The Zenotta Digital System

The Zenotta Digital System solves The Data Problem -- the problem encountered in current digital systems whereby digital assets or content can be easily copied or duplicated with no straightforward ability to discern the copy from the original, thereby precluding such an asset from possessing value protected by identity-based ownership. This is achieved through a new design of blockchain that can handle data assets rather than purely monetary assets. Data itself can be placed under blockchain management through a decentralized file format, opening up the world to a data economy. The Zenotta Digital System integrates with a body of digital law that gives data legal identity, rights, and compliance. Through a next-generation blockchain network that utilizes thermodynamic principles in order to make mining more inclusive, more decentralized, and more green, participation in the data economy can be opened up to all and in a way that is responsible and environmentally-friendly.

The challenge of Digital Inclusion contains the dual problems of providing access and providing a sufficiently low barrier of entry to the digital economy. The scale is naturally global, but affects disproportionately those who are unable to properly monetize their time, their talent, and their hard work. This encompasses any artist, musician, designer, or simply any creator of any digital content (business or individual), since their route to monetization is fraught with extreme inefficiencies on the human layer. Currently, less than 12% of global music earnings actually goes to the artists that create the records. Digital content producers of all kinds suffer from similarly diminishing and unfair returns. The problem lies in the incompleteness of digital systems; they must still engage with human-based organisational and legal systems in order to function. Completing digital systems fixes this, and allows a digital economy to function for all, without bias, unfairness, or inefficiencies.

Blockchain-based systems are vital in completing digital systems, but they suffer from a re-centralization problem that ensures those with access to the most resources have vastly more power. A blockchain needs to be truly decentralized and distributed across the globe in order to enable full inclusion into a digital economy. 

Our solution is a new type of blockchain that places digital assets – data – under blockchain management. Through a decentralized file format where the file encoder is held on a blockchain ledger, and access is granted through cryptographic keys, data can be made unique and ownable. The integration of a full body of digital law, designed specifically for this technology and for digital systems, imparts the required legal identity, rights, and compliance to data that empowers any every individual, corporation, institution or government to reap the true economic, social, and legal value from their data.

The solution utilizes blockchain technology that has been redesigned to allow for the peer-to-peer trade of electronic goods & services rather than merely currency. A new technology, termed Smart Data, imbues a digital asset with identity, rights, and compliance, enabling privacy and a perfected form of digital ID.

A re-designed form of blockchain consensus keeps the mining network decentralized and distributed through a thermodynamic layer that moves highly unequal mining power towards balance, dramatically increasing the level of mining inclusion while dramatically decreasing the environmental cost.

The target population is any individual, business, corporation, or institution that struggles to properly monetize and extract value from anything that they create in the digital space. This value is not just economic but also encompasses social value and legal value. Having the power to control how your content is used, as well as ensuring that it is compliant with the relevant laws and your own principles, are forms of value that build a true and fair society. No-one in the digital world is currently able to communicate or perceive truth, and very few are able to receive fair reward for their labour and talent. The digital community is crying out for a transparent and trustworthy means of transferring verifiable digital content and assets that is efficient and open to everyone. 

We are speaking to and working with digital content creators as we develop our solution in order to build a digital system that caters to the needs to everyone rather than just the few at the top. Our approach is one of maximal inclusion in every aspect of the technology – from the ability to create the Smart Data to be traded on the network, to the ability to mine on the network, all the way to the community-led governance philosophy of the protocol – all of the steps along the road are taken with the goal of ensuring access and democratic rights for all in accordance with the applicable national law. 

Digital identity is poorly implemented in current digital systems, which are in tension with privacy and data protection principles. Financial toolsets are unable to operate without lengthy and inefficient human procedures. Individuals and businesses suffer from the incompleteness of digital systems, in terms of their own control over their identity and personal data, and the monetization of their digital content.

Our solution perfects digital identity by placing control of it in the hands of the individual. We enable financial tools to operate efficiently and autonomously within the digital space by imbuing data itself with an identity, and privacy.

Although we selected 'Prototype', this applies to the development of the technology and infrastructure rather than the financials, for which we would qualify under the ‘Growth’ phase. In terms of the Prototype development stage, this is justified from the state of our tech being in alpha release where we are testing in a closed environment. We are running several nodes in a closed blockchain network that we control to test communication and the functioning of our protocol. Some of our code has been made public, and we are gearing up to move to open testing in alpha.

Our solution is innovative in three key areas: 

1) We have invented a new form of data, called Smart Data, that employs a decentralized file format. Part of the file -- the enoder -- resides on the blockchain, and cryptographic keys provide access and ownership. The content itself is protected through the blockchain-resident encoding scheme from anyone but the owner. This allows for privacy by default, and an opt-in to any third-party usage. Smart Data possesses a legal identity, allowing it to integrate with an entirely new body of digital law that we have developed.

