Devcon Archive logo
Devcon Devconnect Forum Blog
  • Watch
  • Event
    Event: background logo
    • Devcon 8
    • Devconnect ARG
    • Devcon 7
    • Devcon 6
    • Devcon 5
    • Devcon 4
    • Devcon 3
    • Devcon 2
    • Devcon 1
    • Devcon 0
  • Categories
    Categories: background logo
    • Cryptoeconomics
    • Devcon
    • Developer Experience
    • Coordination
    • Core Protocol
    • Layer 2s
    • Real World Ethereum
    • Cypherpunk & Privacy
    • Security
    • Applied Cryptography
    • Usability
  • Playlists

Suggested

Loading results..

View all

About Devcon —

Devcon is the Ethereum conference for developers, researchers, thinkers, and makers.

An intensive introduction for new Ethereum explorers, a global family reunion for those already a part of our ecosystem, and a source of energy and creativity for all.

  • Watch
  • Devcon
  • Devconnect
  • Forum
  • Blog

Get in touch

devcon@ethereum.org

Subscribe to our newsletter

Crafted with passion ❤️ at the Ethereum Foundation

© 2026 — Ethereum Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

devcon8 / atprotobluesky the personal data server vs the collectivist state machine

  • YouTube
  • Details

ATProto/Bluesky: The Personal Data Server vs the Collectivist State Machine

Duration: 00:00:00

Speaker: Edmund Edgar

Type: Talk

Expertise: No prior knowledge

Event: Devcon 8

Date: Nov 2026

Originally conceived as a way to decentralize Twitter, ATProto is attracting new interest for building decentralized apps. At its heart is the Personal Data Server, a portable, user-controlled data store that any app can write to with the user's permission. This talk covers how ATProto works, introduces ATProto apps including Bluesky, and compares their designs to blockchain-centric alternatives. It discusses the philosophical difference between an individual-centric and a consensus-centric model, strengths and weaknesses of each, and how to mitigate the weaknesses. I'm mainly a dapp author (maintain reality.eth), not a Bluesky developer or ATProto designer, so I don't speak "on behalf of" ATProto. I've given prior talks on ATProto at Protocol Berg and Dappcon, and on weaknesses in did:plc at Atmosphere Conf. I want to give this talk because this important piece of decentralization infrastructure is under-known among web3 builders, for social/factional rather than technical reasons.

Categories

Open SourceP2PCensorship ResistanceCommunication