Datum
Datum (Datum Network GmbH) operates a decentralized blockchain-based data storage and monetization network. It serves DApp developers with a JavaScript SDK, individuals via a mobile identity app, and advertisers through a token-powered data marketplace, all built on an Ethereum-fork chain with off-chain encrypted storage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersZug, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Datum does
Datum (Datum Network GmbH) is a Swiss-registered, private blockchain company headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, that operates a decentralized data storage and monetization network. Founded in 2017 with headcount in the 11–50 range, Datum serves DApp developers (its primary persona), product teams running consumer or crypto applications, enterprise buyers seeking compliant storage, and individual end-users via a mobile identity app. The core proposition is a tamper-resistant, encrypted alternative to centralized cloud databases, where users retain cryptographic control of their data and can optionally monetize it.
The technical stack is a three-layer architecture. The Blockchain Layer is a proprietary fork of Ethereum (the Datum Blockchain) with its own Genesis Block, mining performed by Datum-operated Storage Nodes, and smart contracts that record hashes, ownership, and access permissions. The Storage Layer is a distributed off-chain network of Storage Nodes that hold AES-256-GCM-encrypted blobs whose keys are wrapped with ECDSA — nodes physically cannot decrypt what they store. The optional Data Marketplace Layer allows advertisers to purchase permissioned user data, with the ERC-20 DAT token bridging into the Datum Blockchain via a Plasma-style bridge. A JavaScript SDK ("datum-sdk") exposes a simple set/get/remove API; a W3C-compliant, MNID-based Datum Identity underpins sign-in and access control; and an optional fueling/gas-relayer service abstracts away the need for end-users to hold ETH or DAT.
Datum's revenue mechanics are entirely token-based and usage-priced: developers pay DAT for storage (~5 USD-equivalent per GB) and bandwidth (~1 USD-equivalent per GB downloaded); advertisers spend DAT to access permissioned user data through the marketplace; the protocol takes a cut and redistributes value to storage nodes and to users who consent to share their data. Go-to-market is API-first and community-led — npm-distributed SDK, public GitHub repo, Gitter developer community, Medium blog, public block explorer, and a free testnet faucet — supplemented by an enterprise motion backed by downloadable overview/identity/technical PDFs and a direct demo path. Named enterprise customers, ARR, and concrete revenue figures are not disclosed in the input.
Datum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Datum
- Legal name
- Datum Network GmbH
- Website
- https://datum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Datum (Datum Network GmbH) operates a decentralized blockchain-based data storage and monetization network. It serves DApp developers with a JavaScript SDK, individuals via a mobile identity app, and advertisers through a token-powered data marketplace, all built on an Ethereum-fork chain with off-chain encrypted storage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Datum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decentralized Data Storage and Blockchain Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (5331), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decentralized Data Availability & Storage Verification (DA layers, proofs of storage/replication, audit networks) (FSAPALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oracle Networks & Off-Chain Data (price feeds, randomness, attestation) (FSAPABAE), Permissioned Blockchain Platforms & Frameworks (Hyperledger, Corda, Quorum) (FSAPAIAA)
Keywords
Where Datum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zug
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Datum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Storage usage fees (DAT token): Developers and product teams pay DAT tokens to store data on the Datum blockchain; the on-chain storage contract deducts DAT from a prepaid deposit based on the amount stored and amount transferred.
- Data transfer / bandwidth fees: Advertisers and partners pay DAT to access and download permissioned user data on the marketplace; revenue share flows back to storage nodes (masternodes) and to users who share their data.
- Data marketplace commissions / monetization: Optional Datum marketplace where user data can be exchanged for DAT tokens; the protocol takes a cut and rewards users, developers and storage nodes for storing, verifying and transferring data.
