Ocean Protocol is a decentralized data exchange platform that enables secure and privacy-preserving data sharing while allowing data owners to retain control over their data. Launched in 2017 by Bruce Pon and AI researcher Trent McConaghy, Ocean Protocol leverages blockchain technology and data tokenization to unlock the value of data, making it accessible and usable within a decentralized marketplace.

The platform allows data owners, such as individuals, organizations, and businesses, to tokenize their data into data tokens, which represent access rights to the data. These tokens can then be published, priced, and traded on Ocean's data marketplace, enabling data to be bought, sold, or shared while maintaining strict privacy controls. This approach helps solve data silos and privacy concerns by allowing data to be utilized without exposing the actual data itself, thanks to features like Compute-to-Data, which allows data processing without revealing the underlying information.

Ocean Protocol’s native token, OCEAN, plays a key role in the ecosystem. It is used for governance, staking, and facilitating transactions within the marketplace. The token incentivizes data providers to share quality data and enables participants to vote on protocol upgrades and community decisions through decentralized governance.

By making data more accessible and actionable, Ocean Protocol aims to foster an open data economy where data is democratized and used responsibly. This vision supports the growth of AI and machine learning by providing high-quality datasets that can be accessed while preserving data privacy, ultimately accelerating innovation in various sectors.