Nimiq is perhaps my second favorite project going on in the blockchain and cryptocurrency arena's.
While everyone else is focused on consensus based mining, staking, and other such methods, Nimiq is going for a "browser first" type of method.
Take from the projects "white papers" which can be found at https://medium.com/nimiq-network/nimiq-a-peer-to-peer-payment-protocol-native-to-the-web-ffd324bb084
Browsers are first-class citizens in the Nimiq distributed network. They are able to establish consensus with the network, and enable true peer-to-peer payments from within, all without a trusted third party. In comparison to conventional cryptocurrencies, this browser-first approach lowers barriers of entry by orders of magnitudes for developers, customers and merchants.
Can you imagine it - a web based blockchain.
I actually believe this concept is going to play a huge role in the future of computing online.
I have long sense predicted that sooner or later blockchain will replace all traditional computer databases - both rational and irrational because it is a peer based mix of the two - using trusted consensus as proof of accuracy.
I believe Nimiq focusing solely on a web based blockchain will be the earliest of this transition.
The Nimiq peer network uses both WebRTC and WebSocket connections.
Their "backbones" are nodejs servers running on the web that connect with each other using websocket connections and also act as the entry point for the browser.
Then there are browser to browser nodes through webrtc connections.
There are a number o noted problems with this project and many drawbacks to their approach, which they are very forthcoming about. For instance being behind a NAT and not directly being able to connect to a peer to peer network.
As already stated however, I believe this is the beginning of the future.
Perhaps in the future we will see something similar to a TOR based web client. I see a future with no more need for hub where all computers and devices are connected to each other using the other devices around them.
I believe blockchain is both the security and the inter-connectivity to make all these things reality.
This project, I believe is just the beginning of that.
If you want to learn more about this project, go on over and check out https://steemit.com/@nimiq
