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Facts, Knowledge & How To

FOSDEM 2023: Upcoming Open Source Conference in Brussels

In early February 2023, the FOSDEM conference will open in Brussels – a landmark event for all who are interested in modern software and hardware development. The conference is a point of attraction for free software developers and #opensource projects from around the world. The diva.exchange association traditionally participates in the conference and presents its new developments. The core of FOSDEM is the open source initiative and the projects based on it. Open source software is the result of collaborative efforts and peer review by all members of the community. Developers share knowledge, ideas and code to create innovative software […]

Working on Continous Improvements of Free Banking Technology

Now, at the end of 2022, security and privacy issues regarding personal finances have become very actual. Especially when it comes to digital space: banking transactions, electronic payments, the use of cryptocurrencies and their storage – all these attributes of modern life need to be securely protected. Digital finance today has a centralized structure, even if we’re talking about crypto exchanges – and that’s the problem. Huge losses of digital assets in 2022 occurred due to the hacking of centralized exchanges or the transfer of assets from one centralized structure to another (for example, when sharing values between different blockchain […]

Research results as video: I2P, De-Anonymisation and DIVA

The research results on “De-anonymisation of I2P network participants” were published at MoneroKon2022 in Lisbon. The researchers, Brian Boss and Marco Purtschert, worked together with DIVA.EXCHANGE and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts on the design of attacks on the I2P network. Specifically, this involved the de-anonymisation of participants in the I2P network. The research results of this important study are now being made available to everyone as a video.

I2P and the Blockchain with DIVA

In the past months, DIVA has been continuously and significantly developed: the network layer, based on I2P, and the blockchain (“divachain”) have been improved. The external download numbers of the I2P library of DIVA.EXCHANGE as well as the modern and general-purpose blockchain solution “divachain” have increased significantly. Recently, a guest lecture by DIVA.EXCHANGE on the topics “Darknet”, “I2P”, “Blockchain” and “Privacy” took place at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Free Banking Technology for Everyone Developing “free banking technology for everyone” requires continuous research and development. As an association, DIVA.EXCHANGE is making these efforts and developing open systems, […]

Diploma speech, HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich, Fraumünster

Carolyn Bächler-Schenk, co-founder of DIVA.EXCHANGE delivered the diploma speech on 14 October 2021 in front of more than 400 invited guests at the Fraumünster, Zurich, in a ceremonial setting. The topic was the digital future par excellence: namely digital money, digital securities, digital loans and how everyone can be their own independent and private bank. The great and long-standing competence as well as the commitment of the keynote speaker Carolyn Bächler-Schenk impressed the guests.

Technology Stack of the I2P-based, Free and Fully Distributed Banking Technology DIVA: Presentation at FOSSASIA 2021

The presentation at FOSSASIA, held in March 2021, is about the technology stack of the I2P based, fully distributed banking and exchange technology DIVA. DIVA is a software package licenced under AGPLv3, produced by the not-for-profit association DIVA.EXCHANGE. Konrad, the lead architect, shows how to install DIVA, how to run DIVA on your local device and hence how to become your own local I2P based, fully distributed bank and exchange. How to become part of this open source and free technology project rounds off the lecture. This article provides an overview of each section of the lecture and access to […]

An Introduction to DIVA.EXCHANGE: Transcript of the Lightning Talk at FOSDEM 2021

Konrad, the lead architect of DIVA, held a 20 minutes lecture at FOSDEM 2021. The lecture gives an overview of the I2P based, fully distributed bank DIVA. More than four times as many participants as usual, namely 33’000, followed this year’s open source conference FOSDEM – exclusively virtual. It was great to be part of this awesome event. It was great to meet people from all over the world and to get feedback and questions that drive DIVA forward. If you are interested in the lecture, read the transcript of the talk here: Hello, this talk is about an I2P […]

Start of research work in 2021: Welcome!

