024.
🎙If you prefer to listen back to the 40-minute conversation in full, you can do so here: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1PlJQDvvYMZGEr
Vision and Mission
To kick off the discussion, Gilles reaffirmed iExec’s 2023 mission: to empower individuals by safeguarding and enhancing the value of their digital assets.
iExec is at the forefront of Web3, focusing on decentralization and user sovereignty, creating technologies that protect and enhance digital assets. iExec technology enables true ownership of digital identity, addressing the importance of digital estate in our modern lives. Gilles’s enthusiasm for true ownership forms the foundation of iExec’s commitment to decentralization and privacy.
Gilles then explained the broader vision of creating an ecosystem that empowers developers to build applications with a focus on trust, data confidentiality, and governance. This vision extends to a unique protocol monetizing various digital assets, transforming them into revenue sources. iExec’s mission is a groundbreaking shift in Web3, redefining how we interact with digital assets while prioritizing user control and privacy.
Adoption Strategy
Next, iExec Head of Adoption, Nelly, gave some context on iExec’s doubling down on focusing on protocol adoption, noting a shift transition moving iExec away from a broad, generalized approach to a more specialized strategy, one that concentrates on specific use cases and tools that are packaged in such a way that they are a) address and existing need and b) are extremely simple to plug into existing applications.
This targeted strategy is designed to accelerate the adoption process by ensuring iExec’s offerings are closely aligned with the practical needs of developers.
Central to this strategy is the creation of developer tools that enable the creation of high-value applications. These applications, in turn, are expected to drive substantial transactions on the protocol, thereby increasing the circulation of RLC as well as facilitating the implementation of larger, open worker pools in which anyone can participate.
The developer tools simplify interactions with the protocol. Tools like the Oracle Factory (streamlines data verification), Data Protector (ensures data security and privacy), and Web3Mail (a tool for decentralized communication) are designed to address specific challenges faced by developers.
Rather than just presenting developers with the endless possibilities of the iExec SDK, this more focused approach to dev tools makes getting started with building on iExec more accessible and efficient.
One example of this approach being important in driving wider adoption of the protocol was the overwhelming response from developers at the EthLisbon Ethereum hackathon. Within just the space of the weekend, over 20 applications were developed using iExec’s latest developer tools. This demonstrated how iExec dev tools can both remove the friction of building with iExec, but also how they can be used to create valuable, real-world applications.
This approach demystifies the use of iExec’s protocol while opening up new possibilities for developers to innovate within the ecosystem.
Focus on Specific Use Cases
iExec’s developer tool strategy is anchored in addressing use cases, particularly those challenges unique to the Web3 environment.
By delving deep into each use case, iExec ensures that its technological advancements are both innovative and directly relevant to the needs of the community it serves.
The first example of this strategy was the set of developer tool packages addressing the Privacy-Enhanced Marketing (PEM) use case. This use case represents a significant stride in tackling one of Web3’s biggest challenges: engaging with crypto holders in a manner that respects their privacy.
This suite of tools demonstrates iExec’s ability to combine decentralization and private computing to create a practical solution. For example, Web3 mail allows dApps to send emails to their users without the need to link public addresses and personal data.
To further encourage innovation and integration within its ecosystem, iExec has implemented various incentives for developers. These incentives include hackathons and grants programs, which are designed to stimulate creative exploration and utilization of iExec’s tools.
Role of Workers
Following the update on the iExec strategy and its focus on builders, Gilles elaborated on the role of workers within the iExec ecosystem, specifically individual community members looking to turn a profit by providing their computing power.
Workers play a crucial role in contributing their computing power to the apps running on iExec. Gilles explained the challenge of establishing a sustainable worker pool as a kind of chicken and egg problem. iExec must prioritize app development, specifically apps and services that users want to consume. By focusing on developing applications that are in high demand by users, iExec ensures a steady stream of tasks for the worker pool, keeping them consistently engaged and profitable.
iExec has launched their own worker incentive programs in the past such as the Workerdrop or iExec Worker Pass. These programs are key in facilitating supply and demand for individual workers, as well as to stress-test the capacity of Worker Pools made up of a large amount of distributed individual machines from all over the world.
Gilles stressed the importance of maintaining this balance between the needs of builders (developers) and workers. This equilibrium is key to the sustainable growth of iExec, ensuring that both groups are adequately supported and that their contributions are valued.
The upcoming Worker Pass Round 2, as hinted at in the 2024 roadmap,signals iExec’s ongoing efforts to enhance worker engagement and benefits. This evolution of the Worker Pass program is expected to offer greater opportunities and incentives for workers.
Looking toward the future, iExec envisions establishing a sustainable worker pool that consistently supports the platform’s applications and users. This vision includes ongoing adaptation and the introduction of new support mechanisms for workers.
