# CESS Network

> The Decentralized Data Infrastructure

CESS provides decentralized data storage and content delivery for Web3 applications using blockchain technology and distributed networks.

CESS is a Layer 1 blockchain network offering decentralized storage and content delivery infrastructure for Web3. Users can store, share, and monetize data with privacy and sovereignty while developers build applications leveraging distributed storage resources, AI capabilities, and millisecond-level data retrieval through its CD²N technology.

- Type: Network
- Sector: Infrastructure
- Status: Active
- Profile: https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network

## Products

- [CESS Network](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): CESS Network is a Layer 1 blockchain providing decentralized cloud storage and content delivery network infrastructure for Web3 applications. The network utilizes R²S consensus, Proof of Idle Space, and Proof of Data Reduplication and Recovery mechanisms to enable secure storage and retrieval of high-frequency dynamic data with millisecond-level access performance. (L1, Live, Main Product)
- [DeShare](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): DeShare is a decentralized file sharing application built on CESS Network that enables users to store and share files without login requirements. The service supports documents, photos, videos and other file types with permanent storage and free trial access. (Decentralized File Storage, Live)
- [DeOSS](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): DeOSS is a decentralized object storage service providing developers with API access to store and retrieve data on CESS Network. The system supports CRUD operations, manages up to 1000 buckets per account with unlimited bucket capacity, and serves as the gateway between applications and the CESS storage infrastructure. (Decentralized File Storage, Live)
- [CESS Block Explorer](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): CESS Block Explorer is a blockchain explorer providing visibility into CESS Network transactions, blocks, extrinsics, accounts, storage metrics, and miner statistics for monitoring network activity and data storage operations. (Block Explorer, Live)
- [CESS Staking](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): CESS Staking portal enable users to stake CESS tokens, nominate validators, and participate in network consensus. Users can delegate to storage nodes, consensus nodes, or become validators to earn block production rewards. (Staking Service, Live)
- [CESS Course](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): CESS Course is an educational platform providing structured learning resources for developers and users to learn CESS Network technologies. The course covers DeOSS and REST API usage, dApp development, and custom pallet creation with access to developer bounties and grants. (Education and Training, Live)

## Assets

- [CESS (CESS)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/cess_network): CESS is the native token of the CESS Network. It is used to pay for storage fees, reward validators and storage miners, and stake for network consensus participation. The network utilizes Proof of Idle Space and Reputation Rotational Selection consensus mechanisms to secure the decentralized storage infrastructure. (Native)

## Links

- [Main](https://cess.network)
- [Documentation](https://doc.cess.network)
- [Blog](https://www.cess.network/posts/updates)
- [Whitepaper](https://www.cess.network/theme/cess/globe/cess-whitepaper.pdf)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/CESSProject)
- [Twitter / X](https://twitter.com/CESS_Storage)
- [Discord](https://discord.gg/cess)
- [Telegram](https://t.me/CESS_Storage_official)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@cess_storage2312)
- [Medium](https://medium.com/@CESS_LAB)
- [LinkedIn](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/cessnetwork)

## Legal

This data is provided under two licensing models.

Model 1 - open data. The open data core is licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL) — a copyleft/share-alike license allowing free use, modification, and sharing for any purpose. Attribution is required: include "Powered by The Grid" linking to https://thegrid.id wherever the data is used. Derivative databases must be shared under ODbL terms. Trademarks, logos, and brand names (marked "Special TPIP") are not covered by the ODbL. For ML/AI use: training datasets that substantially extract ODbL data are Derivative Databases and must be shared under ODbL if publicly used; models must be attributed in documentation.

Model 2 - commercial licenses. The Grid Data Service (TGDS) is also available as a commercial license. See [Web Services Terms](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/web-services-terms) for commercial use that is not covered by the open data service.

The following applies to both licensing models.
- All data is provided AS IS with no guarantees of accuracy.
- The Grid does not provide investment, legal, or tax advice, and
- a project's presence in The Grid's data does not imply endorsement.


- [Data Licensing & Disclaimers](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/data-licensing-and-disclaimers): Licensing models and disclaimers
- [Open Data (ODbL)](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/open-data): Open Database License terms and scope for The Grid's open data service.
- [Attribution Guidelines](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/open-data-attribution-guidelines): How to attribute The Grid's data when using the open data service.
- [Web Services Terms](https://about.thegrid.id/legal/web-services-terms): commercial Terms for using data services.
- [All Legal Documents](https://about.thegrid.id/legal): Full index of terms, policies, and disclosures

## Optional

- [TGS Field Descriptions](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/tgs-field-descriptions.md): Schema field definitions for The Grid's data model
- [TGS JSON Structure](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/tgs-json-structure.md): Data model structure and relationships
- [Product Type Definitions](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/product-type-definitions.md): Definitions for each product type
- [Product Type Classification](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/references/product-type-classification.md): Guide for classifying products into types
- [Grid MCP Guide](https://github.com/The-Grid-Data/workspace-public/blob/main/grid-search/skills/grid-query/references/grid-mcp-guide.md): How to query The Grid programmatically via MCP