Getting Better Every Month: What’s New on the ThreeFold Grid

At YourData Network we help people and organizations work with a new kind of internet infrastructure: open, decentralized and built for your autonomy.

The technology behind this is called the ThreeFold Grid. It is a new kind of internet—one that addresses the key flaws of the current system:

  • Too much control in the hands of Big Tech
  • No real ownership of your data or digital identity
  • A massive energy footprint from traditional data centers
  • Locked-in cloud systems that limit freedom and innovation

ThreeFold is building the technical foundation. We help you work with it, use it and understand it. Every month, ThreeFold makes the Grid better. Here’s what changed in May 2025—and what that means for you.

1. A Smarter, Faster and More Stable Network

One of the most important updates was to Mycelium, the part of the ThreeFold Grid that handles how devices connect and send data to each other. Think of it as the routing system or the “traffic controller” of the network.

With this upgrade:

  • Data routes refresh themselves automatically when needed
  • The system avoids unnecessary traffic and delays
  • Devices only share the data they are supposed to, increasing efficiency and privacy

There’s also a fix for what’s called “unowned subnets.” In plain terms: parts of the internet that are not properly assigned can no longer be falsely advertised as available. This improves trust, reduces errors and protects the network from misuse.

What it means for you
Whether you’re using a decentralized app, accessing storage or just connecting securely, everything now loads faster and runs more smoothly—with fewer interruptions or errors.

More details here:
ThreeFold May 2025 Update

2. Launching Services Just Got Easier

You no longer need to be a developer to launch something on the Grid. Thanks to a tool called Pulumi, starting your own online service is now much more accessible.

Let’s break it down:

  • Pulumi is an automation tool that helps you set up digital infrastructure with a few simple commands
  • A deployment just means putting something live on the network—like your own app, private storage space or secure VPN

The result: anyone can now launch a service without needing to code everything from scratch.

What it means for you
Want to store files privately? Run a community website? Set up your own VPN? Pulumi now makes this possible with less hassle.

Learn more in the ThreeFold Manual

3. More Control With the ThreeFold Connect App

The ThreeFold Connect app is your personal gateway to the decentralized internet. It lets you:

  • Manage your wallet and digital identity
  • Swap ThreeFold Tokens (TFT) for USDC
  • Keep track of your connected devices or “nodes”
  • Vote on proposals that shape the network’s future

Recent improvements include:

  • A built-in marketplace for token swaps
  • Cleaner, more transparent transaction history
  • Background notifications if one of your nodes goes offline

What it means for you
The app is more reliable, easier to use and gives you more visibility over your digital environment.

Download it here:
ThreeFold Connect

4. Meet the OwnPhone: Privacy First, No Big Tech

On May 29 YourData Network launched the OwnPhone: the first smartphone built entirely on the ThreeFold Grid. That means:

  • No Google services
  • No hidden data collection
  • Full user control from the moment you switch it on

This isn’t just a phone. It’s the start of the 3Fold Phone family—devices that will soon include AI assistants (3AI) and personal bots (3Bot), all under your control.

More about the vision:
Introducing the OwnPhone

5. Better Tools for Builders

The Grid’s developer tools were also upgraded. You now get:

  • A bridge to the Stellar and Solana blockchain networks
  • Support for multiple login keys when launching a service
  • A public dashboard (WebUI) even visible to users who aren’t logged in

Even if you’re not building today, it’s good to know the tools are ready when you are.

See the tools:
ThreeFold Manual

6. A Network Run by Its Users

ThreeFold isn’t controlled by a company. It runs on a DAO: a decentralized voting system. In May:

  • The 3.17 update was approved
  • Extra TFT was minted to support rewards for hosting capacity
  • Reward calculations were adjusted after a review of network uptime

What it means for you
The community, not a company, decides how the network grows and who gets rewarded. It’s fair and transparent.

7. Real-World Demos and What’s Coming Next

In May, ThreeFold also launched a live demo showing how you can run a private VPN using WireGuard and IPv6 directly on the Grid. It’s a real-world example of secure, peer-to-peer internet infrastructure.

And in July, the DePIN Summit takes place in Mombasa and Zanzibar, bringing together builders from around the world who are shaping the future of decentralized internet.

Why This Matters

The current internet is built for companies not people. It is centralized, energy-hungry and opaque.

ThreeFold is building something better:

  • An internet you can own
  • One that is privacy-friendly and energy-efficient
  • An open platform for anyone who wants to build, connect or create

At YourData Network we make it simple to be part of this movement. Whether you want to explore, launch or contribute: we’re here to help.

Want to know where to start? Reach out. We’d love to guide you.

Learn More About the Decentralized Internet?

Join us this Thursday, June 12 at 8 PM CET, for an English-language webinar “Introduction to the Decentralized Internet”. You’ll learn how this technology works, why it matters and how to get started.

Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/decentral-internet

The OwnPhone Has Launched: A New Standard for Private, Account-Free Mobile Technology

On Thursday May 29 we officially launched the OwnPhone: a smartphone designed for people who want full control over their data without compromising usability or privacy.

If you’ve ever wished for a phone that doesn’t track your every move, doesn’t require an account to function and doesn’t distract you with endless notifications, the OwnPhone might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Built in partnership with Volla (developers of the hardware and software) and Threefold (the pioneers behind the decentralized internet) the OwnPhone introduces a radically different approach to mobile technology.

During the live launch event we shared what makes this device so unique:
• it frees you from Google, Apple and any other data-collecting ecosystems
• it allows you to store and manage your data through decentralized infrastructure
• it minimizes digital distractions and puts you back in control of your attention

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—a clear signal that many are ready for a new way of thinking about smartphones.

Watch the full launch event recording below to see how OwnPhone works, hear from the people who built it and discover why this is more than just a phone. It’s a movement toward digital ownership.

The video is in English, as the launch was hosted for an international audience.

For more details or to order your OwnPhone, look here.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at hello@yourdata.network.

New Webinar About the Future of the Internet on June 12

A new kind of internet is gaining ground. One that puts users, not tech giants, back in control.

On Thursday, June 12 at 8 PM, YourData Network is hosting a free online webinar: Introduction to the Decentralized Internet.

This session will be hosted by Robert-Jan Lamers, founder of YourData Network. Robert-Jan is a strong advocate for an independent, future-oriented internet built on privacy, autonomy, and sustainability.

We will explore a growing movement to rebuild the web around privacy, ownership and digital freedom. You will learn:

  • What the decentralized internet really is and why it changes everything
  • How it empowers your digital autonomy and data rights
  • Why it’s also better for the environment and energy consumption
  • How it works, clearly explained without tech jargon
  • How you can start using it today
  • How to actively contribute to this movement

We will share insights, real-world examples and leave space for your questions.

If you are concerned about Big Tech’s power or simply curious about a better internet, this is your chance to get informed and inspired.

Join us live and be part of the shift.

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Webinar: Introduction to the Decentralized Internet

Discover how to use the decentralized internet. Simply and securely.


Want to learn how to take control of your data and use technology on your terms? Join our 60-minute online webinar where we explain everything in a clear, practical way.

We’ll only use your email to send you the webinar link. No spam.

About YourData Network

YourData Network helps individuals and organizations make the switch to the decentralized internet of Threefold. Through products, services and education, we help you reclaim ownership of your data and your digital infrastructure. Read more here.