Trusted hardware for blockchain projects - Semiconductor chips igniting blockchain applications
Here is the 4th of my multi part posts on some of the forays of semiconductor players in the blockchain space.
The earlier three include:
- Infineon with XAIN in Embedded blockchain clients on microcontrollers
- Skynet Core addressing an intelligent machine economy
- Samsung spreading its strengths into the crypto and blockchain space
This one is on Accelor and the “decentralizing” of the hardware housing the blockchain
Accelor has come up with a chip designed specifically for blockchain applications – trusted hardware for blockchain projects. Well, actually a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and this is not for the more well known use of hardware in blockchain space i.e. mining.
Background and Framework (Reference 1):
Accelor’s founders believe that software vulnerabilities in blockchain technology can be obviated by FPGA chips. All three co-founders quit Huawei in 2018 to start Accelor. China-based Chengwei Capital put in a $2M in seed funding.
They launched their performance engine (APE) to optimize processes like encryption and FPGA based security architecture (ASA). Manufactured FPGAs are awaited from their production base in Nanjing, China, and the startup is set to raise additional capital now. The company has tested its technology on HyperLedger Fabric blockchain.
Blockchains rely on the CPUs. A trusted execution environment which could say be a ring-fenced part of a CPU, is vital for securing the cryptographic keys. And this “CPU trust” zone needs to be beyond (a) Trusting the security of a dominant CPU manufacturer and (b) Centralizing the network by a single entity.
Applications:
Targets current hardware issues faced by blockchain including cybersecurity and performance (transaction per second). Company is in talks with banks & financial entities.
Interesting:
- Trusted hardware execution environment for blockchain as compared to a complete software reliant one.
- Decentralizing hardware too in the blockchain network – Potential customers can set up their identity management systems for authenticating devices under their control
- Accelor points out against putting too much trust in one company’s hands (CPU manufacturers). However, when pointed out that the programmable nature of their FPGAs makes them a target for malware etc., they counter it by pointing out that such threats assume the FPGA vendors/manufacturers are untrustworthy. So does the approach make it both decentralized as well as centralized, ahem?? …. They do stress, though, that their products are subject to thorough 3rd party audits before release.
Reference:
(1): Inside Accelor’s “trusted execution” alternative for blockchain
About the author –
A technology evangelist, Meenu Sarin has an extensive experience working across a multitude of deep tech domains - Semiconductor, Robotics, Deep Learning and now Blockchain. She was pivotal in setting up STMicroelectronics Design Centre in India as well as their semicustom ASIC business across the Asia Pacific. As a Programme Consultant at the Singapore government’s premier research agency, A*STAR, Meenu helped provide pointers for potential research areas via deep technology market intelligence gained by leveraging ecosystem research and deriving insights. As a core team member of hybrid blockchain technology startup XinFin, she is helping develop a vibrant Blockchain ecosystem in the Asian markets.
A strong industry advocate, Meenu was a founding member and an Executive Board Member of the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association and has also chaired a few annual sessions of Technology Innovation Forum for SEMI.
Contact details
Website www.vlsiconsultancy.com |Email meenu@vlsiconsultancy.com|
Twitter @meenusarin | LinkedIn http://sg.linkedin.com/in/meenusarin |
Blog http://www.vlsiconsultancy.com/newblog/|
Very interesting, all about trust!