Blockchain for IoT Minima to Develop Ledger-Embedded Microchips With ARM

What to know:

The “Minima Chip” will provide each device with a secure node capable of verifying data, generating tokens and enabling peer-to-peer messaging.
Minima has been working with companies such as Volvo to enhance EV charging flexibility using tokens generated by private wallbox charging devices.

As a seasoned crypto investor with a knack for spotting promising technologies, I find the collaboration between Minima and ARM extremely intriguing. Having followed the evolution of IoT and blockchain since their early days, I can see how this partnership could revolutionize the landscape.

Minima, a blockchain tailored for handling transactions within the Internet of Things (IoT), which includes smartphones, vehicles, and various other devices, is collaborating with semiconductor leader ARM to create a microchip featuring an integrated decentralized ledger.

According to an agreement made public on Tuesday, Minima is set to collaborate with ARM’s Flexible Access Program. This program offers around 70 startups access to ARM’s extensive intellectual property library and chip design system. The end goal of this collaboration is the creation of the “Minima Chip,” which will equip each device with a secure node that can validate data, issue tokens, facilitate peer-to-peer communication, and ultimately make blockchain technology more accessible across various devices.

The concept of IoT and blockchain first emerged with projects like IOTA, and the idea has become part of a wider trend in crypto known as decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), which includes use cases around telecoms (Helium) and storage (Filecoin).

A significant portion of Minima’s work so far has been focused on the automotive sector, where they collaborate with firms like Volvo. They set up full nodes within car head units to support functions such as confirming telemetry data authenticity, issuing battery passports, and increasing the adaptability of electric vehicle charging using tokens produced by private wallbox charging apparatuses.

Instead of first testing blockchain systems in a simple, sandbox-like environment where software can easily be downloaded, Minima CEO Hugo Feiler suggests a more refined and secure method for enterprise deployment: incorporating blockchain technology directly into chips. This approach isolates the complexities of existing tech stacks from the operations of the blockchain, making it more suitable for live, large-scale applications.

By having each device perform verification tasks (proof of work), a level of decentralization is ensured. However, the actual mining process occurs in a more cooperative fashion through the Minima consensus mechanism, as explained by Feiler.

He used the analogy of a motorway as a “classic example of a permissionless network.”

In a recent interview, Feiler stated, “This common pathway is utilized by all, yet the Volvos, Audis, Teslas, and so forth may not fully trust one another. However, they must be able to rely on the data and information transmitted from their devices. Therefore, our focus is on establishing secure communication between these vehicles, as well as ensuring fair value, such as distribution across electric vehicle charging networks.

Neil Parris, ARM’s director of partner success and business strategies, stated that the access program significantly speeds up the pace of innovation among startups and reduces the time it takes for their products to reach the market.

Parris stated that ARM Flexible Access provides an efficient and affordable path for newcomers such as Minima to swiftly develop prototypes. This allows them the liberty to explore and create confidently, knowing they have room to experiment and design.

2024-12-03 17:07

Blockchain for IoT Minima to Develop Ledger-Embedded Microchips With ARM

What to know:

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