Irys, a prominent layer-2 network within the Arweave ecosystem, allegedly has plans to fork the Arweave network with the intent to “drop the dataset and reset the token supply,” according to a Dec. 17 post by Arweave founder Sam Williams.
He alleges that despite the existence of a safe upgrade mechanism with Arweave, Irys developers plan to proceed with a hard fork that “appears to be a play motivated by greed.” The Arweave founder wrote:
“Given this situation, Arweave intends to remove the Irys bundlers from the trusted set on the main Arweave gateways. This will lead to significant delays before user data is available.”
In a rebuttal post the same day, Irys developers stated, “Are we developing new provenance tech? You bet your ass we are,” accusing Arweave developers of “active censorship” in response to alleged efforts to “deplatform Irys from Arweave.” Developers added, “Stay tuned to this space; we have plenty of powerful new features we’re thinking through, and we can’t wait to share them.”
In the past two days, the Arweave token has lost over 20% of its value and is now trading at $8.90, partly due to the unveiling of the allegations. Irys is currently the largest layer-2 network on Arweave, accounting for over 90% of the blockchain’s 16 million daily transaction volume. However, the network’s volume has fallen by 31% since the allegations surfaced.
Related: NFTs, gaming and storage: The key to Filecoin and Arweave accruing value?
As an immutable decentralized storage network, Arweave stores Web2 and Web3 data, such as web pages, gaming data, images and metadata for nonfungible tokens, and more. Around 74.26 pebibytes (83.6 million gigabytes) of data are stored on the Arweave blockchain.
Controversial Community Debate Sparks Unofficial Arweave Forking Plans
The world of cryptocurrency is no stranger to controversy and heated debates. However, the latest controversy surrounding Arweave – a decentralized storage network – has sparked discussions that could potentially lead to a major rift within the community.
For those unfamiliar, Arweave is a platform that allows users to store their data permanently on a blockchain-based network. This means that the data is virtually indestructible and can be accessed by anyone, at any time, without the fear of censorship or alteration.
The Controversy: Autonomous Network (ANG) Proposal
The controversy began with what is known as the Autonomous Network (ANG) proposal. This proposal, put forward by the Arweave team, aimed to introduce a new type of forking on the network. Unlike traditional forking in the crypto world where a new chain is created with changes to the underlying code, the ANG proposal would allow for multiple versions of Arweave’s code to reside on the same network.
This proposal sparked a heated debate within the Arweave community, with some users supporting the idea and others strongly opposing it. As a result, a group of community members has now formed an unofficial fork of Arweave called “ArDrive”, which aims to keep the original vision of Arweave intact.
What’s at Stake?
At the heart of this debate lies the question of who gets to decide the direction of a decentralized network. On one side, the Arweave team argues that the ANG proposal will bring much-needed flexibility and innovation to the network. They believe that by allowing for multiple versions of Arweave’s code on the same network, developers will have more freedom to experiment and create innovative solutions.
However, the opposition argues that this proposal goes against the very premise of decentralization. They argue that by introducing the concept of “upgradability” to the network, the Arweave team is giving themselves and other central authorities too much power over the network. This, in turn, could potentially harm the decentralization and censorship-resistant nature of Arweave.
The Birth of ArDrive
Amidst this heated debate, a group of community members has now formed an unofficial fork of Arweave called ArDrive. This fork will employ the original Arweave code without any changes to its underlying principles. The team behind ArDrive has stated that they want to preserve the essence of Arweave – a decentralized solution for the permanent storage of data.
According to their website, the goal of ArDrive is to “put the power back into the hands of users and content creators, and provide them with a secure and censorship-resistant platform for storing their data.”
Looking Towards the Future
As the debate continues to rage on, many are wondering what this could mean for the future of Arweave. While the ANG proposal is currently only a proposal, it has certainly caused a ripple within the Arweave community. The backlash and formation of an unofficial fork show that there are strong beliefs on both sides, and the final outcome is yet to be determined.
Benefits and Practical Tips
Whether you are a user of Arweave or simply interested in the world of cryptocurrency, it is important to stay informed and educated on the developments surrounding this controversy. Here are some tips to help you navigate through this heated debate:
1. Educate Yourself: Do your research and understand the ANG proposal and its potential implications. This will help you form your own opinion and contribute to the discussions.
2. Stay Updated: Keep an eye on official announcements from the Arweave team and updates from the ArDrive team. This will help you stay informed and understand the progress of the situation.
3. Engage in Discussions: Join community forums and engage in discussions with other users. This will not only help you stay updated, but it will also allow you to voice your opinions and contribute to the debate.
4. Be Mindful of Scammers: With any controversial situation, there is a possibility for scammers to take advantage. Be cautious of any individual or group claiming to represent Arweave or ArDrive and always verify information before taking any action.
Case Study: The Bitcoin Cash Fork
The current situation with Arweave is not the first time that a cryptocurrency has faced a major fork due to a controversy. Back in 2017, Bitcoin Cash underwent a contentious fork due to a debate over the scalability of the network. This resulted in a split in the Bitcoin Cash community, with one side following the original Bitcoin Cash code and the other following a new version called Bitcoin ABC.
This case study serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of a controversial fork. It led to a division within the community, confusion among users, and a decrease in the value of the cryptocurrency. Only time will tell if the same fate awaits Arweave.
First-Hand Experience
As with any community, individuals may have different opinions and beliefs. It is important to remember to engage in discussions with respect and open-mindedness. Only through healthy and constructive dialogue can a solution be reached that is in the best interest of the entire community.
In Conclusion
The controversial ANG proposal put forward by the Arweave team has sparked a heated debate and ultimately led to the formation of an unofficial fork called ArDrive. While the situation remains unresolved, it has brought to light the importance of maintaining the principles of decentralization in the world of cryptocurrency. Whether or not the ANG proposal gains traction, this controversy serves as a reminder for everyone to stay informed, stay engaged, and stay united as a community.