The Oyster Protocol is a true two-birds-one-stone proposition. The Protocol introduces a radically different approach to getting content publishers and content consumers to reach equilibrium and cooperation. As a consequence, anyone with a web browser can store and retrieve files in a decentralized, anonymous, secure, and reliable manner.
Oyster is the radical new solution that grants a parallel revenue stream to websites by adding one line of code.
Website visitors contribute a portion of their CPU and GPU power to enable users' files to be stored on a decentralized and anonymous ledger. In return, such users indirectly pay the website owners for maintaining the storage of their data.
Robust, Redundant Data Storage
Files uploaded via Oyster are stored on the IOTA Tangle. This means that an excess of redundant duplicates are stored throughout the network topology of the Tangle, therefore mitigating the threat of data loss. Nodes running the Oyster Protocol perform Proof of Work to guarantee that the Tangle retains the data.
Dual Ledger Integration
The IOTA Tangle (Directed Acyclic Graph) is used for data retention and Proof of Work negotiation between Nodes. The Smart Contract technology of the Ethereum Blockchain is used to produce Oyster Pearls (the token), therefore activating the unique token attributes that enables Oyster operation.
Treasure Hunting Algorithm
Oyster Web Nodes perform Proof of Work to search for embedded Pearls on the Tangle, which inadvertently commits the user uploaded data to the Tangle. It's like how a bee tries to get the sweet nectar of a flower, so it inadvertently pollinates the flower with the pollen on it's body. All activity across the Oyster network is economically motivated, no aspect of the Protocol relies on altruistic actors.
Zero Knowledge, Anonymous Storage
No personal information, usernames, nor passwords are ever used. Each uploaded file is assigned a unique handle, which acts like a private seed key. Anyone that has the handle can retrieve the data from the Tangle, even if they were to use their own custom-built script and Tangle Node. Mixer contracts on the Ethereum Blockchain can conceal who paid for the storage.