What is ATOR?
ATOR, a recent innovation in the cryptocurrency sphere, is making waves with its aim of bolstering global internet anonymity through on-chain incentives for Tor. This protocol offers a decentralized method for users to maintain their anonymity while browsing the web, made possible by an increase in active Tor relays. The proposed mechanism of recognition for Tor relays is facilitated via the Ethereum blockchain and the ATOR token.
Who is Behind ATOR?
ATOR is neither a subsidiary of Tor nor supported by it. The project is the brainchild of an anonymous developer team with deep-rooted connections in the crypto community. This team has developed a protocol designed to boost and maximize the adoption of the Tor network. It seems that the team possesses considerable knowledge and expertise in the fields of blockchain and Tor, as evidenced by their presentation of a functional Tor Router Microcontroller prototype at the EthDenver event and the release of open-source code in April 2023.
ATOR's Roadmap
ATOR has outlined several phases for its development. The first phase involves the development of a Proof of Concept (PoC), architecture, and the launch of an ERC20 token planned for March 2023. The second phase, scheduled for the end of Q2 2023, involves integrating Tor with ERC20 incentives and introducing a dashboard to incorporate existing Tor nodes into the ATOR incentive system. The third phase, planned for Q3 2023, includes a transition to independence, including the release of proprietary router hardware and relay hardware in Q1 2024. The final phase involves achieving absolute privacy through LoRa, with prototypes for 'last-mile' LoRa routers planned for Q2 2024.
ATOR's Token and Hardware
The ATOR token is an ERC20 token used to fund the development of the ATOR project and to provide incentives to Tor nodes. The developers of ATOR plan a gradual transition from vested rewards to their own algorithm or blockchain for rewards, allowing greater flexibility and long-term functionality of rewards. The ERC-20 ATOR token was launched in February 2023, with a maximum of 100 million ATOR tokens issued and currently around 63 million tokens in circulation. The ATOR router is designed to allow users to connect their consumer devices directly to the Tor network, using the ATOR router as an intermediary. The router is expected to work as a "hotspot" that supplements the user's existing internet source, such as a public WiFi network, while performing the encryption required to route all user packets through Tor.