ICP Founder Accuses NEAR of Stealing Technology

Internet Computer founder Dominic Williams has accused NEAR Protocol of illegally using DFINITY's technologies.

Nature of the Claims

Williams claims that key components of NEAR Intents and Chain Signatures are based on his company's developments without proper authorization. The Chain Signatures technology allows the NEAR blockchain to sign transactions in other networks, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, using threshold ECDSA signatures.

Arguments from the ICP Founder

• The technology was created by DFINITY cryptographers Jens Grot and Victor Shoup; it operates three times faster than alternatives, and the license belongs solely to Internet Computer.
• According to Williams, NEAR has been using this development for about 2.5 years, and its promotion was handled by a former DFINITY employee who left in summer 2021.
• Evidence includes a scientific publication and GitHub materials indicating NEAR's shift to a slower mechanism involving three rounds of data exchange.