Building The Decentralized Internet With Collective Computing Power

Source: Ayush Gupta | · FORBES · | May 14, 2025

Ayush Gupta is Co-Founder & CEO of LayerEdge, building Bitcoin backed Internet using trust minimized verification & proof aggregation.

Blockchain technology promised a revolutionary digital era characterized by decentralization, transparency and unmatched security. Despite its potential, widespread adoption remains constrained by practical challenges like excessive computational costs, limited scalability and complex integration processes.

A growing trend is now reshaping that landscape: Individuals around the world are contributing their idle computing power—CPU, GPU, bandwidth and storage—to decentralized networks. This movement is already taking form in several real-world initiatives, showing that utilizing decentralized physical infrastructure is not only possible but already in motion.

This grassroots model has the potential to transform blockchain economics, democratize infrastructure participation and introduce a new paradigm in global digital collaboration.

Understanding Blockchain's Ongoing Challenges

Blockchain technology offers great potential, but existing verification methods present considerable challenges:

• High Computational Costs: Traditional blockchain verification, especially proof-of-work, requires immense computing resources, leading to high operational expenses. Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index provides ongoing metrics on how resource-intensive Bitcoin’s verification process is.

• Limited Network Scalability: Networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum often experience congestion, resulting in high fees and delayed transaction finality. Ethereum’s high gas fees during peak usage periods are well documented.

• Integration Complexity: Incorporating decentralized verification into existing enterprise systems often requires substantial technical adaptation and architectural changes, slowing adoption in commercial settings.