The founder and chief scientist of the DFINITY Foundation and the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) spoke at a technology forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aimed at positioning the country as a major global technology hub. He stated, 'The ICP has never been hacked and has never stopped working.' Taking this opportunity, he dreams of providing a decentralized, secure, and accessible internet for everyone.
In 2016, Dominic Williams established the non-profit DFINITY Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, with a very bold vision: to create a decentralized internet. Today, the foundation is the largest employer in blockchain technology, composed of talented experts who previously worked at companies like IBM, Google, and Meta. For Dominic, his training in computer science and passion for decentralized systems enabled him to create the ICP.
In an exclusive interview with (Forbes), Dominic explained that its creation is to 'transform the internet fundamentally by creating the Internet Computer,' which is a decentralized, scalable, and secure platform that allows developers to create and host applications directly on the blockchain without relying on traditional centralized cloud services.
He continued, 'Its goal is to decentralize the internet, making it secure, tamper-proof, and efficient, while addressing all the scalability and performance issues faced by existing blockchains, ultimately creating an open public infrastructure for the internet. We want to move away from centralized servers and bring decentralized architecture to the public.'
Unlike traditional systems that rely on centralized cloud providers, the Internet Computer allows for an open, tamper-proof, and scalable network, independent of large IT technology providers.
'This decentralization allows developers to create 'unstoppable applications' that run without app stores, while users can control their own data,' Williams elaborated. 'ICP addresses key limitations of blockchain, such as scalability and cost, and provides an efficient and accessible foundation for next-generation internet services.'
The Internet Computer Protocol has been in research and development since 2015 and was publicly launched in 2021, now boasting millions of users and thousands of web applications. According to its creators, 'It has never been hacked, has never stopped working, does not require firewalls, and processes over 2 million Ethereum-equivalent transactions per second.'
In this sense, its value proposition lies in the DFINITY Foundation's ability to continue developing the Internet Computer Protocol. On the other hand, it empowers organizations, entities, users, and software developers to adopt the technology.
'Through a global network of independent Internet Computer Centers (ICP.HUBS), including some centers in Latin America such as Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, education, acceleration, incubation, and partnership programs are seamlessly simplified globally. Local adoption,' Williams explained.
In terms of Latin America, the adoption rate of Internet Computer technology is stable. Projects such as boot camps, hackathons, and collaborations with universities provide excellent opportunities for the younger generation to acquire new skills, experiment with cutting-edge IT technologies, and learn new software development languages.
As Williams shared, incubation and acceleration programs support startups and entrepreneurs. Creating web applications on the Internet Computer connects them to angel investors and venture capitalists for guidance, mentoring, and fundraising. In turn, partnerships with institutions and companies enable socioeconomic systems to undergo digital transformation and address cybersecurity issues.
Facing the creation of a value internet system in Latin America
But Williams' innovative initiatives go far beyond the ICP. Chain Fusion focuses on integrating blockchain with traditional financial infrastructure, helping institutions adopt decentralized systems while achieving faster and more secure transactions. Williams said, 'We are not just innovating within the blockchain; we are creating a value internet system.'
'Creating a value internet system means establishing a world computer where data exchange is stored directly on the blockchain, online, without intermediaries and without centralized IT,' he pointed out while delving deeper. 'Unlike today's information-centric internet, the value internet creates secure and efficient asset transfers by leveraging information technology and blockchain technology. This provides users with control, trust, transparency, and efficiency.'
Utopia, in itself, is a separate initiative designed as a decentralized serverless platform aimed at addressing cybersecurity and data privacy issues. It prevents internal fraud by embedding IT management into its protocol, facilitating data sovereignty for sensitive applications. Through a community-driven governance model, Utopia enables users to shape their own future while fostering innovation without relying on traditional cloud providers.
Towards a decentralized world
Looking ahead, Williams envisions a future where decentralized systems and artificial intelligence seamlessly integrate into daily life. His collaborations with Chain Fusion and Utopia are just the beginning. 'The future internet will not be controlled by big companies,' he stated. 'It will be managed by the people who use it, which is the brilliance of blockchain technology. As artificial intelligence drives decision-making and blockchain provides security and autonomy, we are moving towards a world that is decentralized, trustworthy, and open to everyone.'
'At DFINITY Foundation, we see the future of artificial intelligence as decentralized,' Dominic exclaimed. 'AI applications on the Internet Computer have already run as smart contracts, allowing organizations and individuals to gain greater control, privacy, and transparency. Like any other network application built on the Internet Computer, the AI network application inherits key features of the protocol: unstoppable, tamper-proof, and resilient to network attacks.'
Where will the power of the internet reside?
The creator of the protocol stated that blockchain technology will play a key role in the transfer of power, just like the Internet Computer, by allowing users to own their data, control their assets, and participate in governance. The report states: 'This decentralization will bring an open, transparent, and user-driven internet, where power is shared across a global network rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.'
'A better, safer, and more inclusive internet is not only possible but necessary,' he continued. 'To achieve this, we need decentralized control, empowering users with ownership of their data and digital assets while ensuring transparency and security through blockchain technology. This will require global collaboration, innovation, and breaking the monopolies of centralized tech giants. The Internet Computer is a step in this direction, laying the foundation for an internet that empowers everyone, providing freedom, privacy, and opportunity for all.'
In line with this, Williams invites future developers to join the ICP 'to create the next generation of decentralized applications. The Internet Computer technology enables them to create web applications directly on the blockchain, providing seamless integration and tools to create unstoppable, secure, and user-centric web applications,' he concluded. 'Welcome to the Internet Computer, to be a part of the future of the internet.'
