iExec

iExec (RLC) is an open-source, decentralized cloud computing platform running on the Ethereum blockchain. iExec positions itself as a “trust layer” for decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and AI, providing confidential off-chain computation and tools for monetizing digital assets such as data, compute power, and AI models.^[12][1][2]

Overview

iExec is a decentralized confidential computing protocol and marketplace that connects users who need off-chain computation with providers of compute power, data, and applications. It is built on Ethereum smart contracts and an off-chain network of workerpools that execute tasks while preserving data confidentiality and result integrity.^[2][12]

The project’s core products include the iExec protocol and marketplace, along with tools such as DataProtector for encrypting and monetizing datasets, Web3Mail for privacy-preserving messaging, and the Oracle Factory for creating custom data oracles that bridge Web2 and Web3.^[12][15]

iExec supports use cases in AI (including confidential AI model execution and rental), DePIN (secure off-chain computation for physical infrastructure networks), decentralized finance (DeFi) and other applications that require privacy-preserving computation and data monetization. The RLC token is used as the medium of exchange on the marketplace and as an incentive and collateral for participants who provide computing resources and services.^[1][5]

History

iExec is based in Lyon, France, and was founded on October 16, 2016, by Gilles Fedak and Haiwu He, who serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Head of the Asian-Pacific Region (APAC), respectively.^[2] The project held an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) on April 19, 2017, selling its RLC token to fund development of a decentralized cloud computing marketplace.^[5] From the outset, iExec aimed to offer an alternative to centralized cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure by enabling on-demand access to computing power, datasets, and applications over a decentralized network of resource providers.^[4]​

In 2018, iExec began collaborating with Intel to build an end-to-end solution that combined confidential computing with blockchain, showcased at the Consensus 2018 conference in New York. The two organizations co-authored the Off-Chain Trusted Compute Specification within the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, helping define standards for trusted off-chain computation.^[10] Over the following years, iExec continued to develop its marketplace and confidential computing stack, based on its XtremWeb-HEP technology and the Proof of Contribution consensus protocol, to support applications in AI, DeFi, and other data-intensive fields.^[4]​

In October 2021, iExec launched the Oracle Factory, a developer interface for creating custom oracles from arbitrary data sources. The Oracle Factory was first deployed on a testnet, migrated to the iExec sidechain in August 2022, and in November 2022 was made cross-chain on Ethereum and Polygon, extending its reach across multiple ecosystems.^[6]​^[8]​^[9]​

In April 2023, iExec released its “V8” upgrade, which overhauled the confidential computing stack with performance and scalability improvements, added support for Intel SGX2, and introduced a new architecture designed to make the Secret Management Service (SMS) more modular and decentralizable.^[13] Around the same period, iExec introduced applications such as DataProtector and Web3Mail, along with the “Privacy Pass” campaign aimed at onboarding users to privacy-preserving Web3 tools.^[14] In 2023, the project also participated in events focused on confidential computing with Microsoft Azure, presenting use cases that combined confidential enclaves with decentralized infrastructure.^[15]​

From 2024 onward, iExec emphasized its positioning as a trust layer for DePIN and AI, highlighting decentralized confidential computing (DeCC) as a core concept and evolving its public workerpools to support AI workloads and infrastructure networks.^[12]​^[15] The 2025 roadmap focuses on themes such as confidential AI (including support for GPU-based trusted execution environments), scaling throughput via improvements like PoCo Boost, and continued evolution of the iExec sidechain and broader ecosystem.^[16]​

Design and Mechanism

At its core, iExec is a decentralized cloud computing protocol that runs on the Ethereum network while offloading resource-intensive computation to an off-chain network of workerpools. These workerpools are based on XtremWeb-HEP, an open-source protocol that pools unused computing resources and provides features such as fault tolerance, hybrid public/private infrastructure support, and data management and security capabilities.^[4] On-chain smart contracts coordinate orders between users and providers, while the off-chain infrastructure executes tasks and returns verifiable results.^[5]​

The network’s consensus protocol, called Proof of Contribution (PoCo), links the XtremWeb-HEP infrastructure with the on-chain marketplace and records the outcome of off-chain computations. Marketplace participants include users who submit tasks, application providers who supply dApps and services, workers who contribute compute resources, and schedulers who organize workers into pools, assign tasks, and score contributions.^[4] When a task is executed, PoCo validates workers’ contributions and writes the proofs on-chain, while data access and execution take place off-chain in a controlled environment.^[5]​

iExec’s confidential computing stack combines hardware-based trusted execution environments (TEEs) with its off-chain framework to protect code and data during execution. The platform supports Intel SGX enclaves and, with the V8 upgrade, Intel SGX2, and is working with technologies such as Intel TDX and GPU-based TEEs to extend confidential computing to broader AI and DePIN workloads.^[13]​^[16] The stack integrates the Gramine framework to simplify running unmodified applications inside TEEs, enabling developers to containerize workloads while maintaining confidentiality guarantees.^[13]​

iExec’s Secret Management Service (SMS) is a key component of this design, responsible for holding and delivering cryptographic secrets—such as encryption keys—into trusted enclaves so that sensitive data can be processed without being exposed to the operating system or hypervisor.^[11] The V8 architecture modularized the SMS to support further decentralization, and the roadmap references work on SMS decentralization and PoCo Boost to increase network throughput and support more demanding applications, including confidential AI and large-scale DePIN use cases.^[13]​^[16]​