2) We have designed a new type of blockchain that allows data, rather than coins, to be traded peer-to-peer. This gives birth to an entirely new data economy. Rather than change the market, our solution creates a new market where data and digital assets can be traded across (and in every corner of) the world. 

3) We have built a new form of blockchain consensus that ensures optimal decentralization and distribution of mining power, removing the problem of mining re-centralization that other blockchains suffer from. This creates an inclusive mining network where individuals distributed across the world can mine profitably and secure the network.

The effect of these innovations will be to alter the entire world economy, and for the better. It will ensure that anyone with even a basic internet connection can access the global data economy and trade with no barriers or inefficiencies biased by demographic, geographical location, wealth or access to resources. 

Currently: closed testing, tech not in a commercial form 

In one year: we estimate a minimum of a few hundred, based on the response we have had from signups to our newsletter and on social media (over 3000 responses indicating interest)

In 5 years: we estimate tens of thousands, as the fledging data economy provided by our technology and the new concept of the Non-Fungible Asset (NFA) becomes mainstream.

We have a relationship with Deloitte and PwC in terms of impact studies. They will produce follow up impact studies on our technology and its applications every 24 months.

Our team consists of: 

16 FTE's 

3 PTE's

5 contractors

We have partnered with MME Legal Tax Compliance/PWC/Deloitte/Perkins Coie on the Legal Side

Wachsman and Braingency on the PR side

University of Sardegna, University of Zurich, on the Economics and Technology side

Prysm Group Economics

CEO (Roelof Barry): pioneer in cloud storage and has build out a global business in association with PwC since 1999 - in 2012 began to concentrate on using blockchain technology to leverage the true value of data for the betterment of a global community, with a key focus on the disenfranchised. founded Zenotta project in 2013 in Zug, Switzerland. 

CTO (Andrew Kessler): serial entrepreneur who worked on a N-doped diamond-based semiconductor startup and founded a number of additional startups, focused on biometrics, logistics and human identity. Andrew has a background in chemistry and biochemistry, and a strong knowledge base in cryptography.

CLO (Andreas Furrer): experienced academic and lawyer in the areas of Swiss and international law, with special focus on digital law (including blockchain), distribution, logistics, and transport law, and international private law. Held professorship in Private, Comparative, International Private and European law at the University of Lucerne.

CFO (Iwona Schwartz): experienced finance and administration specialist who has worked for multinational corporations across a number of industries. Previously Head of Finance at blockchain entertainment studio Singular DTV. Previously worked for multinational technology company IBM, global telecom network firm, Millicom, and Crown Worldwide where she worked on a project for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland.

Director of Science (Alexander Hobbs): data scientist specialized in algorithm design, high performance computing, and computer modelling of complex systems. 

Director of Engineering (Byron Houwens): an award-winning developer, designer, writer and speaker who has worked on projects ranging from machine learning for EdTech to cutting edge fintech.

The Zenotta Digital System uniquely allows for the unlocking of all value in data, being it social, legal and economic. It further promises a world first digital identity for all which will allow for all disenfranchised communities to enjoy an equal and fair opportunity participating in the global digital economy. 

By reducing all barriers for entry into the Zenotta Digital System as a world first peer-to-peer electronic trade system, it will now be possible for a global community to compete internationally through innovation, unique made possible with the Zenotta Programming languages. With a few lines of code  anyone could disrupt and enhance current incumbents and the status quo respectively. 

Zenotta at all times strives to be an equal and fair employment opportunity provider and in all aspects, globally. Our hiring practices adhere to these policies, and our core team is built up of 9 different nationalities. We have recently built up an outsourced unit in Africa and Eastern Europe for technology development and programming, as well as an outsourced design and artistic development team in India and Pakistan.

There is no limitation in the applications possible on the Zenotta Digital System and through Zenotta Ventures and the Zenotta Foundation, our leadership team and respective Boards will drive forward initiatives to empower all.

To gain exposure in the media or through conferences, which will give Zenotta some traction in the community and highlight the solution in the academic audience, as well as increase our visibility among other relevant stakeholders.

To build partnerships in the development of academic papers, access to the talent pool of MIT and its enormous network.

To benefit from thought leadership, mentoring and advisory roles.

Having the opportunity to develop a true global community, a world first digital/data marketplace, and being able to raise in access of $1 Billion in funding, Zenotta needs all the assistance (as selected) and applicable talent we can muster, hence the application to MIT Solve. 

MIT partnership with Zenotta in the field of economics, especially market design, cryptography and MIT MEDIA Lab in general as well as the access to the greater talent pool MIT could offer. 

Partnership, thought leadership with Mrs. Neha Narula Director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the MIT Media Lab and Global Council on Blockchain at World Economics Forum.

Zenotta will earmark the prize money for (STEM) Education in South Africa - proving that historically disadvantaged communities could be educated to program Smart Data Contracts, and in doing so develop applications relevant in terms of desperate social and economic upliftment.