SolTorrent: An Alternative to Classic Torrenting

3 min readDec 8, 2022

SolTorrent is a blockchain based project build on top of Solana Blockchain during Hackday , a 12-hour hackathon on 19th November 2022 at IIT Delhi.

Torrenting refers to downloading files over BitTorrent, which is a decentralized peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol. In order to understand torrenting we need to look at P2P Sharing.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File-Sharing

Peer-to-peer networks operate in a decentralized way, meaning that instead of connecting to a single centralized server, users form an interconnected web of “peers.” Depending on what the network is used for, tasks or data are spread across the peers, with each one acting as both a consumer and a supplier.

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A good way to understand the concept of a peer-to-peer network is to contrast it with the traditional server-client model. With a server-client model, the user (aka the client) acts only as a consumer, connecting to a single or limited number of servers that supply resources or files.

SolTorrent

SolTorrent aims at providing an alternative to classic P2P sharing based on Solana Blockchain.

Major issues with classic torrents are :
More copies of same data
Seeder vs Leecher Conflict
Security and legal inconfidence

Feature of SolTorrent

Solana Wallet Support, can approve through Solflare wallet, Phantom Wallet & Slope Wallet.
The user can sign in using any Solana based wallet.
The user can upload files, notes, pdf to the Solana blockchain.
The uploaded content can be set as private or public.
Each upload cost some SOLs and this ensures that the data stays forever on the blockchain.
The links to the uploaded content can be shared to download via wallet transaction.

Problem it Solves

Removes Seeders and Leecher.
No multiple copy of same data like classic torrents.
More secure and accountable
Files can be stored on-chain directly via Solana Accounts.
A specialized file chain, to drastically reduce the uploading cost. Links to those files are then maintained on chain.
All the assets are encrypted by default using a key derived from a Solana Wallet.
Minimalistic UX. Easy to access features.