What is Zus?

IntermediateAug 08, 2024
Explore the Zus platform in our article, covering everything from its blockchain-based decentralized storage solutions to the unique features that enhance data security and user control.
What is Zus?

Introduction

Zus is a blockchain-based platform changing our thoughts about data storage and decentralized applications. As a solution for data security and accessibility, Zus incorporates blockchain’s immutability and transparency to ensure data integrity and privacy. This platform is not just about storing data but creating an ecosystem where data can be used securely across various applications, from personal backups to enterprise-level solutions. Zus aims to resolve significant issues traditional cloud storage methods face, such as susceptibility to hacks and outages, by providing a decentralized system where users maintain control over their data.

The platform is compatible with standard storage protocols like S3 and Fuse, making it versatile for various uses, including securing AI data, blockchain histories, NFT storage, and more. Zus’s design reflects a deep understanding of the needs of both individual users and enterprises, aiming to provide secure and cost-effective solutions. Its architecture supports high performance and rapid scalability, ensuring it can serve a broad spectrum of storage demands without compromising security or accessibility​​.

What is Zus?


Source: Zus Website

Zus is a blockchain-based platform that offers advanced, decentralized cloud storage solutions. Originally known as 0Chain, Zus redefines how data is stored and accessed by leveraging the security and transparency of blockchain technology. It provides a multi-cloud storage protocol with high-performance capabilities, ideal for secure backups, private data sharing, AI data protection, and primary storage for cloud-native SaaS applications and databases.

Zus stands out by integrating blockchain with traditional cloud storage functionalities, offering free egress, real-time vendor switching, and a simplified pricing model without hidden costs. This makes it cost-effective and highly adaptable to various business and personal storage needs. The platform’s security features are particularly robust, incorporating proxy re-encryption to ensure that only authorized users can access the data, making it suitable for sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance.

The system is designed to be user-friendly with a visually appealing interface that simplifies the management of encrypted data and enhances the user experience in handling private digital assets. Zus’s approach to data storage is scalable and flexible, accommodating the increasing demands of data-heavy applications and enterprises looking for reliable and secure storage solutions.

History of Zus, Origins and Key Persons


Source: Zus website

Zus, initially conceptualized as 0Chain, was founded by Saswata Basu and Tom Austin. Their journey began in June 2017 in Silicon Valley, driven by the need to create a blockchain platform capable of delivering fast finality, scalability, and high-performance storage services that existing technologies like Ethereum could not provide. Faced with these technological limitations, they envisioned a new platform that would support high-performance applications and ensure utmost security and privacy in cloud storage.

By 2019, the Zus team expanded globally, recruiting talent from around the world, including countries like India, Pakistan, Israel, Australia, the UK, Ukraine, Poland, Egypt, Portugal, Canada, Nepal, Serbia, and Armenia. This diverse team was instrumental in developing Zus into a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates with Web2 and Web3 applications, offering decentralized storage solutions far beyond traditional services like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Key applications developed under Zus’s ecosystem include Vult, Atlus, and Bolt, each serving different aspects of blockchain and storage needs. Vult, for instance, was designed as a superior alternative to conventional cloud storage services, offering enhanced user control over data location, performance, and security. Atlus and Bolt cater to users interested in blockchain transactions and token staking, enhancing the overall utility of the Zus network.


Source: Zus website

The team’s efforts culminated in the launch of Zus’s MainNet on Christmas Eve of 2023, a significant milestone that marked the activation of a robust, decentralized storage protocol supported by a global network of miners, sharders, blobbers, validators, and authorizers. This launch was followed by a series of updates and developments, including the successful execution of the first hard fork in January 2024, aimed at enhancing the platform’s functionality and security.

How Does Zus Work?


Source: Zus website

Zus operates on a decentralized blockchain framework that enhances data storage security and accessibility by using distributed ledger technology. The core components of Zus’s functionality include miners, sharders, blobbers, and various decentralized apps (dApps) that facilitate user interactions with the network.

