Eric Harris-Braun is the co-founder of Holo.Host, Holochain, and the MetaCurrency Project, initiatives focused on decentralized computing and alternative economic frameworks. His background in computer science and experience in software development have contributed to projects involving peer-to-peer communication and distributed systems. ^{[1] [2] [4]}

Education

Eric Harris-Braun earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Yale University (1984-1989). His studies provided a foundation in computational systems and software development, which informed his later work in decentralized applications. ^{[1] [2] [7]}

Career

Harris-Braun began working on decentralized networking in 1993 with the establishment of Glass Bead Software, a company focused on cross-platform peer-to-peer communication tools. In 2003, he co-founded Harris-Braun Enterprises, LLC, a software development firm that developed data-collection systems for the healthcare industry, an Android application for catch monitoring in the fishing sector, and the Online Writing Workshop for Science-Fiction & Fantasy.

In 2009, he co-founded The MetaCurrency Project, an initiative aimed at exploring community-driven currency systems and decentralized economic models. The project examined how digital currency and distributed ledger technologies could be used beyond traditional financial systems.

In 2016, Harris-Braun co-founded Holochain, a framework for decentralized web applications that does not rely on conventional blockchain [consensus mechanisms](https://iq.wiki/wiki/list-of-consensus-mechanisms-in-blockchain). This led to the launch of Holo.Host in 2017, a decentralized hosting network built on Holochain. Holo enables users to share computing power for hosting applications, introducing HoloFuel as a unit of exchange based on hosting services.

Since 2024, Harris-Braun has served as the Executive Director of the Holochain Foundation, overseeing efforts to promote Holochain’s development and adoption in various sectors. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Publications and Research

Harris-Braun authored the Internet Directory (Fawcett Columbine) in 1994, a reference guide for internet users prior to the widespread adoption of search engines.

His research and projects have covered topics such as:

• Distributed collaboration systems.
• Alternative economic models enabled by decentralized technologies.
• The role of technology in shaping digital and economic structures.

Eric Harris-Braun resides in rural New York, where he is part of a Quaker Intentional Community. He engages in gardening and lives in a straw-bale house, reflecting an interest in sustainable living practices. ^{[1] [2]}

Interviews