Holochain

Integrated P2P Runtime

Agent-centric framework for building peer-to-peer applications without blockchains, servers, or global consensus. Each user runs a local copy of the app and signs/stores their own data on their own device (source chain); public data is then validated by a random subset of peers against the app's rules before being gossiped through the network. Invalid data triggers a network-wide security response rather than requiring miners or validators to agree on a single shared ledger. Positioned explicitly as an alternative to blockchain: no token is required for the protocol to function, and each app runs on its own independent network rather than a shared chain.

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Details

License CAL-1.0
Dev Status 🔬 Beta
Dev Status Detail Beta — Holochain's own current roadmap (holochain.org/roadmap, verified 2026-09-14) states the framework "remains in beta across all versions"; latest stable release is 0.7.0 (July 30, 2026), with substantial network/security infrastructure and stability work still identified as outstanding (transport rework, node warranting/blocking for validation violators, workflow stabilization) ahead of what the roadmap itself calls "production-grade maturity." The 0.4.x-series-in-production framing in earlier sourcing describes real deployed apps (Acorn, Neighbourhoods, Group Income) running on the framework, consistent with Beta — real usage exists while the platform's own maintainers describe it as not yet production-grade.
Owner Holochain Foundation (co-founded by Arthur Brock and Eric Harris-Braun)
Owner - List
  • Holochain Foundation
Governing Body Holochain Foundation
Governing Body - List
  • Holochain Foundation
Country Gibraltar (headquarters) / International
Start Year 2016
Stack Rust
Funding VC + ICO
Last Investigated Sep 14, 2026

Topology view

This tool in the centre and the things it is directly related to. Each line names the kind of relationship.

Topology view: HolochainThis tool in the centre and the things it is directly related to. Each line names the kind of relationship.HolochainAgent-Centric Currency Framework (Basis for)Agent-CentricCurrency Fra…Kitsune (Basis for, Inspired, Protocol spoken by, Storage for)KitsuneThe Weave (Based on, Hosts, Protocol spoken by, Storage for)The WeaveValueflows (Based on, Speaks protocol, Storage for)ValueflowsAD4M (Hosts, Interoperates with, Storage for)AD4MElohim Protocol (Hosts, Storage for)ElohimProtocolEVR (Hosts)EVRFlowsta (Hosts, Identity primitive for, Interoperates with, Storage for)FlowstaFlux (Hosts, Storage for)FluxMAP (Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for)MAPMoss (Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for, Succeeded by)MossNeighbourhoods (Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for)Neighbourhoo…
  • Agent-Centric Currency Framework (Tool): Basis for
  • Kitsune (Tool): Basis for, Inspired, Protocol spoken by, Storage for
  • The Weave (Tool): Based on, Hosts, Protocol spoken by, Storage for
  • Valueflows (Tool): Based on, Speaks protocol, Storage for
  • AD4M (Tool): Hosts, Interoperates with, Storage for
  • Elohim Protocol (Tool): Hosts, Storage for
  • EVR (Tool): Hosts
  • Flowsta (Tool): Hosts, Identity primitive for, Interoperates with, Storage for
  • Flux (Tool): Hosts, Storage for
  • MAP (Tool): Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for
  • Moss (Tool): Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for, Succeeded by
  • Neighbourhoods (Tool): Hosts, Interoperates with, Protocol spoken by, Storage for

7 more related entities are not drawn; see the list below or open the Graph Explorer.

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Use Case Domains

Identity & Trust Group Formation & Governance Mutual Aid & Exchange Platform Evolution & Sovereignty

Affordances

Sovereign identity Composable groups Consent-based governance Non-monetary exchange Self-hostable