Miners and Sharders

These are crucial for maintaining the blockchain’s integrity and availability. Miners process transactions and create new blocks, while sharders distribute and store data fragments to ensure redundancy and quick access. This dual setup helps achieve high transaction throughput and data retrievability​.

Blobbers

Blobbers are storage providers within the Zus network. They are responsible for storing clients’ data securely. Data stored with blobbers is encrypted, ensuring only authorized users can access or retrieve it. The decentralized nature of blobber storage helps protect against common data breaches and security threats.

Proof of Honesty Consensus

Zus uses a unique consensus mechanism known as “Proof of Honesty”, which ensures that all network participants act trustworthy without the need for extensive proof of work. This mechanism is less resource-intensive and scales better than traditional blockchain consensus models​​.

Delegation and Staking

Users can stake their ZCN tokens by delegating them to service providers like miners and sharders. This secures the network and allows users to earn some of the block rewards generated through their staked tokens. This staking mechanism encourages user participation and investment in the network’s health and growth​.

Smart Contracts and dApps

The platform supports smart contracts and decentralized applications that use Zus’s secure, high-speed storage solutions. These applications range from personal data storage solutions to enterprise-level systems requiring robust data management capabilities.

Multi-Cloud Storage Allocations

Zus offers a flexible storage solution that allows users to manage their data across multiple cloud services. This enhances data security through redundancy and optimizes costs and performance based on user needs​​.

Zus integrates these technologies into a user-friendly platform, providing secure, scalable, and efficient data storage options that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology. This approach addresses several key challenges traditional cloud storage services face, including data sovereignty, security, and transparency.

Key Features of Zus

Data Fragmentation


Source: Zus website

In Zus, data fragmentation is used to break down and distribute data across a network of decentralized storage providers. Each fragment is encrypted and stored separately, enhancing both security and data retrieval efficiency. This approach ensures that the loss or compromise of a single fragment does not jeopardize the entirety of the data.

Decentralized Storage

By using blockchain technology, Zus ensures that data is not centralized in a single location, enhancing security and reducing the risk of data breaches. This decentralized approach distributes data across multiple nodes, which can safeguard against server failures and ensure higher data availability and reliability.

Advanced Security Features


Source: Zus website

Zus utilizes advanced encryption methods, including proxy re-encryption, to secure data. This ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive information. The immutability of blockchain also prevents tampering with stored data, providing an additional layer of security.

No Vendor Lock-In

One of the standout features of Zus is the flexibility it offers users in choosing or switching storage providers. This capability is crucial for businesses looking to avoid being tied to a single vendor, allowing for better price negotiations and service adjustments according to needs.

Private Cloud


Source: Zus website

Vult is one of the core applications within the Zus ecosystem, designed specifically to enhance how individuals and organizations manage and secure their digital assets. As a decentralized storage solution, Vult integrates seamlessly with the Zus platform, leveraging blockchain technology to offer features that traditional cloud storage services cannot match.

Transparent and Efficient Pricing

Zus operates on a straightforward pricing model without hidden fees, which is particularly beneficial for budgeting and cost management in large-scale operations. This transparency is a significant advantage over traditional cloud storage services, which often include ancillary fees.

Immutability


Source: Zus website

Zus uses blockchain technology to ensure the immutability of stored data. Once information is recorded on the Zus blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted, anchored by cryptographic principles and consensus protocols. This helps guarantee data integrity, making Zus an excellent platform for applications where proof of authenticity and non-alteration are required, such as legal documents, medical records, and financial transactions.

Customizable Storage Solutions


Source: Zus website

Users can tailor their storage setups to meet specific requirements, including adjusting the number of data and parity shards. This customization allows for optimizing storage for specific performance, security, or cost needs.

User-Friendly Interfaces

Zus platforms are designed with user experience in mind, ensuring that even users with minimal technical knowledge can easily navigate and manage their storage. Features like simple UI workflows for complex tasks make the platform accessible to a broader audience.