- Advertising / data access by advertisers: Advertisers access permissioned user data with DAT tokens via the Datum marketplace layer.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Storage pricing on the Datum Network |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Data marketplace pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Datum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Datum operates a decentralized blockchain-based data storage platform that lets DApp developers store unlimited encrypted data off-chain while anchoring hashes, ownership and access-control records on a proprietary Ethereum-fork blockchain (Datum Blockchain). Data is encrypted client-side (AES256-GCM with ECDSA key wrapping), replicated across a network of Storage Nodes, and paid for in DAT, an ERC-20 utility token. An optional Data Marketplace layer allows users to share or sell their data to advertisers and partners in exchange for DAT, and the Datum ID mobile app provides a W3C/MNID-compliant self-sovereign identity for end-users.
Product overview
Datum is a single blockchain-based platform composed of three layers — the Datum Blockchain (a fork of Ethereum) for on-chain hashes and smart contracts, the Storage Layer of distributed Storage Nodes for off-chain encrypted data, and the optional Data Marketplace Layer for monetizing data. On top of this platform Datum offers the Datum SDK (a JavaScript API/SDK for developers), the Datum App (mobile client for individuals providing a Datum ID/MNID), the DAT Token (ERC-20 utility token), and Datum Storage Node software for node operators. The platform is operated by Datum Network GmbH, registered in Zug, Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Datum SDK JavaScript SDK (npm package 'datum-sdk') that gives developers a simple set/get/remove API to store and retrieve data on the decentralized Datum Blockchain, with built-in client-side encryption and identity/keystore management. Used as the primary integration point for building privacy-focused DApps.
- Datum App (Datum ID) Free mobile application for Android and iOS that gives individuals a Datum Identity (MNID) for signing into DApps and controlling how their personal data is shared and with whom. Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
- Datum Data Marketplace Optional marketplace layer built on top of the Datum data store that allows users to monetize and exchange app data. Advertisers and partners can access permissioned user data with DAT tokens, and users earn DAT for sharing their data with partners.
- DAT Token ERC-20 token on the Ethereum Mainnet that fuels the exchange of data and storage resources on the Datum blockchain. Product teams and developers pay DAT to store data; users earn DAT for sharing data; masternodes earn DAT for storing, verifying, and transferring data; advertisers spend DAT to access permissioned user data.
- Datum for Enterprise Enterprise-grade offering of the Datum decentralized storage and data-exchange platform targeted at large organizations needing compliant, auditable data storage and exchange. Includes enterprise onboarding collateral (Enterprise Overview, Identity, Technical Primer PDFs) and a direct sales/demo flow via [email protected].
Quantifiable outcome
- ~60,000 crypto enthusiasts reachable via Datum for product teams
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Datum
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Datum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Datum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship alliance.
- Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF)flagship allianceDatum is listed as a member of the Decentralized Identity Foundation, which brings together organizations building decentralized identity technologies, often in collaboration with W3C and the broader open-source community. Membership aligns Datum's Datum Identity (W3C-compliant, MNID-based) with industry standards.
- Sovrin Foundationflagship allianceDatum publicly aligns with the Sovrin Foundation's principles of user-centric digital identity. Datum states: 'Datum is an organization that fully subscribes to the principles underlying the Sovrin Foundation — We are both dedicated to building systems that put users at the center of their digital interactions and in control of their information.'
- Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)flagship allianceDatum is a member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, which connects Fortune 500 enterprises, startups, academics, and technology vendors with Ethereum subject-matter experts. Membership supports Datum's enterprise positioning and Ethereum-fork architecture.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Datum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Storj: Storj is a decentralized, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service that pays node operators in STORJ tokens. It competes head-on with Datum's pay-as-you-go encrypted off-chain storage proposition, with a more mature enterprise go-to-market.
- IPFS (Protocol Labs): IPFS is the foundational peer-to-peer distributed file system (content-addressed, off-chain storage) that Datum's storage layer resembles architecturally. Many Datum-style projects (including Filecoin) are built on or alongside IPFS, making Protocol Labs a relevant reference architecture peer.
- Sia: Sia (and its Skynet/SkyNet successor) is a peer-to-peer decentralized storage network using smart contracts and a Siacoin utility token, with end-to-end encryption. It shares Datum's blockchain-anchored, client-side encrypted, token-priced storage model.
