Rightmesh ICO Review

The main difference between the approach Rightmesh is taking and that of their main competitor Smartmesh, is that Rightmesh nodes only forward data directly on a routing path, whereas Smartmesh broadcasts data omnidirectionally to all devices on their network. This is a very complicated technical topic but essentially boils down to security vs. ease of access.

Rightmesh takes the position that broadcasting to all nodes on the network is naive and would make the network easier to take down. Because only devices not connected to the greater web can talk to each other, one would have to operate within the network to attack it. This severely limits the vulnerability of the overall network to attack.

In reaching out to Rightmesh's team on Telegram on the differences between Rightmesh and Smartmesh, John Lyotier had this response:

"There are several technology differences, but the biggest difference is in our core values and how we try to conduct ourselves. From the creation of Left, nearly 8 years ago our motto has been "We are Left, we do things Right", and RightMesh is very much a product of that. In our opinion, the Founder of Smartmesh does not operate to the same high moral code.

An example is in the quality of the team of experts we have assembled to build our mesh network. We are a mesh company through and through. Building an ad hoc mobile mesh network capable of working across multiple hops is not a trivial thing. This is why we have several PhDs with highly relevant, practical and academic experience on our team. It is why we align ourselves with acadamia to ensure that we continue to identify and recruit the best talent in this field.

Prior to their ICO, Smartmesh listed Micha Benoliel, a genuine pioneer in the mesh industry, as their co-founder and CTO. This proved to be a false statement that, in our opinion, may have served to hype and promote their project and deceive potential contributors as to their capabilities in mesh networks. Micha was removed immediately prior to their ICO after the "inaccuracy" was raised. In a separate development, Micha is now an Advisor to RightMesh. In addition Paul Gardner-Stephen of the Serval Project was (but is no longer) listed in a senior role on the Smartmesh site, and we understand that his initial involvement was also greatly exaggerated. The blockchain and crypto industry has had a poor track record of Advisors and Team Members being incorrectly attributed to a project and companies that indulge in this practice should, in our opinion, be called out on their behavior."

Clearly, he feels that his main competitor is not even worth considering. Although I found his criticisms of Smartmesh valid, (especially after looking into the controversy myself), I found it problematic that he didn't address the technical differences between the products, merely the integrity of Smartmesh itself and their supposed lack of experience.