NFT Storage


Source: Zus website

NFT Stories is a feature of Chalk, an innovative Zus ecosystem application designed to enrich the experience and value of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Chalk provides a unique way for creators to enhance their NFTs by embedding multimedia stories that give context and background to the digital assets.

Multi-Cloud Integration and Disaster Recovery

The ability to integrate seamlessly with existing cloud infrastructures like AWS S3 and implement disaster recovery solutions with minimal downtime are part of Zus’s enterprise-focused capabilities. This is essential for businesses requiring robust data backup and recovery systems.

These features position Zus as a secure and efficient data storage option and a forward-thinking solution capable of accommodating the evolving needs of modern businesses and individual users looking for reliable and secure cloud storage solutions.

Is ZCN a Good Investment?


Source: Zus website

ZCN is used for purchasing storage and staking service providers within the Zus ecosystem. This utility can drive demand, as the token is required for key network operations like storing data or participating in network consensus through staking​. The ZCN token has a structured inflation schedule that limits its total supply. Holders of ZCN can earn rewards by staking their tokens and delegating them to service providers like blobbers, miners, and sharders. This supports network security and reliability and provides a passive income stream to the stakeholders​. The network incentivizes miners, sharders, and blobbers through block rewards, which are distributed based on their contribution to the network. This mechanism promotes active participation and growth of the network, potentially increasing the intrinsic value of ZCN over time​.

ZCN can be traded on platforms like Sifchain, where users can engage in low-fee trading and add liquidity, enhancing its market accessibility and attractiveness to investors looking for minimal transaction costs​. Considering these factors, ZCN offers several attractive features for potential investors, including utility within a growing blockchain ecosystem, controlled inflation, and opportunities for earning through network participation. However, like any investment, it’s crucial to consider the associated risks and perform due diligence before investing.

How Can You Own ZCN?

You can buy ZCN tokens directly on various cryptocurrency exchanges where it is listed. Ensure to check compatible exchanges that support ZCN for up-to-date availability and trading pairs, such as Gate.io. By staking ZCN, you can participate in the network’s security and consensus while earning rewards. This involves locking your ZCN tokens in a staking contract where they help secure the network. You can stake ZCN through the Zus network’s official wallet or compatible platforms​.

If you hold ZCN but do not wish to run a node yourself, you can delegate your tokens to service providers like blobbers, miners, and sharders. This allows you to earn a portion of their earnings from block rewards, without managing the technical aspects of a node. Active participation in the network as a blobber or miner can also earn you ZCN. Blobbers provide storage capacity and earn ZCN in return for their services, especially when they meet network standards and pass periodic challenges​.

Each of these methods offers a way to be actively involved in the Zus ecosystem, either through investment, participation, or both. Always ensure to use official and secure platforms for all transactions and staking activities to protect your investments.

Tokenomics


Source: Zus website

The tokenomics of Zus are designed to support the platform’s growth and sustainability by strategically allocating and distributing ZCN tokens to various stakeholders. With a hard cap of 220 million tokens, the structure ensures a deflationary supply to preserve long-term value. The initial allocation includes 60 million tokens each for public sale and team incentives, vested over four years to align team interests with the platform’s longevity.

An additional 60 million tokens are designated for future development, incentives, ecosystem expansion, and reserves, ensuring resources are available for ongoing innovation and emergency needs. On the network-generated side, tokens are distributed to miners, sharders, blobbers, and validators to reward their contributions to network security and functionality. This comprehensive approach incentivizes early and continued participation and strategically supports various activities—from development to user acquisition and network maintenance—creating a robust economic foundation for the Zus ecosystem.

Take Action On Zus

Check out the ZCN price today and start trading your favorite currency pairs:

Author: Piero Tozzi
Translator: Viper
Reviewer(s): Matheus、Piccolo、Ashley
* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.io.
* This article may not be reproduced, transmitted or copied without referencing Gate.io. Contravention is an infringement of Copyright Act and may be subject to legal action.

What is Zus?

