OriginTrail (TRAC) is an open-source, permissionless web3 infrastructure project that combines knowledge graph and blockchain technologies to create a neutral, inclusive ecosystem. It features a multi-chain Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG) that operates on three blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, and Gnosis. The OriginTrail Parachain, a layer-one blockchain component designed to work with the Polkadot relay chain, extends the DKG's capabilities. The ecosystem strives to facilitate the adoption of web3 technologies, particularly in the supply chain sector. Its tokenomics design integrates both network layers and its Uniform Asset Locators (UALs) with the aim to improve asset discoverability.

OriginTrail works by combining blockchain technology with knowledge graph technology to create a Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG). This DKG enables trusted data exchange across different systems and organizations. It connects semantic data entities into a network that can be searched, verified, and enriched by various applications and users. The DKG also leverages distributed ledger technology (DLT) to ensure data integrity, provenance, and immutability. OriginTrail's protocol is blockchain-agnostic, meaning it can work with any blockchain platform that supports smart contracts. Users who want to publish or query data on the DKG need to pay TRAC to node runners who provide storage and computation resources.

OriginTrail has been applied to various use cases across different industries and domains. For instance, BSI and SCAN are utilizing the OriginTrail protocol to ensure the integrity of security audits for some of the largest US importers. The protocol helps verify the compliance of suppliers with labor standards and prevent fraud. The Food Safety Market is utilizing OriginTrail and Big Data with the aim to enhance the European food certification market. The protocol enables transparent and traceable data sharing among food producers, certifiers, retailers, and consumers. Furthermore, OriginTrail is working with Polkadot to create a parachain that will enable OriginTrail’s Decentralized Knowledge Graph to interoperate with other blockchains and applications on the Polkadot network.

OriginTrail was founded by Tomaž Levak (CEO), Žiga Drev (COO), and Branimir Rakić (CTO) as a traceability platform for food products. The founders realized there was a lack of trust and interoperability in the supply chain data, which led them to develop a decentralized solution based on blockchain technology. In 2017, they launched an initial coin offering (ICO), raising $22.5 million from participants. Since then, OriginTrail has also received public funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program for participating in several innovation experiments related to food safety, smart agriculture, and the circular economy.

OriginTrail's decentralized network strives to offer improvements in supply chain transparency by creating a blockchain-supported data sharing environment. This network is designed to address the challenges that may hinder the smooth exchange and integrity of data in product supply chains. OriginTrail's protocol enables IT providers in supply chains to establish a system for sharing data across multiple organizations. This system seeks to maintain the integrity of product data and streamline processes for stakeholders. The protocol is designed to facilitate the connection and interoperability of data between different stakeholders in multi-organizational supply chains, with consensus mechanisms for data integrity. It offers a public decentralized approach that seeks to address performance, cost, and scalability considerations.

TRAC tokens, also known as Trace tokens, are integral to the OriginTrail ecosystem, serving as the primary medium for all operations within the Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG). The DKG is a global trusted index for Web3 grade assets, hosted on the permissionless OriginTrail Decentralized Network. TRAC tokens are utilized to encourage stakeholders within the ecosystem to engage in actions that support the system's functionality. For instance, asset publishers use TRAC tokens to compensate DKG node runners for ensuring data persistence of their published asset graphs and TRAC tokens are used as collateral by network participants running nodes, which increases their participation in hosting a particular segment of the DKG. Token holders may delegate their TRAC tokens to nodes, which allows for increased participation by third parties in the network's operations and the receipt of non-financial incentives.

OriginTrail strives to offer improvements in traceability and accountability in businesses by leveraging blockchain technology to address transparency and trust issues in global supply chains. It intends to enable multiple parties in complex supply chains to append data to products and components at each stage of the supply chain. By verifying that participants meet specific conditions at each step in the supply route, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers may benefit from an immutable ledger of real-world data stored on the blockchain. This data tells the story of the life cycle of a product, including food, clothing, components, and raw materials. The platform seeks to facilitate frictionless data transfer between multiple participants or organizations using a decentralized network of nodes. OriginTrail uses oracles and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the decentralized graph network securing the ecosystem. This approach seeks to improve the global supply chain by reducing unnecessary hurdles and intends to facilitate information sharing. It aims to offer provenance for several industries, components, and products by tracking sources and preventing counterfeits.

OriginTrail strives to maintain data integrity and reliability in supply chain information by utilizing blockchain technology and a decentralized network. This method aims to ensure that supply chain data remains unchangeable and transparent, making it challenging for any party to manipulate or tamper with the information. OriginTrail's decentralized network facilitates data sharing with efficiency in mind among various stakeholders, enabling real-time tracking and verification of supply chain processes. Moreover, OriginTrail employs cryptographic techniques with the intention of making the data recorded on its blockchain resistant to tampering. This is particularly important in the cryptocurrency industry, where the traceability and transparency of transactions are vital. Moreover, OriginTrail's open-source nature allows for collaboration and peer review, with the aim of the technology constantly improving and evolving.

