Hi! Editor-in-Chief here. If you thought like I did 5 years ago that iExec (RLC) was just “Amazon but decentralized,” you’re in for a real shocker. I was amazed when I dug deeper. After talking with Gilles Fedak (Founder & CEO), it turns out the project has shed its skin like a snake. They used to sell computing power, but now… Well, read on.
iExec is more than blockchain cloud in 2025—it’s a secret weapon for AI and your data
First, a Summary for the Impatient (Like Me):
Obsolete (2025): V3, IPFS as the main feature, Alibaba/IBM as key partners, “buy RLC on Binance.”
Reality (2025): V5 with Confidential AI, focus on DePIN and data monetization, partners include NVIDIA, Intel, Coinbase, Revolut, the RLC token is the key to everything (staking, governance, liquidity).
The Big Deal: iExec is now not a marketplace but an ecosystem where RLC is the lifeblood. If you have valuable data or want to use others’ AI without leaking secrets – this is your place.
Conversation with Gilles Fedak: From “Little Clouds” to the Core of Web3
Gilles, honestly? I reread your 2019 interviews about V3… Well, that’s outdated. The world moved on. How did iExec survive? And what drives you now?Gilles: (Laughs) Survive? We thrived! In 2019, we were like a cool concept car – sleek, high-tech, but driving it to work? Tricky. The main mistake? Thinking people just wanted “cheap hardware.” Turns out, not quite. The truth in 2025: Value isn’t in gigaflops but in data and the ability to use it securely. That’s where we are now. Our V5 isn’t an upgrade – it’s a paradigm shift.
How iExec Differs from AWS (And Why It’s Awesome):
Imagine:
You have a super AI model trained on your secret data (healthcare, finance, personal). Selling it? Scary. Granting access? Suicide.
You have a task requiring that model but lack a supercomputer.
The old world: Risk your data or pay astronomical sums for a secure server. iExec in 2025: You upload an encrypted model to the network. A user pays in RLC, sends their encrypted data. The magic of TEE (Trusted Execution Environment – like an impenetrable vault inside the processor):
Data and model only meet inside this “vault.”
Computations run inside – nobody sees the model’s code or raw data.
Output? Only the result (diagnosis, price prediction, risk analysis).
You (model owner) earn RLC. They (user) get the result. The hardware provider (with TEE-compatible Intel/AMD processors) earns RLC too. Everyone wins, secrets intact. This is Confidential AI – our flagship feature. Honestly, I underestimated the demand, but it’s skyrocketing – especially in DeFi and healthcare.
Why This Took Off Now (Gilles’ Insights)
AI isn’t the future – it’s now. But it hinges on data quality and privacy. iExec solves both.
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) is mainstream. People are ready to own infrastructure (hardware, sensors, GPUs) and earn crypto. Our network is ideal for their resources, especially for TEE tasks.
RLC is no longer “just a token.” It’s now the ecosystem’s fuel (more below – this is crucial!).
iExec V5: Not “What” But “How” (And Why It’s Easy Even for Newbies)
Before, you needed an SDK and technical skills. Now – simpler:
iApp Generator: Want your own “confidential” dApp? No need to code from scratch. Use templates for common tasks (data analysis, AI predictions). Customize it – and go. “It’s like WordPress for confidential computing,” jokes Gilles.
Data Pools: Want to train models on diverse data without pooling raw datasets? Add your encrypted dataset to a pool. Algorithms learn from all data simultaneously, but nobody (even other dataset owners) sees your raw data. Gold for researchers. “Imagine hospitals wanting to train a model on patient data legally barred from sharing. Data Pools fix this,” explains Gilles.
Bellecour Sidechain: Avoids clogging Ethereum mainnet and high gas fees. Our transactions run here – fast and cheap. Users? They just experience smoother operation.
RLC Tokenomics 2025: Not Just “Buy and Wait for Moon” (Though…)
Forget 2019: “Buy RLC, hold, watch charts.” Now RLC is a utility tool within the ecosystem. Here’s how it’s actually used:
What You Do
Why RLC?