IntermediateAug 08, 2024
Explore the Zus platform in our article, covering everything from its blockchain-based decentralized storage solutions to the unique features that enhance data security and user control.
What is Zus?

Introduction

Zus is a blockchain-based platform changing our thoughts about data storage and decentralized applications. As a solution for data security and accessibility, Zus incorporates blockchain’s immutability and transparency to ensure data integrity and privacy. This platform is not just about storing data but creating an ecosystem where data can be used securely across various applications, from personal backups to enterprise-level solutions. Zus aims to resolve significant issues traditional cloud storage methods face, such as susceptibility to hacks and outages, by providing a decentralized system where users maintain control over their data.

The platform is compatible with standard storage protocols like S3 and Fuse, making it versatile for various uses, including securing AI data, blockchain histories, NFT storage, and more. Zus’s design reflects a deep understanding of the needs of both individual users and enterprises, aiming to provide secure and cost-effective solutions. Its architecture supports high performance and rapid scalability, ensuring it can serve a broad spectrum of storage demands without compromising security or accessibility​​.

What is Zus?


Source: Zus Website

Zus is a blockchain-based platform that offers advanced, decentralized cloud storage solutions. Originally known as 0Chain, Zus redefines how data is stored and accessed by leveraging the security and transparency of blockchain technology. It provides a multi-cloud storage protocol with high-performance capabilities, ideal for secure backups, private data sharing, AI data protection, and primary storage for cloud-native SaaS applications and databases.

Zus stands out by integrating blockchain with traditional cloud storage functionalities, offering free egress, real-time vendor switching, and a simplified pricing model without hidden costs. This makes it cost-effective and highly adaptable to various business and personal storage needs. The platform’s security features are particularly robust, incorporating proxy re-encryption to ensure that only authorized users can access the data, making it suitable for sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance.

The system is designed to be user-friendly with a visually appealing interface that simplifies the management of encrypted data and enhances the user experience in handling private digital assets. Zus’s approach to data storage is scalable and flexible, accommodating the increasing demands of data-heavy applications and enterprises looking for reliable and secure storage solutions.

History of Zus, Origins and Key Persons


Source: Zus website

Zus, initially conceptualized as 0Chain, was founded by Saswata Basu and Tom Austin. Their journey began in June 2017 in Silicon Valley, driven by the need to create a blockchain platform capable of delivering fast finality, scalability, and high-performance storage services that existing technologies like Ethereum could not provide. Faced with these technological limitations, they envisioned a new platform that would support high-performance applications and ensure utmost security and privacy in cloud storage.

By 2019, the Zus team expanded globally, recruiting talent from around the world, including countries like India, Pakistan, Israel, Australia, the UK, Ukraine, Poland, Egypt, Portugal, Canada, Nepal, Serbia, and Armenia. This diverse team was instrumental in developing Zus into a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates with Web2 and Web3 applications, offering decentralized storage solutions far beyond traditional services like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Key applications developed under Zus’s ecosystem include Vult, Atlus, and Bolt, each serving different aspects of blockchain and storage needs. Vult, for instance, was designed as a superior alternative to conventional cloud storage services, offering enhanced user control over data location, performance, and security. Atlus and Bolt cater to users interested in blockchain transactions and token staking, enhancing the overall utility of the Zus network.


Source: Zus website

The team’s efforts culminated in the launch of Zus’s MainNet on Christmas Eve of 2023, a significant milestone that marked the activation of a robust, decentralized storage protocol supported by a global network of miners, sharders, blobbers, validators, and authorizers. This launch was followed by a series of updates and developments, including the successful execution of the first hard fork in January 2024, aimed at enhancing the platform’s functionality and security.

How Does Zus Work?


Source: Zus website

Zus operates on a decentralized blockchain framework that enhances data storage security and accessibility by using distributed ledger technology. The core components of Zus’s functionality include miners, sharders, blobbers, and various decentralized apps (dApps) that facilitate user interactions with the network.

