The Dfinity Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was created to support and promote the development of the Internet Computer, a decentralized computing network. The Internet Computer aims to provide a secure and scalable platform for building and hosting applications, services, and websites without relying on traditional centralized infrastructure.
The Dfinity Foundation was founded in 2016 by Dominic Williams, who also serves as the chief scientist of the organization. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland. The foundation has played a central role in the development of the Internet Computer and has been responsible for coordinating the project's research, engineering, and community-building efforts.
The Internet Computer utilizes a blockchain-based protocol called the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) to enable decentralized computation and data storage. It aims to provide a seamless and open internet environment where developers can create and deploy applications with ease. The protocol introduces concepts such as "canister," which represents an autonomous smart contract that can interact with other canisters and external systems.