Penta Network is a next-generation platform for both public and private blockchain projects, designed to be a premier platform for transferring value and operating high-performance decentralized applications. Penta will remove roadblocks and reshape the blockchain landscape with an emphasis on impacting the real economy and improving productivity. With its unique consensus algorithm (DSC) and a distributed network architecture, Penta is building the world’s most inclusive, equitable, and distributed blockchain community. Penta Network will provide a fully integrated network infrastructure enabling people, businesses, and communities to exchange things of value in a secure, seamless, and efficient way. The Penta Network will provide the kind of infrastructure needed to power the Smart Economy of tomorrow. The Penta public blockchain is a “smart decentralized” blockchain with a unique consensus algorithm DSC, which balances quantum resistant security with decentralization and scalability. Only by balancing these elements can public blockchains reach their full promise. Building on its underlying blockchain infrastructure, Penta offers a high-performance DAPP platform that ensures scalability, security and efficiency. The Penta DAPP Layer will empower developers to commercially deploy applications solving real-world issues. The Connection Layer' enables Penta to be compatible with other blockchains, with existing networks like online platforms and cloud computing systems, and with off-chain systems. We call Penta the Universal Blockchain Connector because it solves the interoperability problem so that applications launched on Penta can traverse digital networks to be productive in the real economy.
iExec is an open-source, decentralized cloud computing platform, running on Ethereum blockchain. iExec allows decentralized applications (dApps) an on-demand access to computing resources and technologies on iExec cloud. iExec has built a blockchain network where dApps can take advantage of cost effective and high-performance resources such as servers, databases, SaaS applications, web hosting and computer farms. iExec’s native cryptocurrency — The RLC token is the primary asset used to access services in iExec infrastructure. RLC is short for “Run on Lots of Computers.” iExec is headquartered at Lyon, France. It was founded by Gilles Fedak and Haiwu He, both are serving as Chief Executive Officer and Head of Asian-Pacific Region of iExec, respectively. Oleg Lodygensky is the Chief Technical Officer. Gilles Fedak received his PhD from the University of Paris Sud in 2003, and has been working as INRIA (Inventeurs du Monde Numerique) research scientist at ENS in Lyon, France. Similarly, Haiwu completed his M.Sc. and PhD from the University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, France. On April 19, 2017, iExec launched its token sale and raised more than $12 million in exchange for 86,999,784 RLC. In order to support dApps, smart contracts, and their platforms, iExec takes processing-intensive computations off-chain so as to keep a blockchain’s on-chain functions running smoothly. To do this, iExec makes use of XtremWeb-HEP, an open-sourced Desktop Grid Software. Desktop Grid computing (also known as Volunteer Computing) pools unused computing resources to be used by applications and platforms, and according to iExec’s whitepaper, XtremWeb-HEP “implements all the needed features” to make this possible on a global scale, including “fault-tolerance, multi-applications, multi-users, hybrid public/private infrastructure, deployment of virtual images, data management, security and accountability, and many more.” Essentially, with this software, dApps can utilize any computing resource in the iExec framework to run their programs. In their whitepaper, the iExec team lays out the project’s competitive landscape and explains these competitors in relation to iExec. They’re quick to note that decentralized cloud storage providers like Filecoin, Storj, and Siacoin are not direct competitors, and it’s easy to see why. While iExec could theoretically take a step in this direction as it matures, it’s not a storage platform; it’s a computing platform. This does put it in competition with other decentralized computing protocols like Golem and SONM. Both of these, however, are taking aim at a different animal. Essentially, they’re both building a decentralized supercomputer on blockchain technology, while iExec is targeting dApp development and sustainability. Both look towards a future of a blockchain-powered, decentralized internet, but their functions, while sometimes similar, are more complementary than conflicting.