STORE Community Update - February 2025
CLEAR protocol deployment, STORE AI Oracle release, BFT Democracy advances, and fundraising progress toward our democratic cloud computing vision.
Greetings, STORE community! February has been a month of intense execution and meaningful progress across multiple fronts. We've achieved several significant milestones that have moved us closer to our launch, including the introduction of our groundbreaking CLEAR protocol's TPS metrics, the deployment of the first version of STORE AI to the protocol, and substantial advances in our regulatory framework with MME in Switzerland. As we continue building our democratic cloud computing ecosystem, we remain grateful for your unwavering support that has kept us not only alive but thriving during this critical phase.
We invite you to explore our real-time progress through our protocol at storecloud.org/economy, and in the spirit of transparency, we're also making our fundraising history publicly accessible at https://storecloud.org/fundinghistory.
Engineering
February has been an exceptional month for our engineering initiatives, with the successful deployment of several core components of the STORE ecosystem:
We're excited to introduce a first-of-its-kind feature on the CLEAR protocol: a comprehensive transactions per second (TPS) metric that combines off-chain data requirements, compliance, on-chain payments, and off-chain payments. CLEAR's TPS metric is a game-changer in the world of decentralized finance, seamlessly integrating off-chain compliance requirements (such as KYC and AML checks) with on-chain blockchain-based payments. This unique combination allows STORE to process transactions that adhere to real-world regulations while leveraging the speed and security of blockchain technology.
Our CLEAR protocol continues processing complete transactions in seconds rather than days. Each transaction's full journey is permanently stored with transparent status tracking, providing unprecedented visibility into the transaction process. You can view an example at https://storecloud.org/cloud/transaction/1xgnohhmfzb4.
We've reached a significant milestone with the deployment of the first version of STORE AI to the protocol. Founding monetary policy APIs have been shipped to internal production, establishing the foundation for governance-controlled economic parameters. The STORE AI Oracle bridges the off-chain world with the blockchain, enabling secure and efficient data and transaction transfer. Given that STORE AI and the STORE Oracle are funded by the global STORE Economy, this represents the first step in user-owned, user-monetized, and user-governed AI.
We've also begun the next phase of engineering work on VERIFY, our on-chain verification service for STORE's permanent storage. Initially deploying on Arbitrum, this infrastructure connects each permanently stored item with a corresponding verification proof. For those interested in the technical details, you can read our paper at: https://www.techrxiv.org/users/814274/articles/1215625-enabling-autonomous-computing-through-decentralized-cloud-id-generation.
Additionally, we've shipped the next version of design and architecture for STORE Identity. As you'll come to learn, it will be a decentralized identity system like none other, providing a robust foundation for secure and private interactions within our ecosystem.
Operations
Our operational focus in February has centered on establishing robust infrastructure to scale operations while ensuring compliance with regulations in both Switzerland and the United States:
We're making substantial progress toward automating US Accreditation checks via CLEAR, which would open up US markets in a more scalable way than our current approach. This potential partnership represents a significant step forward in our ability to efficiently serve the US market.
In the spirit of transparency, we're making our fundraising history publicly accessible. Our journey began as a humble research project, avoiding the ICO market and instead relying on support from angel investors and funds to back our early R&D efforts. Throughout bear markets, we've maintained a low burn rate while solving complex problems in computing, economics, and governance. As we approach launch, our investments have focused on legal and accounting aspects to establish the STORE Association in Switzerland while continuing to invest heavily in R&D.
Treasury Branch tests will begin with multiple wallet partners for the STORE release. We're building infrastructure for STORE Treasury to credibly and securely launch out of Switzerland, ensuring proper management and oversight of the protocol's assets.
We're currently working on our $4 Million Series Seed Round, with approximately $210,000 of STORE tokens remaining to sell to qualified buyers at $0.039 before raising the price to $0.069. Once we complete this initial phase, we'll accelerate our efforts to achieve our funding goal at a higher valuation. Our ongoing token sale supports our Switzerland legal path and our pursuit of a lead investor. For those interested in supporting this initiative, please visit http://storecloud.org/buystore.