Oracle Factory forms another part of the protocol’s design, providing a no-code and low-code interface for developers to create custom oracles that bring off-chain data on-chain. Launched in October 2021, it allows users to define data sources and logic, then deploy oracles that can feed smart contracts with verified external information.^[6] Initially released on a testnet and then migrated to the iExec sidechain in August 2022, Oracle Factory became cross-chain on Ethereum and Polygon in November 2022, enabling oracles created through iExec’s tooling to serve applications across multiple networks.^[8]​^[9]​

Tokenomics and Distribution

The iExec RLC token is an ERC-20 token that serves as the platform’s primary medium of exchange. All transactions on iExec’s decentralized cloud marketplace, including payments for compute power, data, and application usage, are settled in RLC. Workers and other resource providers stake RLC tokens as security deposits or collateral to participate in task execution and be eligible for rewards.^[5][1]

RLC has a total capped supply of 87 million tokens. In the April 19, 2017 crowd sale, 69% of the total supply was sold to the public, 17.2% was allocated to founders and early investors, 6.9% to bounty programs and research and development, and 6.9% to a contingency reserve.^[5] This fixed-supply model is intended to align incentives between users, resource providers, and the iExec team by tying network growth to demand for RLC-denominated services.^[12]

Over time, iExec has pursued initiatives to deepen RLC’s role in the ecosystem. These include efforts to increase liquidity and exchange availability, and the introduction of an “iExec Voucher” mechanism designed to lock RLC within the ecosystem while giving users prepaid access to services.^[12][16] In its 2025 roadmap, the team announced plans to enhance tokenomics with additional staking and reward mechanisms, alongside the creation of a 1,000,000 RLC Ecosystem Fund and a strategic buyback intended to support ecosystem growth and partner initiatives.^[16]

Partnerships

iExec has developed a series of partnerships and ecosystem relationships focused on confidential computing, AI, and decentralized infrastructure. These collaborations span hardware and cloud providers, industry consortia, and Web3 ecosystems, supporting both technical integration and adoption of iExec’s confidential computing tools.^[15]

Collaboration With Intel

Since 2018, iExec has worked with Intel to build solutions that combine Intel’s confidential computing technologies with blockchain-based coordination. The two organizations presented an end-to-end confidential computing and blockchain solution at the Consensus 2018 conference and co-authored the Off-Chain Trusted Compute Specification within the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, formalizing approaches to trusted off-chain computation.^[10] In August 2023, iExec became a Gold Member of the Intel Partner Alliance, reflecting ongoing work around Intel SGX, SGX2 and TDX, as well as the appearance of iExec’s solutions in Intel’s AI-related partner materials.^[10] As a member of the Intel AI Builders program, iExec and Intel also promoted AI model-renting solutions that allow model owners to monetize assets while keeping models and data confidential.^[10]

Other Ecosystem Relationships

Beyond Intel, iExec participates in several industry and Web3 ecosystems. It has been involved in GPU-focused initiatives such as the NVIDIA Inception program to explore confidential GPU computing for AI workloads, and it participates in industry groups like the Confidential Computing Consortium that promote standards and best practices for TEE-based computation.^[15] iExec is also a founding member of the DeCC Alliance, an initiative focused on decentralized confidential computing, aligning with its positioning as a trust layer for DePIN and AI.^[12]

On the adoption side, iExec has collaborated with consumer-facing platforms and Web3 ecosystems, including a Revolut “Learn & Earn” campaign that introduced users to RLC and confidential computing concepts, and partnerships or grant programs with blockchain ecosystems such as Polkadot, Avalanche, and Taiko to encourage developers to build using iExec’s tools.^[15] These collaborations are often tied to hackathons, accelerator programs, or ecosystem funds aimed at expanding practical use cases for confidential data and compute services.^[16]

Founders and Team

iExec was co-founded by Gilles Fedak, Ph.D., who serves as Chief Executive Officer, and Haiwu He, Ph.D., who leads the Asian-Pacific Region (APAC).^[2] The leadership team combines backgrounds in distributed computing, research, and product development, and oversees both protocol engineering and ecosystem adoption.

Key leadership roles include:

• Oleg Lodygensky, Ph.D. – Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Anthony Simonet-Boulogne, Ph.D. – Head of Research & Innovation
• Francis Otshudi – Chief Product Officer
• Johan Moonen – Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Nelly Cornejo – Head of Adoption