OriginTrail seeks to connect diverse supply chain systems by leveraging a Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG). This technology is designed to support the flexibility and adaptability of critical global supply chains by bringing complex, fragmented processes to a common denominator using a knowledge asset. A knowledge asset can represent any part of the supply chain, whether it's raw material, a finished product, a professional service, or a compliance certificate. These assets are created on a global DKG where they can be discovered, verified, and used. The DKG is not owned, controlled, or run by any single entity, providing a neutral ground where each participant can own and control their assets and important business information while still being able to share it with anyone they wish. This approach seeks to facilitate the interoperability of systems based on global standards. OriginTrail utilizes blockchain technology with the intention of maintaining data integrity, storing a tamper-proof 'fingerprint' (a cryptographic hash) of the data on the blockchain at the time of arrival. This aims to allow for a versioned graph, where each step in the graph growth could potentially be verified for credibility against the immutable fingerprints present on the blockchain.

OriginTrail enables businesses, governments, and individuals to share supply chain data with a high degree of trust, privacy, and connectivity. By creating a network of interconnected and verifiable Knowledge Assets, OriginTrail aims to promote supply chain sustainability and safety. This includes sustainability claims that aim to be reliable, a chain of custody with an aim for transparency, shipment risk assessment, and verifiable insurance claims. Utilizing the ChatDKG framework, Knowledge Assets enable AI-supported search capabilities, providing insights into various aspects of the supply chain. This approach seeks to address inefficiencies and potential fraud risks in global supply chains, with the intention of enhancing sustainability, safety, and overall performance.

OriginTrail seeks to improve transparency in global supply chains by developing a blockchain protocol that enables data sharing between organizations along the supply chain. This protocol is designed to solve the scalability and interoperability issues often associated with blockchain technology. OriginTrail's protocol is purpose-built for supply chains, facilitating blockchain-supported data operations with efficiency. It uses a decentralized, off-blockchain network to store data, ensuring data integrity, immutability, and traceability. This technology allows consumers to verify the authenticity of products by tracking their journey from the point of origin to the point of sale. The protocol supports GS1 global standards for data exchange and can include Internet-of-Things data. This means that consumers can access an immutable ledger of real-world data about the products they purchase, with potential implications for trust and efficiency.

OriginTrail has established partnerships with a variety of global organizations and businesses to develop its ecosystem. Trace Labs, the core developers of OriginTrail, have collaborated with various organizations such as the British Standards Institution, SCAN, Polkadot, Parity, Walmart, the World Federation of Hemophilia, Oracle, and the EU Commission’s Next Generation Internet. These partnerships aim to contribute to OriginTrail's trusted knowledge foundation and make it applicable within various industries. OriginTrail's ecosystem comes together under the non-profit Trace Alliance organization, a partnership hub with over 150 members worldwide. This collaboration allows for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and networking for new collaborations.

OriginTrail's data marketplace strives to present a solution to the perceived lack of transparency and accountability in global supply chains. It utilizes blockchain-based technologies to create a decentralized network that facilitates the exchange of trusted data between businesses and organizations. This network, powered by the native TRAC token, includes a diverse array of entities such as governmental and regulatory bodies, educational institutes, and global business standard bodies. OriginTrail's platform enables multiple parties in complex supply chains to append data to products and components at each stage of the supply chain, creating an immutable ledger of real-world data stored on the blockchain. This data narrates the life cycle of a product, from raw materials to final product, presenting a transparent history of each step of the manufacturing, distribution, and transportation processes. The platform facilitates frictionless data transfer between multiple participants or organizations using a decentralized network of nodes. This seeks to enhance the efficiency of the global supply chain by reducing unnecessary hurdles and enabling trustless information sharing. It tracks the origin for several industries, components, and products by tracking sources and preventing counterfeits.

OriginTrail strives to utilize blockchain technology to enhance the security and decentralization of supply chain data. It combines knowledge graph and blockchain technologies to create a universe of AI-ready Knowledge Assets, which is intended to allow anyone to participate in trusted knowledge sharing. OriginTrail's Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG) is designed to equip any data with ownership, discoverability, and trust. The platform is designed for network effects across multiple blockchain ecosystems and includes the NeuroWeb, the DKG innovation hub. OriginTrail's protocol seeks to enable the exchange of different data sets between multi-organizational supply chains, with the aim of maintaining data quality and integrity. It also includes a public decentralized system for supply chain data based on blockchain, which is intended to address performance, cost, and scalability considerations. This system is designed with the intention to minimize the amount of data stored on the blockchain, with a view towards cost and efficiency considerations.

OriginTrail is designed to integrate with global supply chain standards developed by GS1, an organization that has played a key role in shaping global supply chains with its standards. OriginTrail's protocol fully supports the GS1 EPCIS 1.2, 2.0, and CBV standards in its data structure, striving for full compliance and integration with legacy systems. This compatibility with GS1 standards allows OriginTrail to interact seamlessly with different systems and supply chain architectures worldwide. OriginTrail also supports the Web of Things (W3C) recommended standard and intends to be widely compatible with IoT devices. This adherence to standards has been acknowledged by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for its blockchain-based supply chain solution. OriginTrail's adherence to these standards seeks to support the interoperability and efficiency of global supply chains.