Benefit?
Staking
Secure the network (Bellecour’s PoS mechanism)
Annual % yield (real, not theoretical)
Liquidity (LP)
Provide RLC + ETH (e.g.) in an Uniswap V3 pool
Trading fees + extra rewards from iExec
Vouchers
Buy/sell prepaid computation or data packages
Discounts, predictable spending
Governance (DAO)
Shape the project’s future (features, partnerships, budget)
Real influence
“RLC used to be a ticket to the marketplace. Now it’s the currency of a whole digital nation – our ecosystem,” says Gilles. “The more services built on iExec (50+ already), the more RLC demand grows – not for speculation, but for real utility.” Makes sense to me.
Who’s Already Onboard? (Partnerships That Genuinely Impressed Me)
NVIDIA: Integrating their GPUs into our network for heavy Confidential AI tasks. Serious players believe in us.
Intel: Deep collaboration on TDX (Trust Domain Extensions) – next-gen TEE. Our ecosystem + their secure hardware.
Coinbase & Revolut: RLC featured in their “Learn & Earn” programs. New users discover iExec through top exchanges/neobanks – not noisy Telegram channels. “This isn’t just listing; it’s legitimacy for millions,” comments Gilles.
DePIN Projects (Render, Filecoin, etc.): Mutual integration. Their resources + our TEE data protection. Synergy!
What’s Next? (Honestly Sounds Like Sci-Fi, But They’re Doing It)
ElizaOS: Think Siri or Alexa? Try an AI assistant that physically cannot leak your queries/history because it runs inside iExec’s TEE. Beta already testing.
RWA (Real World Assets) Gateway: Want to tokenize property or art? Needs confidential data verification (ownership, appraisal). iExec + TEE = trust + privacy.
Extreme Simplification: Goal: Any business (not just crypto-natives) can use iExec via a web interface with minimal learning. “Like AWS in 2006,” smiles Gilles.
Any Pitfalls? (Asked – Got Honest Answers)
Competitors:Oasis, Phala, even big clouds (AWS Nitro Enclaves). “But our focus is on practical applications and the RLC ecosystem – not just tech. That’s key,” insists Gilles.
TEE Complexity: Still feels like magic to laypeople. Needs simpler demos/case studies. “We work on this daily,” he says.
Market Volatility: Crypto winter? Been there. iExec survived. “We’re building a useful product, not a financial pyramid. Crypto cycles are background noise,” philosophically.
How to Try iExec Yourself in 2025 (No Complex Code Needed):
Buy RLC: Not just Binance (though possible), but Coinbase, Kraken, or Uniswap V3 (better rates!). Start with any comfortable amount.
Stake Some: Via the iExec Portal or a trusted delegate. Earn passive income.
Try the iApp Generator: Portal → “Build” → “iApps.” Pick a template (e.g., “Secure Data Analysis”). Tweak settings. Run a test task (costs pennies in RLC). See results – zero risk/complex setup.
Follow Updates: Best via Discord (live team chat) or Twitter (@iEx_ec). Upcoming AMA with Gilles (June 6th!) – ask your question!
My Personal Take (After Talking to Gilles):
If iExec was an interesting experiment in 2019, in 2025 it’s a functional, in-demand tool. Data privacy/control is the internet’s #1 issue. They’ve hit the nerve. TEE tech is complex, but the team fights to make it accessible. RLC tokenomics finally has real utility beyond “buy/sell.”
Worth getting involved? If you believe data privacy and AI aren’t just hype but the future, yes, take a closer look. Try staking or building a simple iApp – it’s the best way to “get it.” Risks exist (as anywhere in crypto), but the project’s foundation is incomparably stronger. Personally, I’ve staked some RLC – let’s see what happens.
P.S. from Gilles: “We’re not just building technology. We’re building trust infrastructure for the new internet. If you care what happens to your data – welcome aboard. Let’s build this together.” Sounds lofty? Maybe. But after our talk, I’m inclined to believe him.
