Rethinking the Future of Internet Infrastructure
Reading Remco van Mook’s article “Building a Stable Future for the RIPE NCC”, one feels compelled to express immense gratitude to the author for his courage to state the obvious. In our challenging times, such frankness is extremely rare. The author acknowledges that the global network infrastructure is no longer merely an entertainment for a group of scientists or a military experiment to test communication in case of nuclear war. Today, it is a fundamental component of the global order, without which even reading this article would be impossible. Billions of devices and people are involved in this process, and organizations like RIPE create the impression that they still have Jon Postel’s notebook they refer to when checking address records.
Let’s face reality and acknowledge the obvious: if you are selling traffic, the nodes through which it passes will eventually have value. IP addresses, which play a crucial role in the addressing of the global network, cannot be valueless. Stop insisting that this “sanctity” cannot be touched by the dirty hands of commercial interests—it’s not serious.
Recognizing IP Addresses as Assets
The IP registry is an asset, worth an estimated €20 billion. It needs to be managed by laws, policies, and frameworks that ensure its legal status. A non-commercial public organization cannot effectively manage commercial processes and markets, as their goals and objectives differ fundamentally. This disconnect underscores the need for an overhaul of the global network infrastructure.
The Case for Decentralization
Non-public organizations with ambiguous goals, formulated 30 years ago, are no longer fit for purpose. Instead, decentralized organizations like DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), where democracy and commerce coexist organically, offer a promising alternative. Moving registries to blockchain technology makes sense, as it allows for transparent, community-driven management.
This is precisely why IPvX technology is being developed. IPvX eliminates original registries, creating node addresses dynamically as needed. These addresses are generated and distributed by the community, not by officials or centralized bodies. You can read more about this approach in our article “IPvX Ecosystem” .
The Challenges of Transitioning Registries
While the author proposes turning regional registries into corporations, this raises critical questions:
- Who would be the shareholders?
- How would shares be distributed?
- By what principle would a public organization transition to a commercial company?
- Who benefits from this process?
Without clear answers, there is a risk of creating a system where intended improvements lead to unintended negative outcomes.
A Call for a New System
The author’s courage to propose changes is commendable, but the solution requires deeper consideration. The current system demands modernization to address inefficiencies and ensure transparency. Blockchain-powered systems like IPvX offer a sustainable, decentralized framework for managing internet resources, shifting control from centralized bodies to the community.
Conclusion
The global internet infrastructure is at a crossroads. While existing systems have served us for decades, the demands of modern technology and commerce require a reevaluation. Transitioning to blockchain-based technologies and decentralized governance models offers a promising path forward, ensuring that internet resources are managed efficiently and equitably in the future.
By Alexey Shkittin, Visionary & Founder
References:
[1] - Building a Stable Future for the RIPE NCC
[2] - IPvX Ecosystem Overview
[3] - Decentralized Internet Governance