What happened to BitTorrent's Project Maelstrom web browser?
21 hours ago
- #Project Maelstrom
- #BitTorrent
- #Peer-to-Peer Web
- BitTorrent Inc. launched Project Maelstrom, a peer-to-peer web browser using BitTorrent protocol for website distribution.
- Maelstrom aimed to overcome limitations of Opera Unite by having website visitors help distribute content, reducing server costs.
- It integrated libtorrent into Chromium, allowing static websites to be shared via BitTorrent, supporting both tracked and trackerless transfers.
- Updates to websites were challenging, with hints of dynamic content support via API and potential use of BitTorrent protocol extensions.
- The project was quietly discontinued due to investor problems and leadership changes, killing projects like Maelstrom and Bleep.
- Maelstrom's welcome page was restored, showing ongoing usage, especially in China, despite the browser being outdated and insecure.
- Alternatives like Beaker Browser have emerged, using protocols inspired by BitTorrent with a focus on privacy and security.