These measures are meant to keep pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of confidential computing and ensure that the iExec ecosystem remains robust and balanced.
Recap of Milestones from the second half of 2023
With 2023 wrapping up, Nelly gave a quick overview of some of the milestones achieved this year across several departments.
In addition to countless integrations of iExec tech in 2023, the year also marked a significant year for iExec in terms of adoption and community development.
One achievement of note was the successful launch and completion of the first batch of the iExec Web3 Accelerator; with the second generation of startups kicking off within the last few weeks. This program underscores iExec’s commitment to nurturing new talent in the Web3 space. Furthermore, the year saw a record number of decentralized applications (dApps) being developed post-hackathon, signaling a robust interest in iExec’s technology. These developments were further bolstered by the emergence of network effects, where new dApps were being built upon existing iExec applications like Ziplo and Talent Layer projects.
Additionally, the worker community within iExec demonstrated active engagement after the first phase of the iExec Worker Pass Utility NFT project. The iExec Worker Pass is a Utility NFT that allowed holders access to a public iExec Worker Pool for a special operation period lasting 30 days. This means connecting their machine to the network, becoming “iExec Workers”. These iExec Workers were then able to provide computing power by executing computational tasks, getting paid in RLC tokens based on the number of tasks completed. The first phase of the iExec Worker Pass project was a huge success! Following huge interest during the NFT distribution campaign, with over 50,000 applicants, we were happy to see the public iExec Workerpool being so productive. To share some of the figures with you, machines in the iExec Worker Pool racked up more than 56,000 hours of computation, completing over 65,000 tasks, totaling over $40000 in RLC tokens distributed among workers!
📢And as mentioned during the roadmap discussion in the recent Spaces, we can’t wait for round 2!
Global Presence
iExec had a strong global presence in 2023, as evidenced by our participation in 22 international events (including hosting the Binance team at our headquarters).
This global engagement not only expanded iExec’s reach but also cemented its status in the international arena. A key aspect of this global engagement was iExec’s thought leadership, demonstrated by more than 40 speaking opportunities. During these events, iExec employees shared their expertise and insights into the evolving world of Web3.
These engagements played a crucial role in establishing iExec as a thought leader and a go-to source for innovative Web3 solutions. The company has become a recognized go-to source for innovative Web3 solutions.
Our global presence also expanded in the PR sphere, with mentions from coverage from Forbes, Yahoo Finance and more.
Research Collaborations
2023 also marked a year of fruitful corporate and research collaborations for iExec. A key highlight was the successful completion of a three-year collaboration with the European Commission. During this collaboration, iExec contributed its expertise and infrastructure to the Ontochain initiative. iExec will publish an article summarizing this work before the end of the year.
This collaboration not only showcased iExec’s technical prowess but also its ability to contribute significantly to large-scale, impactful projects.
Another major milestone for iExec was its elevation to Gold member status within the Intel Partner Alliance. This advancement signifies a deepening and strengthening of its technological partnership with Intel. As a Gold member, iExec now has access to new avenues for collaboration and innovation, furthering its capabilities and reach in the tech industry.
Technological Advancements
2023 was also full of technological advancements for iExec. One pivotal development was the beta release of the Privacy Pass, an innovative project allowing users to monetize the receipt of emails. This feature represents iExec’s commitment to creating new revenue streams for users within its ecosystem.
In parallel, the launch of the iExec Stack V8 constitutes another major technological leap forward in technology. This stack features enhancements for Intel SGX V2, the Gramine infrastructure, and an advanced Enclave-based Secret Management System. These improvements aren’t just incremental updates — they demonstrate iExec’s dedication to staying at the forefront of technological innovation.
Developer Incentives
2023 showed iExec heavily investing in incentivizing developers. A notable example of this was at ETHLisbon, where iExec’s tools received an enthusiastic response. This indicated both a successful integration and a burgeoning interest among the developer community.
Looking ahead, iExec plans to maintain its focus on builder-centric events, hackathons, its developer rewards program, and the iExec Web3 incubator. These initiatives are designed to foster innovation and facilitate the integration of iExec’s tools, ensuring that the platform remains the go-to place for development in the Web3 space.
As we wrap up Part 1 of the key takeaways from the Twitter Space, it’s clear that iExec has continued to make significant progress over the past year. We’ve seen remarkable technological advancements, the development of new application use cases, and a new focus on sponsoring iExec worker pools for anyone to join.
We remain steadfast in our mission to innovate and lead in the Web3 space. Buoyed by the backing of a strong community, we are excited about what the future holds for iExec and the transformative potential it brings to the digital world.
We’ll see you in a couple of days for Part 2, which will cover what was discussed for the iExec 2024 Roadmap. Can’t wait? You can already browse through some of the first roadmap elements for 2024 here - https://trello.com/b/oSCT5z09/iexec-roadmap-milestones/