As part of our ongoing regulatory compliance efforts, we're evaluating MICA Licensing Requirements with our Swiss lawyers to determine whether STORE, as a layer zero protocol, will need to obtain a license under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This process is more time-consuming compared to traditional layer one protocols due to STORE's novel design and the unique way payments flow through the system.
Governance
February has marked significant advancements in our governance infrastructure, particularly in the development of our Byzantine Fault Tolerant Democracy (BFT Democracy):
We've been intensively working on the BFT Democracy specification, building the technical founding specification for how democracy operates in a decentralized environment. Through years of multidisciplinary research, we have developed a suite of key innovations that set STORE's BFT Democracy apart:
-True one-entity-one-vote system, ensuring equal representation
-Five-branch structure with mutual oversight, preventing centralization
-Built-in AI participation limits, ensuring human control
-Swiss-based legal framework, meeting regulatory requirements
-Industry-first BFT ID system for secure governance identity
These features combine to create a governance model that is not just another DAO, but a democracy redesigned for the decentralized computing age, striking a balance between decentralization and effective decision-making.
The recent forensic findings confirming targeted attacks on developer machines underscores the importance of our Security Branch development. All code and API deployments will eventually flow through this branch, creating a critical security layer for STORE's infrastructure. We're detailing comprehensive security protocols that address decentralized permanent data storage governance, smart contract access controls, API access restrictions, AI access frameworks, and compute resource security. This represents a next-generation defense system in the age of not only decentralization but autonomous, advanced AI.
We continue our intensive work with MME in Switzerland on MiCA regulatory classification. Our timeline ranges from 1-6 months depending on how our R&D work progresses. If we solve for the decentralized problem of data, APIs, AI, and compute, we'll be on the lower end of that timeline. This regulatory sprint is running in parallel with our technical work, ensuring we build on a proper legal foundation.
In the coming weeks, we're preparing multiple First Governance votes for once key pre-launch milestones get met, representing an important step in our journey toward a fully democratic governance model.
As we move forward in our mission to create a truly democratic cloud computing ecosystem, we remain grateful for your continued support and engagement. Every day of progress brings us closer to our shared vision, and we're committed to maintaining this momentum until we cross the finish line. Together, we're building a future where technology serves humanity through democratic principles and transparent governance.
Learn More About STORE
Explore STORE's innovative cloudspace architecture and vision for user-owned cloud computing:
Highlighted Materials
-STORE Cloud Series Seed Investment Memo: http://storecloud.org/seriesseedmemo
-STORE Cloud Super Summary: http://storecloud.org/summary
-STORE Technical Demo (video): https://youtu.be/IBB2O_ktMOQ
-STORE Quick Deck: http://storecloud.org/deck
-State of STORE Annual Report: http://storecloud.org/stateofstore2024
Other Materials
-STORE Long Deck: http://storecloud.org/longdeck
-STORE Comparison (L1, DePIN, and Public Clouds: http://storecloud.org/compare
-STORE Launch Plan and Roadmap: http://storecloud.org/launch
Latest Public Research
-Read our IEEE Paper "Enabling Autonomous Computing Through Decentralized Cloud ID Generation"
How To Help Us Grow
-Join as a long-term token partner (invite-only): http://storecloud.org/buyorder
-Join as a long-term equity + token warrant partner (invite-only): http://storecloud.org/equity
-Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X
-Share STORE Cloud with your network
For questions, contact team@storecloud.org
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Telegram Weekly Updates
February 7th, 2025
This week marked significant progress on multiple fronts as we continue to work towards the launch of STORE. Our team has been diligently focused on various long-term processes, and we remain confident that our hard work will pay off.