- Arweave: Arweave is a decentralized storage protocol designed to provide permanent, tamper-proof data storage paid in AR tokens. It is a direct decentralized-storage competitor to Datum, with a more recent raise and stronger permanent-storage positioning.
- Filecoin: Filecoin is a decentralized storage network built on IPFS by Protocol Labs, where storage providers earn tokens for storing user data. It is the most direct competitor to Datum's storage-layer + token-incentive model, with a much larger node ecosystem, raised capital, and developer base.
Emerging players
- Streamr: Streamr is a decentralized real-time data network with a token-incentivized marketplace for publishing and consuming data streams. It is thematically comparable to Datum's marketplace layer, focused on real-time data rather than static storage.
- Crust Network: Crust Network is a decentralized cloud storage blockchain that uses Polkadot and IPFS and incentivizes storage nodes with CRU tokens. It is comparable to Datum as a smaller, emerging decentralized storage network with on-chain storage guarantees.
- Ocean Protocol: Ocean Protocol is a token-incentivized data marketplace where data providers share data and consumers (e.g., AI developers) pay in OCEAN tokens. It is the most direct analog to Datum's optional Data Marketplace Layer and shares the data-monetization thesis.
- Ceramic Network: Ceramic is a decentralized data network for verifiable, mutable data streams and identity, used heavily by Web3 developers. It overlaps with Datum's storage + identity positioning (DIF-aligned, decentralized identity) while focusing on composable data streams rather than blob storage.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft Azure Blob Storage: Azure Blob Storage is the centralized incumbent Datum positions against for developer and enterprise storage workloads. It is comparable as a competing general-purpose storage offering with stronger enterprise sales, SLAs, and fiat billing, and serves as the primary 'before-Datum' baseline for Datum's value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Datum social profiles
Digital presenceDatum compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Datum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Datum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Datum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Datum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Datum
What does Datum do?
Datum operates a decentralized blockchain-based data storage platform that lets DApp developers store unlimited encrypted data off-chain while anchoring hashes, ownership and access-control records on a proprietary Ethereum-fork blockchain (Datum Blockchain). Data is encrypted client-side (AES256-GCM with ECDSA key wrapping), replicated across a network of Storage Nodes, and paid for in DAT, an ERC-20 utility token. An optional Data Marketplace layer allows users to share or sell their data to advertisers and partners in exchange for DAT, and the Datum ID mobile app provides a W3C/MNID-compliant self-sovereign identity for end-users.
Is Datum a public or private company?
Datum is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Datum founded?
Datum was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Datum based?
Datum is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Datum make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Storage usage fees (DAT token) is the primary driver. The others are data transfer / bandwidth fees, data marketplace commissions / monetization and advertising / data access by advertisers.
Who are Datum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Storj, IPFS (Protocol Labs), Sia, Arweave and Filecoin. Emerging players are Streamr, Crust Network, Ocean Protocol and Ceramic Network. Microsoft Azure Blob Storage is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Datum have an API?
Yes. The Datum SDK provides a JavaScript API (Node.js / web) for interacting with the Datum Blockchain. Developers can create Datum Identities, deposit/withdraw DAT tokens, store/retrieve/delete data using simple set/get/remove operations (including by key), manage encrypted claims, compute storage and traffic costs, and access public read endpoints (getBalance, getDepositBalance, getLockedBalance, getStorageCosts, getTrafficCostsGB, getIds, getItem). Write operations require a Datum instance initialized with a private key/keystore. Available on Ethereum Mainnet with a Datum Blockchain testnet codenamed 'megatron'. Developer documentation is at gettingstarted.datum.org/docs/introduction.
What industry is Datum in?
Datum's product category is Decentralized Data Storage and Blockchain Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPALAH, Decentralized Data Availability & Storage Verification (DA layers, proofs of storage/replication, audit networks), with a secondary code of FSAPABAE, Oracle Networks & Off-Chain Data (price feeds, randomness, attestation). Its NAICS code is 5331 and its SIC code is 6200.