I have photos from ten years ago that I can't find anymore. They're not lost, exactly. They're just scattered. Some on an old laptop, some on a hard drive I haven't plugged in for years, some in a Google Photos account I'm not even sure I still have the password for.
This is the state of most people's digital lives. We create constantly, but we don't really own or control any of it. It's all sitting somewhere, on someone else's servers, under terms we didn't read.
At v03, I'm working on changing that with Carbide Network. The idea is simple: you should be able to store your personal data in a way where you actually own the infrastructure, not just rent access to it.
Why personal storage matters
Think about what happens when you upload a photo to Google Photos or iCloud. It's convenient, sure. It syncs across your devices. You can access it from anywhere.
But you don't own it in any meaningful sense. You're storing your life on someone else's server. If they change their terms, if they shut down, if they decide your content violates something, you're out of luck.
With Carbide Network, the storage is decentralized. Your data isn't sitting on one company's server. It's distributed across nodes that you control or choose to trust. You decide who has access. You decide how long it's stored.
It's not as polished as iCloud. But it's fundamentally different. You're not a customer. You're the owner.
What I'm building
At v03, I'm setting up personal vaults using Carbide. Places where you can store your files, your photos, your notes — things that actually matter to you — in a way that doesn't depend on whether some startup is still around in five years.
I'm also integrating it with the other tools I'm building. So when you create something with Celluloid, or track health data with HashHeal, it can all flow into your personal vault. One place where you control everything.
The hard part isn't the technology. Decentralized storage exists. The hard part is making it usable for people who aren't protocol nerds.
Why now
I think we're at a point where the convenience of centralized storage isn't worth the trade-offs anymore. We've all lost data. We've all had accounts locked or deleted. We've all read terms of service that basically say "we can do whatever we want with your stuff."
Personal vaults aren't just about privacy or security. They're about having a say in what happens to the things you create. About not being completely dependent on platforms that could change the rules tomorrow.
At v03, I'm trying to make this practical. Not just talking about data sovereignty, but actually building tools where you can store your stuff in a way you control.
It's early. It's messy. But it's the right direction.