Web3DB: Web 3.0 RDBMS for Individual Data Ownership

2025-04-03

AI Summary

Traditional DBMSs suffer from data privacy risks, single-point failures, and inherent security vulnerabilities, while existing decentralized systems lack compatibility with the relational database management system (RDBMS) ecosystem. To address these challenges, this paper proposes Web3DB—the first Web 3.0–compliant decentralized relational database management system. Methodologically, Web3DB introduces (1) a novel decentralized query execution mechanism integrating cryptographic lottery-based node selection with blockchain-based result verification; (2) a modular architecture supporting SQL syntax compatibility, fine-grained access control, multi-tenancy isolation, and open data sharing; and (3) tight integration of blockchain (for permission management and result attestation), decentralized storage, and a lightweight SQL parsing engine. By preserving the usability of the relational model, Web3DB restores data sovereignty, ensures fault tolerance against single points of failure, and enables end-to-end controllability—significantly enhancing users’ autonomous governance over their data.

Technology Category

• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Web
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Reasoning under Uncertainty: Relational Probabilistic Models

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Decentralized Web and Fediverse systems
• Responsible Web: Data and user privacy-enhancing technologies for the Web
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data provenance, reliability, and authenticity

Abstract

This paper introduces Web3DB, a decentralized relational database management system (RDBMS) designed to align with the principles of Web 3.0, addressing critical shortcomings of traditional centralized DBMS, such as data privacy, security vulnerabilities, and single points of failure. Several similar systems have been proposed, but they are not compatible with the legacy systems based on RDBMS. Motivated by the necessity for enhanced data sovereignty and the decentralization of data control, Web3DB leverages blockchain technology for fine-grained access control and utilizes decentralized data storage. This system leverages a novel, modular architecture that contributes to enhanced flexibility, scalability, and user-centric functionality. Central to the Web3DB innovation is its decentralized query execution, which uses cryptographic sortition and blockchain verification to ensure secure and fair query processing across network nodes. The motivation for integrating relational databases within decentralized DBMS primarily stems from the need to combine the robustness and ease of use of relational database structures with the benefits of decentralization. This paper outlines the architecture of Web3DB, its practical implementation, and the system's ability to support SQL-like operations on relational data, manage multi-tenancy, and facilitate open data sharing, setting new standards for decentralized databases in the Web 3.0 era.

Problem

• Decentralized RDBMS for Web 3.0 data ownership
• Enhancing privacy and security in database systems
• Compatibility with legacy RDBMS and decentralization

Innovation

• Blockchain-based fine-grained access control
• Decentralized query execution with cryptographic sortition
• Modular architecture for flexibility and scalability