Hello Hiero! Building the Next Generation Open Source Distributed Ledger Technology Together

As the landscape of decentralized trust continues to evolve, open source technologies play a pivotal role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration. At the forefront of this transformation is Hedera, a fully open source public ledger that is rewriting the rules of blockchain governance and energy efficiency. Powered by the Hashgraph consensus algorithm, which is recognized as the most energy-efficient blockchain today, Hedera boasts a unique governance model that includes 31 recognized global leaders such as Google, IBM, Dell, Boeing, and Standard Bank.

Recently, at Open Source Summit/Europe in Vienna, Hedera announced it has contributed its entire codebase to Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust as a vendor neutral, openly developed project called Hiero. In a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Leemon Baird, Hedera’s Co-Founder, Chief Scientist at Hashgraph, and Hiero Technical Steering Committee (TSC) member, a diverse group of thought leaders and developers from Hedera’s ecosystem shared insights into the significance of this milestone and its impact on the future of open source blockchain development.

The Power of Open Governance

With Hiero now operating under LF Decentralized Trust, Hedera’s transition from a centralized governance structure to a fully open source model opens new doors for developers and enterprises alike. Daniela Barbosa, Executive Director of LF Decentralized Trust, highlighted the importance of this shift in governance for the wider blockchain ecosystem:

"We always knew there wouldn’t be one blockchain to rule them all. Different approaches are needed for different use cases, and while permissioned ledgers are important, public and permissionless blockchains—along with their ecosystems—are critical for how enterprises and governments build decentralized trust systems."

This move not only makes Hedera’s codebase more accessible but also provides a pathway for enterprises looking to adopt blockchain technology with confidence. As Barbosa further explained, having the code governed under an independent foundation gives businesses the transparency they need:

"Enterprises want the assurance that the code is openly governed. Open governance means anyone can contribute to the codebase, ensuring that no single entity controls its future."

Building a Collaborative Developer Ecosystem

The transition to Hiero is a pivotal step in Hedera’s evolution. It encourages collaboration within the developer community, breaking down silos that can stifle innovation. Daniel Fozzati, founding partner of web3 venture builder The Building Blocks, emphasized how this shift empowers developers working on similar projects to pool their resources:

"When discrete teams are trying to build the future, duplicative efforts to achieve similar goals are often seen. Hiero opens up a way for us to collaborate with a broader community and develop common technology blocks that can be implemented not only across our entire portfolio of ventures but also with the wider Hedera community for the benefit of many through standardization. This is the perfect venue for us to work together and break down the silos."

For investors like Fozzati, this new level of collaboration brings a fresh wave of opportunities to create standardized solutions that can be repurposed across multiple projects like SongBits, a platform where music fans can enjoy shared ownership of their favourite artists’ work and earn royalties alongside them for life. Using blockchain and RWA tokenization, SongBits enables fans to buy parts of a song (called “Bits”), or even the entire track, affording them a share in streaming revenues from all major music apps.

Bridging the Gap Between Web 2 and Web3

A key theme in the discussion was how Hiero will bridge the gap between traditional Web 2 developers and the emerging world of Web3. Milan Wiercx van Rhijn, a builder and creator within the Hedera ecosystem, shared his own journey from a non-developer background to building the Nomid payment system on Hedera:

"A few years ago, I wasn’t a developer. But over time, I learned how to code and built a peer-to-peer payment system on Hedera. Hiero nurtures this spirit of collaboration and allows more people like me to get involved and contribute to the Hiero codebase."

As well, Wiercx van Rhijn leads the HBAR Foundry, a grassroots organization for developers in the Hedera ecosystem. The HBAR Foundry serves as a community hub where developers share knowledge, troubleshoot problems, and explore new use cases together. This collaborative spirit is what drives much of the innovation on Hedera, and it will only grow as more developers join the ecosystem through Hiero.

Accelerating Climate and Sustainability Projects on Blockchain

One of the most exciting aspects of Hedera’s open source transition is its impact on climate and sustainability projects. Wes Geisenberger, who leads the The HBAR Foundation’s Sustainable Impact Fund, discussed how open source blockchain technology is being used to enhance environmental integrity and traceability:

"We’ve built the largest library of digitized open-source methodologies for environmental projects, and now, with Hiero, we can take this to the next level. This transition allows us to bring more contributors from across the Linux Foundation ecosystem and beyond."

Geisenberger emphasized how open governance enables developers to build sophisticated tools for tracking emissions, biodiversity credits, and other environmental assets in a transparent and auditable manner. The Hedera Guardian, an open source tool for environmental integrity, is at the forefront of this innovation, and Hiero will help expand its capabilities.

"The goal is to make what we develop as a technical community accessible to everyone—whether you’re a developer, a government agency, or a Fortune 500 company. We want these tools to be used globally to solve real-world problems."

Looking to the Future: What Comes Next for Hiero and Hedera

As the panel discussion drew to a close, the excitement around Hiero and the future of Hedera was palpable. Samson Goddy, a community leader and open-source advocate, encapsulated the enthusiasm by highlighting how developers can get involved immediately:

"We’re launching initiatives like Hacktoberfest to encourage contributions from a broader community. There are many ways to get involved, whether you’re writing code or contributing through documentation and community-building efforts."

This commitment to inclusivity is central to Hedera’s open-source vision. Hiero is not just about expanding the codebase; it’s about fostering a diverse and collaborative community of developers, businesses, and organizations that will shape the future of decentralized technology.

Dr. Leemon Baird closed the panel by reflecting on how this move aligns with Hedera’s mission to enable the next generation of decentralized applications:

"Hiero is more than just an open source project. It’s the foundation for a future where decentralized technologies are built collaboratively by a global community. We’re excited to see where this journey takes us."

Join the Hiero Revolution

For developers, businesses, and enthusiasts looking to get involved in the future of decentralized technology, Hiero offers a wealth of opportunities. With a robust governance structure, transparent development processes, and a thriving community, Hiero is the ideal platform for anyone interested in contributing to the next generation of blockchain innovation.

To learn more, visit the Hiero project page or join the channel on LF Decentralized Trust’s Discord. 

The future is open. Welcome to the Hiero community!

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Upcoming Events:

Hiero at Hacktoberfest 2024 - Contribute to Hiero by working on a good first issue during the month of October

Bringing Open Governance to a World of Decentralized Trust - Hear more at this upcoming talk at Linux Foundations’ Member Summit