Storing HTML websites in the blockchain

[deed02392]

I see that the blockchain has enabled lots of different distributed networking principles, other than just enabling cryptocurrency. For example Namecoin uses the blockchain for storing DNS data.

I am wondering about the feasibility of storing entire websites in the blockchain. For example, the likes of Wikileaks could find a safe haven in a blockchain which anyone could easily have a copy of and browse locally, off-line or simply anyone could host and manage a website that would be practically impossible to shut-down, since there would be no single point of failure.

Of course this could only enable static content and it would be impossible to have a secure storage system unless it was referenced outside the blockchain, but that would defeat the purpose. But there are many valuable websites out there for which this wouldn't be a problem.

Thoughts?

[icem3lter]

It would be too costly to store data to blockchain, I mean you need to pay 0.0001 BTC per KB of data for Bitcoin blockchain, so other blockchains should be similar

[deed02392]

The cost is all relative to the value of the currency the blockchain exists on. Using the bitcoin chain to underpin this would not work as the cost would be too high, but starting our own chain for this purpose would allow the cost of the data to work itself out.

Don't forget the average webpage is only in the order of a few KB.

[ShireSilver]

Using the blockchain for this is overkill. Just think of using something like bittorrent, with some security added on top. A distributed general database would be incredibly useful.

[deed02392]

Using the blockchain for this is overkill. Just think of using something like bittorrent, with some security added on top. A distributed general database would be incredibly useful.

Please don't think I meant to use the Bitcoin blockchain, I'm talking about the blockchain in principle. A blockchain IS a general distributed database. In which case it sounds like you're agreeing this could be something worth investigating further.