Miners and Sharders

These are crucial for maintaining the blockchain’s integrity and availability. Miners process transactions and create new blocks, while sharders distribute and store data fragments to ensure redundancy and quick access. This dual setup helps achieve high transaction throughput and data retrievability​.

Blobbers

Blobbers are storage providers within the Zus network. They are responsible for storing clients’ data securely. Data stored with blobbers is encrypted, ensuring only authorized users can access or retrieve it. The decentralized nature of blobber storage helps protect against common data breaches and security threats.

Proof of Honesty Consensus

Zus uses a unique consensus mechanism known as “Proof of Honesty”, which ensures that all network participants act trustworthy without the need for extensive proof of work. This mechanism is less resource-intensive and scales better than traditional blockchain consensus models​​.

Delegation and Staking

Users can stake their ZCN tokens by delegating them to service providers like miners and sharders. This secures the network and allows users to earn some of the block rewards generated through their staked tokens. This staking mechanism encourages user participation and investment in the network’s health and growth​.

Smart Contracts and dApps

The platform supports smart contracts and decentralized applications that use Zus’s secure, high-speed storage solutions. These applications range from personal data storage solutions to enterprise-level systems requiring robust data management capabilities.

Multi-Cloud Storage Allocations

Zus offers a flexible storage solution that allows users to manage their data across multiple cloud services. This enhances data security through redundancy and optimizes costs and performance based on user needs​​.

Zus integrates these technologies into a user-friendly platform, providing secure, scalable, and efficient data storage options that leverage the benefits of blockchain technology. This approach addresses several key challenges traditional cloud storage services face, including data sovereignty, security, and transparency.

Key Features of Zus

Data Fragmentation


Source: Zus website

In Zus, data fragmentation is used to break down and distribute data across a network of decentralized storage providers. Each fragment is encrypted and stored separately, enhancing both security and data retrieval efficiency. This approach ensures that the loss or compromise of a single fragment does not jeopardize the entirety of the data.

Decentralized Storage

By using blockchain technology, Zus ensures that data is not centralized in a single location, enhancing security and reducing the risk of data breaches. This decentralized approach distributes data across multiple nodes, which can safeguard against server failures and ensure higher data availability and reliability.

Advanced Security Features


Source: Zus website

Zus utilizes advanced encryption methods, including proxy re-encryption, to secure data. This ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive information. The immutability of blockchain also prevents tampering with stored data, providing an additional layer of security.

No Vendor Lock-In

One of the standout features of Zus is the flexibility it offers users in choosing or switching storage providers. This capability is crucial for businesses looking to avoid being tied to a single vendor, allowing for better price negotiations and service adjustments according to needs.

Private Cloud


Source: Zus website

Vult is one of the core applications within the Zus ecosystem, designed specifically to enhance how individuals and organizations manage and secure their digital assets. As a decentralized storage solution, Vult integrates seamlessly with the Zus platform, leveraging blockchain technology to offer features that traditional cloud storage services cannot match.

Transparent and Efficient Pricing

Zus operates on a straightforward pricing model without hidden fees, which is particularly beneficial for budgeting and cost management in large-scale operations. This transparency is a significant advantage over traditional cloud storage services, which often include ancillary fees.

Immutability


Source: Zus website

Zus uses blockchain technology to ensure the immutability of stored data. Once information is recorded on the Zus blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted, anchored by cryptographic principles and consensus protocols. This helps guarantee data integrity, making Zus an excellent platform for applications where proof of authenticity and non-alteration are required, such as legal documents, medical records, and financial transactions.

Customizable Storage Solutions


Source: Zus website

Users can tailor their storage setups to meet specific requirements, including adjusting the number of data and parity shards. This customization allows for optimizing storage for specific performance, security, or cost needs.

User-Friendly Interfaces

Zus platforms are designed with user experience in mind, ensuring that even users with minimal technical knowledge can easily navigate and manage their storage. Features like simple UI workflows for complex tasks make the platform accessible to a broader audience.