🏗️ Building the Foundation for Success
We've made substantial strides in establishing the necessary infrastructure to scale our operations in a manner that complies with regulations in both Switzerland and the United States. This infrastructure forms the bedrock of the protocol's economy and sets the stage for future growth.
🌉 Shifting Focus to Institutional Funding
As we near the completion of our infrastructure development,we're preparing to transition our focus to institutional fundraising. We have another $150k-$250k of $STORE tokens available for sale at the current price of$0.039 before we aim to increase the price and conclude our Series Seed round.We anticipate that this shift will help accelerate our fundraising efforts.
🇨🇭 Establishing Finality in Switzerland
One of the critical milestones we're working towards is establishing finality in Switzerland. Once achieved, this will position us to pursue venture funding more aggressively. We anticipate reaching this milestone in the near future, unlocking new opportunities for growth.
📊 Enhancing Transparency in Financial Reporting
As we progress through the final audits of our token table and integrate it into our token distribution platform (currently testing Pulley and Bitgo), we will update the STORE Economy dashboard with a full history of our financial data. Our goal is to run all economic activity through permanent storage and the STORE Economy, enhancing transparency and accountability.
🔧 Execution on Multiple Fronts
STORE is a sophisticated undertaking that requires a phased approach to ensure simultaneous execution on multiple fronts. Our team is making significant investments in all necessary areas while maintaining a swift pace. We're committed to maintaining this momentum until we cross the finish line.
While there are no guarantees in the early stages of a project like ours, particularly when it comes to fundraising, we remain optimistic about our future prospects. Our team's dedication and innovative approach position us well for success.
We're grateful for the continued support and engagement of our community as we build the future of decentralized cloud computing and AI governance together.
Stay tuned for more updates as we push forward on our mission.
February 14th, 2025
This week has been filled with significant milestones as we continue to build the foundation for the launch of STORE and the establishment of our innovative Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) Democracy.
🌉 CLEAR: Bridging Off-Chain and On-Chain Economies
We introduced CLEAR, a groundbreaking protocol that seamlessly integrates off-chain transactions, including bank wire transfers and eventually credit card payments, with on-chain blockchain-based transactions. CLEAR is an automated web service that brings the massive off-chain nature of global economies onto the blockchain by enabling their compliance requirements and more to be respected and API-driven. This unique combination positions STORE at the forefront of decentralized finance, allowing us to process transactions that adhere to real-world regulations while leveraging the speed and security of blockchain technology.
🔗 Pioneering BFT Democracy
Our team has been diligently working on the progressive decentralization of the STORE protocol through the implementation of BFT Democracy. Developed in collaboration with MME in Switzerland, this innovative governance model is the result of years of multidisciplinary research and sets a new standard for blockchain governance. We anticipate a multi-year process, with key milestones such as the introduction of BFT ID just before the ratification of Second Governance.
🗳️ Engaging in Community Discussions
We value the insights and opinions of our community, and we're encouraged by the active discussions surrounding future governance items. Topics such as token distribution clarity, vesting schedules, and the importance of stakeholder participation in the decision-making process are at the forefront of our community's minds. We're committed to fostering an open and inclusive dialogue as we work together to shape the future of STORE.
💰 Treasury Goals and Fundraising
Our immediate treasury goal is to sell an additional $150,000 to $250,000 worth of tokens at the current price of $0.039. Following this, our focus will shift to engaging with institutional investors to close out our Seed round. While we will continue to make opportunities available for the global crypto community to participate, our primary attention and resources will be directed towards the institutional layer.
📣 Sharing the STORE Story
As we progress in our fundraising efforts, I'm excited about the opportunity to share the STORE story with a wider audience. Throughout our extensive research phase, we have remained relatively quiet, but now, with a strong narrative and a compelling vision, I'm confident that we'll find the right long-term partners to support us in the post-launch economy and beyond. See you on Monday.
February 21nd, 2025
This week we've been in maximum execution mode across multiple critical paths.
