APIS can be thought of as a masternode mediation platform that enables a wide array of crypto enthusiasts to gain access to a two-tier incentivized network, also known as the Masternode Network. As readers may know, the term “masternodes” refers to the nodes contained in a crypto network that fulfill a specific function beyond simply relaying transactions. The most striking feature of a masternode is its ability to help investors to acquire stable profits by virtue of simply locking up their holdings in the masternode for a fixed amount of time. While this may sound like a lucrative proposition, it should be clearly understood that hosting a masternode is out of reach for the average investor since it requires a substantial amount of financial capital and technical prowess. APIS, also sometimes referred to as APIS Core, has been designed atop the Ethereum public blockchain and serves as a masternode mediation platform that aims to help individual and corporate investors utilize their assets with desired masternodes easily and effectively. The platform can be accessed via a host of digital mediums including PCs, laptops, and smartphones, allowing users to maximize their overall profits while on the move.
Sia is a decentralized cloud storage platform similar in concept to Dropbox and other centralized storage provider where instead of renting storage space from a centralized entity, clients rent storage space from other peers. The only difference is Sia uses blockchain to facilitate transactions Nodes provide storage to clients using the Sia blockchain as contracts. Before storing the data, the data is encrypted into many pieces and uploaded to different hosts. Siacoin is created by David Vorick and Luke Champine of Nebulous Inc. As the traditional storage platforms are higher in cost, more expensive and data is not well protected. Siacoin promises to offer secured storage transactions with smart contracts which is more affordable and reliable. Moreover, it is completely open source which means many individuals have contributed to Siacoin’s software hence there will be an active community building innovative applications on top if the Sia API. In 2018, Siacoin aims to introduce file sharing and be the go-to cloud storage platform for companies. Their goal is divided into 3 time frames which are short-term, medium-term and long-term development. Short-term development focuses on file sharing between Sia users. This allows Sia users to share files in the platform without having to take it off the cloud while increasing network utilization. Medium-term development’s goal is to enhance partnerships. This means reaching out to large companies like Netflix and Dropbox to hopefully be able to be their storage and distribution framework. Lastly, long-term development aims to expand its horizon to share files with non-Sia users and support mobile wallets.