Why Web3 Developers Need Stronger Data Protection and Monetization Tools

Web3 developers need more than just smart contracts. The Web3 revolution promised users greater ownership, transparency, and security. But there’s a problem: data privacy and security often take a backseat. 

When it comes to privacy, blockchain is pseudonymous. This means every transaction is recorded on a public ledger, meaning nothing is truly private. With enough on-chain analysis, identities can be traced, leaving users vulnerable to tracking and security risks.

To truly fulfill Web3’s promise, developers must integrate privacy-focused solutions that protect user data while maintaining transparency and security.

Data is at Risk Even in Web3

Common security measures focus on data at rest (stored on a server) or data in transit (moving through a network). But what about data in use, when applications actively process it?

Without protection, sensitive data remains unencrypted in memory, leaving it exposed to malicious actors, breaches, and unauthorized access.

Why iExec’s Web3 Developer Toolkit Is THE Solution

iExec is pioneering a new approach with Decentralized Confidential Computing (DeCC). It is a mix of blockchain’s decentralization and hardware-based security to protect data in use while enabling full ownership and monetization.

The Core of iExec: Confidential Computing Meets Web3

iExec’s protocol merges off-chain confidential computing with on-chain blockchain security through its Proof of Contribution (POCO) smart contracts. How it works:

• Off-Chain Confidential Computing: Secure data processing happens inside Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) like Intel SGX, keeping computations private, even on untrusted machines.
• On-Chain Smart Contracts: iExec enforces governance rules transparently, ensuring security, verifiability, and decentralization.

This synergy between Confidential Computing and blockchain enables Decentralized Confidential Computing. It allows developers to build trust-driven dApps that handle sensitive data without exposure to third parties.

Why Confidential Computing is a Game Changer

‍TEEs introduce a hardware-based security approach to Web3, solving the data-in-use problem.

• Isolation: TEEs physically partition memory, isolating data during processing and creating a Trusted Execution Environment.
• Hardware-Based Attestation: This verifies the trustworthiness of both the execution environment and the applications running within it, ensuring data is secure .

The Web3 Developer Toolkit: Protect, Control, and Monetize Data

‍iExec has built developer tools that integrate DeCC seamlessly into Web3 applications. Let’s explore the key SDKs and tools:

DataProtector: Protect, Manage, Access and Monetize Your Data

‍DataProtector is the foundation of iExec’s developer stack, allowing users to:

1️⃣Encrypt data with end-to-end protection

2️⃣Grant & revoke access dynamically

3️⃣Compute Privately

4️⃣Monetize digital assets through direct sales or rentals

‍How It Works:

• Users encrypt data using iExec’s Confidential Computing framework.
• They set custom monetization rules (e.g., pay-per-access, subscriptions).
• Only authorized users can compute this data within a secure enclave (TEE), without ever exposing the raw content.

Real-World Use Case: AI developers can sell access to AI models while ensuring their proprietary data remains protected.

Web3Mail: Private, Secure Blockchain Messaging

‍Web3Mail enables developers to send messages to Ethereum accounts without needing access to personal emails.

‍How It Works:

• The end user protects their email.
• The protected email is linked to their wallet address.
• They authorize someone to use the protected email.
• The authorized person will be able to send an email to the user using the wallet address thanks to Web3Mail.

Real-World Use Case: TalentLayer Protocol uses Web3Mail to notify developers about job matches without revealing personal email addresses.

‍The Power of Web3 Data Ownership in Monetization Tools

‍With DataProtector and DataProtector Sharing, iExec introduces flexible monetization models for digital assets:

‍Core Model (Creator-Controlled Access)

• The data creator decides who gets access.
• Ensures full ownership and control.
• Suitable for exclusive datasets, confidential AI models, and high-value content.

Sharing Model (On-Demand Access)

• Users retrieve data when needed, within pre-set permissions.
• Ideal for real-time data feeds, oracle services, and pay-per-use access.

This flexibility empowers developers to leverage digital assets in a sustainable way.

‍Bridging Web3, AI, and Decentralized Confidential Computing

‍AI development faces massive challenges: How do we keep AI models and datasets private? How do contributors get fairly rewarded? How do we ensure AI remains decentralized? iExec Confidential AI combines TEEs + Web3 to:

✔ Secure AI Model Execution, preventing unauthorized access.
✔ Fair Monetization of AI Pipelines to incentivize data contributors.
✔ Scalable, Privacy-Focused AI Workflows to maintain trust while decentralizing control.

iExec means DeCC for AI = Secure, Private & Scalable AI Monetization.

AI meets Web3 in a trust-driven ecosystem where data contributors retain control and value.‍‍

‍Get Started: Build Privacy-First dApps with Monetization Tools

‍You want to build a privacy-first dApp but don’t know where to start? iExec Hello World walks you through it in just 30 minutes! What You’ll Learn:

• Protect data using the DataProtector SDK
• Build an iApp that computes data privately within a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)
• Manage access to your data securely
• Monetize data & resources on-chain  

For a simple breakdown of how it all works, you are just a click away!

Building in Web3 is about ownership and control. iExec gives developers the tools to protect sensitive data in use, retain full ownership over digital assets and monetize Web3 applications without compromising security. AI builders, dApp developers, blockchain innovators, no further seeking. This is your toolkit.

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