In an era where every millisecond of network delay can determine the success or failure of a blockchain project, Optimum emerges as a revolutionary solution, focusing on upgrading decentralized memory infrastructure - a core element often overlooked in traditional blockchain architecture.
No longer just a promise of "speed" or "expansion", Optimum provides a practical solution with a robust technology set, distilled from over 15 years of top-tier academic research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
So specifically, what is Optimum?, and what makes this platform the new "backbone" for the next blockchain generation?
What is Optimum?
Optimum is a pioneering project building a high-performance decentralized memory layer for any blockchain, from Layer 1 to Layer 2.
With a clear goal: solving storage bottlenecks, transmission speed, and user experience.
To use an analogy, if blockchain is a river of data, then Optimum is the hydroelectric dam that intelligently, powerfully, and efficiently controls the flow, minimizing waste and optimizing energy.
Core Technology – RLNC
The most outstanding feature in Optimum's ecosystem is the application of Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC) – an advanced network coding solution that has already established its position in fields like 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and satellite telecommunications.
RLNC helps:
- Increase data transmission speed.
- Optimize bandwidth (increase up to 20 times compared to traditional transmission mechanisms).
- Significantly reduce network latency.
- Enhance message transmission reliability.
Professor Muriel Médard – one of the pioneers in information coding at MIT – is a co-founder and direct manager of the Optimum project.
This somewhat guarantees the technological depth that the project possesses.
Important Components in the Optimum Ecosystem
Optimum's system is not simply a supplementary software solution – it is an independent infrastructure layer deeply integrated into blockchain architecture.
Optimum P2P
Using RLNC, Optimum P2P not only increases block transmission speed but also reduces network bandwidth consumption.
Data volume is encoded and sharded in a way that allows network nodes to process in parallel and efficiently, minimizing bottleneck risks.
deRAM
deRAM is the storage heart of the system. This is not a typical "cloud hard drive", but a real-time memory access layer operating on a distributed model. deRAM helps blockchains:
- Maintain real-time states.
- Minimize redundant storage.
- Ensure data integrity at speeds equivalent to Web2.
Integration API
Optimum provides programming interfaces that directly integrate into both Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchains.
This is a bridge that allows projects to immediately leverage the power of RLNC and deRAM without needing to completely re-architect from scratch.
Operating Mechanism
- User-Initiated
- When a transaction is sent to the blockchain integrated with Optimum, data does not follow the traditional method.
- Smart Encryption
- Transactions are encrypted by Optimum P2P using RLNC, sharded, and propagated to neighboring nodes.
- Parallel Verification and Transmission
- Nodes use RLNC to reconstruct original data, reducing waiting time and increasing throughput.
- Storage and Feedback
- deRAM receives and stores new states, allowing quick access and reducing operational costs.
- Optimal Experience
- Users receive transaction confirmations with low latency, low costs, and fast processing speed – almost indistinguishable from Web2.
Optimum's Special Features
- Breakthrough Architecture
- Optimum opens up a completely new decentralized memory infrastructure layer that can be deployed for any blockchain.
- Maximized Bandwidth
- Network bandwidth is used 20 times more efficiently, paving the way for large-scale Web3 applications.
- Reducing Validator Costs
- Faster data transmission helps reduce resource consumption, increase APY, and optimize MEV profits.
- Scalability Without Barriers
- RLNC and deRAM operate with flexible mechanisms, suitable for both small chains and massive systems.
Investors
- 28/02/2025: Successfully raised capital in the Builders Round from angel investors such as CTO Polychain, Bitget CEO, and many other prominent names.
- 15/04/2025: Successfully raised 11 million USD in the Seed round, led by 1k(x) fund, with participation from Robot Venture, Spartan, Animoca Ventures, Big Brain Holdings...
Team
Muriel Médard – Co-Founder
- Software Science Professor at MIT since 2010.
- Pioneer in network encoding research.
- Co-founder and CEO of Optimum since 2023.
Kishori Konwar – CTO
- Former software engineer at Google.
- PhD researcher at University of Connecticut.
- AI researcher at Meta.
- Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Optimum.
Kent Lin – Co-Founder
- Analyst at CryptoVentures.
- Founder of CryptoPay.
- President of Harvard Blockchain.
- Co-founder of Optimum with extensive experience in blockchain investment and enterprise building.
Project Information Channels
- Website: https://www.getoptimum.xyz
- Twitter: https://x.com/get_optimum
Conclusion
In the context of blockchain increasingly focusing on performance and user experience, Optimum is not merely a project – it is a catalyst unlocking true scalability for Web3.
The integration of RLNC encoding technology and decentralized memory deRAM brings a breakthrough in data transmission and state management, making the decentralized future closer than ever.
With a solid academic foundation from MIT, technical thinking from Google and Meta, and market vision from Harvard, Optimum is not just "optimum" in name – but also a symbol of true optimization.