🏗️ Core Infrastructure Sprint
We're in an intense R&D sprint across two critical fronts:
1. BFT Democracy specification: Building the technical founding specification for how democracy operates in a decentralized environment.
2. MiCA regulatory framework: Working directly with MME in Switzerland on regulatory classification. This regulatory sprint is running in parallel with our technical work.
We're speed maxxing through these because they're the foundation for launch.
🔐 Treasury Development
Beginning Treasury Branch tests next week with multiple wallet partners for STORE release. We're building infrastructure for STORE Treasury to credibly and securely launch out of Switzerland.
📊 Capital Allocation
We're selling up to 235k STORE tokens at $0.039 to fund the Switzerland legal path and our pursuit of a lead investor. Once complete, we'll raise the pre-launch private price to $0.069. Visithttp://storecloud.org/buystore to support.
📣 Governance &Communication
Next week we'll send a global STORE Owner update.
We're also preparing multiple First Governance votes for once key pre-launch milestones get met.
Team Focus
We remain a lean, focused team with a mission. We are working around the clock in this sprint phase.
February 28th, 2025
Next week we'll send our global investor update following the first software release of the VERIFY sub-protocol. VERIFY creates the cryptographic bridge between off-chain cloud computing and on-chain blockspace we've been building toward.
🏗️ Core Infrastructure Progress
We've achieved several key milestones this week:
1. VERIFY Protocol Engineering
We've started the next phase of engineering work on VERIFY,our on-chain verification service for STORE's permanent storage. Initially deploying on Arbitrum, this infrastructure connects each permanently stored item with a corresponding verification proof. Technical paper:https://www.techrxiv.org/users/814274/articles/1215625-enabling-autonomous-computing-through-decentralized-cloud-id-generation
2. STORE Identity Architecture
Just shipped the next version of design and architecture for STORE Identity. As you'll come to learn, it'll be a decentralized identity like none other.
3. STORE AI Deployment
We've shipped the first version of the STORE Economic AI to the protocol. Founding monetary policy APIs have been shipped to internal production, establishing the foundation for governance-controlled economic parameters.
4. CLEAR Transaction System
Our CLEAR protocol continues processing complete transactions in seconds rather than days. Each transaction's full journey is permanently stored with transparent status tracking. Example: https://storecloud.org/cloud/transaction/1xgnohhmfzb4
🛡️ Security Branch Development
The recent forensic findings confirming targeted attacks on developer machines underscores the importance of our Security Branch development. All code and API deployments will eventually flow through this branch, creating a critical security layer for STORE's infrastructure.
We're detailing comprehensive security protocols that address:
- Decentralized permanent data storage governance
- Smart contract access controls
- API access restrictions
- AI access frameworks
- Compute resource security
This represents a next-generation defense system in the age of not only decentralization but autonomous, advanced AI.
⚖️ MiCA Regulatory Progress
We continue our intensive work with MME in Switzerland on MiCA regulatory classification. Our timeline ranges from 1-6 months depending on how our R&D work goes with MME. If we solve for the decentralized problem of data, APIs, AI, and compute, we'll be on the lower end. We're working around the clock on this critical R&D and review iteration.
This regulatory sprint is running in parallel with our technical work, ensuring we build on a proper legal foundation.
🔐 Treasury Development
Treasury Branch tests begin next week with multiple wallet partners for STORE release. We're building infrastructure for STORE Treasury to credibly and securely launch out of Switzerland.
📊 Capital Allocation
We have approximately $210k of STORE tokens remaining to sell to qualified buyers at $0.039 before raising the price to $0.069. We'll put the pedal to the metal in March to reach this target, then push even harder to achieve our $4 million funding goal at the higher valuation. We have to earn these milestones - every day of progress gets us closer.
Visit http://storecloud.org/buystore to support.
Final Note
We are incredibly thankful for community support these last few months - you've kept us not only alive but thriving. It's just enough to keep pushing forward.