Integrated P2P Runtime Attributes

Owner - List
  • Holochain Foundation
Origins Ecosystem/SDK
Database Source Chain (per-agent) + Distributed Hash Table (DHT)
Query Language Custom (Holochain HDK functions)
Data Formats Custom (application-defined entries)
Collaborative Live Editing Depends on application (framework supports it via CRDTs)
Web Support Yes (via WebAssembly / conductor)
Native Apps Yes
Terms Self-hosting + Edge device + Paid SaaS (Holo hosting)
Funds $20M+ (ICO 2018 raised $20.4M via HoloToken HOT ERC-20)
Governing Body - List
  • Holochain Foundation
P2P Architecture Agent-centric DHT with validating monotonic hash chains
Overlay Network App-wide (each hApp has its own network)
Content Addressing Yes (hash-based)
Local-First Yes (agent-centric architecture)
E2EE Yes (each app creates encrypted P2P network)
CRDTs Lib N/A (not CRDT-based, uses source chains + validation)
Byzantine Fault Tolerance Yes (via peer validation)
Signature Cryptographic signatures (based on public key)
Permissions Cryptographic Capabilities + ACL
Semantic Web Compatibility Links (not RDF/semantic web standard)
Smart Contract Yes (validation rules/zomes)
Protocol Stack Position Application-layer (built on TCP/IP)
Asset / Value Embedding Native — HOT (HoloToken) is the ERC-20 bridging token used to purchase hosting credits on the Holo network; once redeemed, credits convert to HoloFuel (HOF), the mutual-credit accounting currency native to the Holochain/Holo ecosystem. HOT/HOF is specific to the Holo hosting layer rather than to the core Holochain protocol, which itself is tokenless; individual hApps may define their own asset models.
Development Tools hc-scaffold CLI (rapid application development scaffolding with templates for vanilla, Vue, Lit, Svelte, React, and headless — generates back-end, UI, and test boilerplate); hc CLI (bundles, tests, and runs hApps); Holonix (Nix-based reproducible development shell environment for macOS and Linux); Tryorama (Node.js-based test framework for unit and end-to-end multi-party tests); Holochain Rust SDK (HDK — Holochain Development Kit for writing integrity and coordinator zomes in Rust compiled to WASM); holochain-client-js and holochain-client-rust (client libraries); Holo Web SDK; DevHub (hApp for distributing packages via App Store); Launcher (end-user runtime for installing/running hApps); Holochain Open Dev (reusable building blocks: user profiles, blob storage, time/keyword indexing); p2p Shipyard by darksoil studio (Tauri+Nix tool for redistributable desktop/Android runtimes); electron-holochain-template; Moss (groupware with Weave interoperability pattern)
Deployment Options Self-hosted conductor (local Holochain runtime on user's device); Holo hosting network (cloud-hosted hApps via HoloPorts for web users without Holochain installed); Holochain Launcher (desktop app store for installing/running hApps); standalone Tauri-based desktop apps via p2p Shipyard (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android); Electron-based apps via template; Moss groupware (group-based deployment with interoperable tools); web-hApp bundles (.webhapp files combining backend DNA + web UI for distribution)
Authentication & Identity Agent-centric cryptographic identity — each agent identified by Ed25519 public key (AgentPubKey); new keypair generated per app installation; private key signs all network communications and source chain actions; DeepKey (core hApp for Distributed Public Key Infrastructure / DPKI): manages keysets across apps and devices, KeysetRoot (KSR) via one-time throwaway keypair, key registration/replacement/revocation, M-of-N multisignature revocation rules, multi-device keyset management, derivation details for key recovery from master seed; Lair secure keystore integration; capability tokens for fine-grained function-level authorization; app entry requirements fully customizable (open access to arbitrary verification); no centralized identity authority
Storage Model Agent-centric dual storage: (1) Source chain — each agent maintains their own local append-only hash chain of signed actions and entries (personal tamper-evident ledger); (2) DHT (Distributed Hash Table) — shared validation and availability layer where entries are distributed to validation authorities based on content-address proximity; app entries are deduplicated on DHT but individual agents' writes distinguished by their signed actions; private entries remain on source chain only; data validated by peers according to integrity zome rules before acceptance into DHT; content-addressed via hashing; no global ledger or consensus mechanism
Interoperability How (Holochain application for converging on interoperability standards among hApps); bridging between cells/DNAs within a conductor for cross-app data access; hREA/ValueFlows for economic network coordination; Syn library for real-time collaborative tools; attestations library for W3C verifiable credentials; composable DNA architecture (mix-and-match existing DNAs as microservices); Moss Weave pattern for group tool interoperability and cross-app data embedding; Holo Web SDK for web integration; no native federation with non-Holochain protocols (ActivityPub, Matrix, etc.)
Social Graph Agent-centric (no built-in social graph at protocol level; social relationships implemented per-app via links between AgentPubKeys on DHT); Holochain Open Dev provides reusable profiles building block; DeepKey provides cross-app agent continuity via unified keyset identity; capability tokens enable selective relationship-based access grants; each app's DHT is its own peer network — social graph emerges from app participation and linking patterns rather than being a protocol primitive
Protocol Maturity / Standardization Proprietary Open Standard (published protocol specifications for DHT, validation, agent-centric architecture; Holochain Foundation governed)
Update Policy Agent-centric source-chain append-only (each agent's source chain is immutable; state advances by appending signed actions); DHT entries are also append-only; application DNA (validation rules) upgrades require explicit migration paths and user consent; no global mutable state.

Relationships

How this tool connects to other tools and organizations, from relationships reviewed by the OpenHaven data steward. They describe how projects connect, not how good they are.

Based on
Conforms to
Developed by
  • Holochain Foundation
Speaks protocol
Stewarded by
  • Holochain Foundation
Succeeded by
Interoperates with
Basis for
Hosts
Identity primitive for
Inspired
Protocol spoken by
Storage for