NFT Storage


Source: Zus website

NFT Stories is a feature of Chalk, an innovative Zus ecosystem application designed to enrich the experience and value of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Chalk provides a unique way for creators to enhance their NFTs by embedding multimedia stories that give context and background to the digital assets.

Multi-Cloud Integration and Disaster Recovery

The ability to integrate seamlessly with existing cloud infrastructures like AWS S3 and implement disaster recovery solutions with minimal downtime are part of Zus’s enterprise-focused capabilities. This is essential for businesses requiring robust data backup and recovery systems.

These features position Zus as a secure and efficient data storage option and a forward-thinking solution capable of accommodating the evolving needs of modern businesses and individual users looking for reliable and secure cloud storage solutions.

Is ZCN a Good Investment?


Source: Zus website

ZCN is used for purchasing storage and staking service providers within the Zus ecosystem. This utility can drive demand, as the token is required for key network operations like storing data or participating in network consensus through staking​. The ZCN token has a structured inflation schedule that limits its total supply. Holders of ZCN can earn rewards by staking their tokens and delegating them to service providers like blobbers, miners, and sharders. This supports network security and reliability and provides a passive income stream to the stakeholders​. The network incentivizes miners, sharders, and blobbers through block rewards, which are distributed based on their contribution to the network. This mechanism promotes active participation and growth of the network, potentially increasing the intrinsic value of ZCN over time​.

ZCN can be traded on platforms like Sifchain, where users can engage in low-fee trading and add liquidity, enhancing its market accessibility and attractiveness to investors looking for minimal transaction costs​. Considering these factors, ZCN offers several attractive features for potential investors, including utility within a growing blockchain ecosystem, controlled inflation, and opportunities for earning through network participation. However, like any investment, it’s crucial to consider the associated risks and perform due diligence before investing.

How Can You Own ZCN?

You can buy ZCN tokens directly on various cryptocurrency exchanges where it is listed. Ensure to check compatible exchanges that support ZCN for up-to-date availability and trading pairs, such as Gate.io. By staking ZCN, you can participate in the network’s security and consensus while earning rewards. This involves locking your ZCN tokens in a staking contract where they help secure the network. You can stake ZCN through the Zus network’s official wallet or compatible platforms​.

If you hold ZCN but do not wish to run a node yourself, you can delegate your tokens to service providers like blobbers, miners, and sharders. This allows you to earn a portion of their earnings from block rewards, without managing the technical aspects of a node. Active participation in the network as a blobber or miner can also earn you ZCN. Blobbers provide storage capacity and earn ZCN in return for their services, especially when they meet network standards and pass periodic challenges​.

Each of these methods offers a way to be actively involved in the Zus ecosystem, either through investment, participation, or both. Always ensure to use official and secure platforms for all transactions and staking activities to protect your investments.

Tokenomics


Source: Zus website

The tokenomics of Zus are designed to support the platform’s growth and sustainability by strategically allocating and distributing ZCN tokens to various stakeholders. With a hard cap of 220 million tokens, the structure ensures a deflationary supply to preserve long-term value. The initial allocation includes 60 million tokens each for public sale and team incentives, vested over four years to align team interests with the platform’s longevity.

An additional 60 million tokens are designated for future development, incentives, ecosystem expansion, and reserves, ensuring resources are available for ongoing innovation and emergency needs. On the network-generated side, tokens are distributed to miners, sharders, blobbers, and validators to reward their contributions to network security and functionality. This comprehensive approach incentivizes early and continued participation and strategically supports various activities—from development to user acquisition and network maintenance—creating a robust economic foundation for the Zus ecosystem.

Take Action On Zus

Check out the ZCN price today and start trading your favorite currency pairs:

Author: Piero Tozzi
Translator: Viper
Reviewer(s): Matheus、Piccolo、Ashley
* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.io.
* This article may not be reproduced, transmitted or copied without referencing Gate.io. Contravention is an infringement of Copyright Act and may be subject to legal action.
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