Blockchain-based cloud computing not just for web3: A conversation with Matt Hawkins, CEO of Cudo – SlateCast #40

In this episode of SlateCast, CryptoSlate’s Akiba speaks with Matt Hawkins, CEO of Cudo, to discuss infrastructure in the web 3 space. Hawkins has a background in web 2.0 infrastructure and founded a large data center and cloud company in the early 2000s. Running that business, Hawkins noticed a lot of waste and empty capacity in data centers and cloud providers, as well as the growing dominance of hyperscalers. This led him to build a network using available computing to provide distributed computing for both traditional web 3 and blockchain applications.

One of the main challenges with decentralization in the web 3 space, according to Hawkins, is that a significant portion of networks like Ethereum still run on Amazon AWS, which introduces both regulatory and platform risks. To solve this, Hawkins believes that we need to work differently in the web 3 area, but also in the web 2.0 area to be able to offer decentralized data processing on a large scale. He also emphasized the need to move computing to the edge, especially for applications such as game servers and metaverses, which require low latency.

Another key challenge in the web 3 space is the cost of running decentralized applications (dApps), which Hawkins believes is prohibitively high for most developers. Cudo is working on a solution to this problem through its decentralized computing network, which allows developers to access large-scale computing without having to pay for the underlying infrastructure. This will enable developers to build and deploy dApps more efficiently and at a lower cost.

In addition, Hawkins discussed the importance of building a decentralized computer network that is truly global, with nodes located in a wide range of geographic locations. This will help to reduce the risk of centralization and ensure that the network is both scalable and resilient. Cudo builds its network with this in mind and has nodes in over 50 countries around the world.

As for the potential uses of decentralized computing, Hawkins mentioned a number of use cases that are currently being explored. These include distributed machine learning and artificial intelligence, which require large amounts of computing power and data. Other potential applications include scientific research, drug discovery and genomics, which could benefit from the ability to run complex simulations at scale.

Overall, Hawkins believes that decentralized computing has the potential to revolutionize the way we build and deploy applications, giving developers access to scalable, affordable computing at the edge. This will enable the development of new and innovative applications that were previously not possible, and drive the growth of the web 3 ecosystems.