Aleph.im (ALEPH) is an open-source crosschain network that aims to provide decentralized database services, including file storage, computing, and a decentralized identity (DID) framework. The core mission of Aleph.im is to assist decentralized apps and protocols in eliminating the centralized parts of their stack, thereby striving to achieve a fully decentralized architecture. Aleph.im can be likened to a decentralized version of AWS or Firebase, with a focus on enhancing the DeFi ecosystem. The ALEPH token serves multiple purposes within the network, including processing transactions, compensation for processing transactions and running nodes, and payment for storage and computing services.

Aleph.im operates as a blend of onchain and offchain decentralized technologies. Its decentralized network is offchain but can only be interacted with through blockchain networks, enabling key features such as security and advanced crypto-economics. Aleph.im is compatible with many blockchain projects, including Ethereum, Polkadot, and Cosmos. This compatibility allows any project building on these platforms to integrate with Aleph.im's decentralized database and file storage. Aleph.im also implements a channel mechanism that allows sharding, creating subnetworks with all the Aleph.im network features.

Aleph.im offers a wide range of potential use cases, particularly for decentralized apps (dApps) that aim to operate without centralized components. Aleph.im's decentralized network can replace centralized services such as AWS or Google Cloud for data storage and business logic. Some of the components of Aleph.im that developers can use include a decentralized database, IPFS storage for images and documents, virtual machines, and SDKs to interact with the Aleph network. Use cases range from decentralized exchange order books and document certification to KYC metadata, NFT metadata, document management, cloud storage, website hosting, real-time dApps, and social apps.

Aleph.im was created in 2018 by Jonathan Schemoul, also known as Moshe Malawach. Based in France, Moshe has been programming since childhood and has developed enterprise software across finance, supply chain, and other major industries before entering the blockchain space. He became a key contributor in the NULS community, building the explorer and the Proof of Credit Mining (POCM) system, among other things. Aleph.im did not hold an ICO. The initial minting process involved processing transactions with NULS tokens in the Proof of Credit Mining (POCM) platform, which compensated those who processed transactions in ALEPH tokens. The total token supply was reduced by half in July 2020. Tokens currently in circulation are intended for those who process transactions, node operators, liquidity providers, marketing, and company usage.

Aleph.im employs an adaptable Layer-2 scaling solution that uses sharding and cross-chain compatible systems via a channel-focused environment and permissionless virtual machine technology. Aleph.im is not classified as a blockchain network, but it utilizes blockchain-related technologies to create efficiencies in web3 cloud computing, decentralized databases, and storage networks. Aleph's primary objective is to strive for scalable, interoperable cross-chain computing in a decentralized manner. It allows dApps and protocols to move beyond the centralized portions of their technology stack by accessing features such as decentralized cloud computing. Aleph utilizes an open-source, permissionless system that operates in both on-chain and off-chain computing environments. The Aleph crypto platform is designed to accommodate numerous use cases, including providing the necessary infrastructure to create decentralized documentation systems, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and non-fungible token (NFT) metadata frameworks, decentralized identity (DID) solutions, order book systems for decentralized platforms, cloud storage systemization, as well as dApps that facilitate interaction between users and developers.

Aleph.im provides a set of features to developers for building and deploying decentralized applications. One of these features is Twentysix Cloud, a decentralized cloud marketplace that aims to provide a range of blockchain-based storage, compute engine, indexing, and AI solutions. Twentysix Cloud operates on a Pay-As-You-Go model, which allows users to pay only for the resources they use, with costs associated with the distributed nature of resources. Payments can be made in ALEPH, the native token of the network, or in stablecoins. This system charges by the millisecond, using Avalanche C-chain and Superfluid for payment processing. Aleph.im also provides an architecture that aims to connect on-chain and off-chain data, with the goal of eliminating centralized points of failure. Aleph.im is GDPR compliant, with the intention of keeping users' personal data secure and allowing users to maintain control over their uploaded documents and metadata.

Aleph.im strives to offer improvements to the scalability of decentralized applications (dApps) by providing off-chain computation services. This means that complex computations, which could potentially slow down the blockchain, are executed off-chain, resulting in more efficient operations. Aleph.im's off-chain computation is part of its broader decentralized cloud services. These services, which include decentralized storage and cross-chain interoperability, are designed to help dApps and protocols move beyond the centralized parts of their technology stack, facilitating greater efficiency and scalability. Aleph.im's combination of blockchain and peer-to-peer technologies ensures a high level of security and speed, making it a useful tool for developers building on various blockchain networks.

Aleph.im's data sharding technology is a component of its decentralized cloud computing platform that is intended for use in data storage and computing services. Sharding, in this context, refers to the process of creating subnetworks or 'shards' within the Aleph.im network. These shards can be likened to specialized cloud clusters, each capable of performing all of Aleph.im's network functionalities. This technology is structured with the intention of addressing scalability and performance within the network, with the potential to accommodate larger volumes of data and more complex computations. It's important to note that Aleph.im's sharding technology is part of its broader strategy to offer a different approach to traditional cloud services, with the intention of reducing dependency on centralized components in the development and operation of decentralized applications and protocols.

Aleph.im strives to provide a framework for decentralized cloud storage and computing services, enhancing interoperability, efficiency, and scalability across the web3 ecosystem. Aleph.im's network is composed of Core Channel Nodes (CCNs) and Compute Resource Nodes (CRNs), which are responsible for the actual compute and storage available on Aleph.im. The network uses the ALEPH token hosted on Ethereum to manage users' payments and facilitate network integrity and workload execution acknowledgements to node operators. Aleph.im's decentralized identity solutions are designed for various use cases, including creating decentralized documentation systems, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) frameworks, non-fungible token (NFT) metadata frameworks, and decentralized exchange (DEX) order book systems. It strives to provide the necessary infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, including cross-chain composability, interchain liquidity, and structures for onboarding users from other chains.