In February 2021, three students from the ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Science) and the HSLU (Lucerne University of Applied Science and Art) will start their bachelor theses. Again, two exciting topics are examined in a field that has so far been little explored. DIVA.EXCHANGE is looking forward to the cooperation in the coming months and welcomes the motivated students Cailleret Levi, Kyburz Sascha and Moritz Küttel.

Great people work on DIVA: this is our “Code of Merit”

The Code of Merit is a meritocratic approach to project management and communication in technical projects. In the book “The Internet Galaxy” by Manuel Castells the thesis is put forward, that among the internet pioneers the meritocratic principle played an essential role in the structure. So those who enjoy the greatest reputation, who have attracted attention through excellent performance and positive reputation, in relation to innovations. The Code of Merit provides guidelines for working together based on the pursuit of technical merit. The Code of Merit is publicly available here.

The distributed ledger technology of DIVA.EXCHANGE is Iroha

For data storage DIVA.EXCHANGE builds on the distributed ledger technology Iroha. Iroha is a blockchain under the roof of the established Hyperledger Foundation. Iroha is very slim and is suitable for small and weak devices (mobile, raspberry, TV) as well as for large server farms. The slim architecture is a huge advantage: because DIVA.EXCHANGE should use as little energy as possible. In fact, Iroha knows no “mining” in the usual, energy-wasting sense. Consensus on the validity of data is created very efficiently. Thus, within the framework of the DIVA.EXCHANGE project, Iroha also contributes to the fact that everyone can be […]

Privacy in the digital world

Everyone is talking about good old “privacy”. Tech giants, a crowd of “#degoogle” disciples, and of course the loyal Silicon Valley fan base, preach respect for individual data. However, the race for data has long been decided. DIVA.EXCHANGE works with the community on reliable solutions for real privacy protection.

Clear, Transparent and Open: New video available

As a transparent and open association DIVA.EXCHANGE works hard to make free banking and exchange technology available to everyone. The video at lbry.tv takes a close look at the mission, the people behind and the organization of DIVA.EXCHANGE.

Research and innovation at DIVA.EXCHANGE

DIVA.EXCHANGE has again worked out exciting research assignments for Information Technology and Business Information Technology students. For the autumn semester 2020, there are particularly innovative tasks for a bachelor’s or master’s thesis as well as for an economic project.

Introduction to “I2P”: Your own internet – secure, private and free

What should you do about misuse and exploitation of your personal data and values on the internet? A few years ago, even Sir Tim Berners-Lee turned away from his World Wide Web and is now on the road in the distributed new world with his “Solid” project. There is even more good news: it is quite easy to turn to the modern, distributed world and use the free internet, for example via “I2P”. We show you how.

Privacy, simply explained

Are privacy intrusions just a luxury problem or trivial offences? Or is privacy the most important protection against ever increasing blackmail and discrimination by authorities and companies?

DIVA.EXCHANGE in a nutshell: the Iroha Blockchain

Any kind of blockchain is just a simple distributed and redundant data storage. No matter how much complexity is imposed on the data memory (e.g. when programs, “smart contracts”, are stored on the blockchain) – it remains data memory. The sensible thing about a blockchain is its distributed data storage and – only with sufficient distribution – the integrity of the data over time (“fallibility”). Everything else is just smoke and mirrors.

Distributed Social Network: #DIVA on #mastodon

The future of social networks lies in open source solutions and distributed technology. That is why DIVA.EXCHANGE has set up a #mastodon node. At https://social.diva.exchange (in German) anyone can become part of a modern social network. The limits of existing large centralized and censored social networks can be overcome this way.

Free Banking Technology for Everyone

The non-profit association DIVA.EXCHANGE, Baar, uses a barrier-free and collaborative approach to create free banking technology for everyone. The open source technology ensures the privacy of all participants in the financial system of the future. The blockchain-based overall system is completely distributed. Everyone can participate in DIVA.EXCHANGE.