MyBlockRoots

A decentralized genealogy verification platform that preserves verified family-tree data permanently on Arweave and anchors it on the Base blockchain using Chainlink oracles.

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Inspiration

What it does

How we built it

Challenges we ran into

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Inspiration

MyBlockRoots was inspired by the need for intellectual and historical sovereignty, particularly for marginalized lineages like the African Diaspora where ancestry records are often fragmented or undocumented. We wanted to build a secure, permanent, and trustless framework to verify oral history, digitize genealogy documents, and preserve family legacies forever.

What it does

MyBlockRoots is a decentralized genealogy verification platform. Key features:

  • Conversational AI Onboarding (Leroy): A digital Griot that guides users through oral history collection and GEDCOM parsing.
  • Multi-Archive Search: Triangulates record matches across NARA, Library of Congress, US Census, Smithsonian, FamilySearch, and slavery-specific databases.
  • Chainlink Oracle Verification: Uses Chainlink Functions to verify historical sources against external databases.
  • Arweave Permanent Archival: Archives proof bundles permanently on Arweave.
  • Branch NFT & TBA: Mints verified lineages as NFTs on Base Sepolia, equipped with an ERC-6551 Token Bound Account (TBA) so the tree itself can own assets.

How we built it

  • Frontend: React, Vite, Tailwind CSS v4, Privy (for passwordless authentication and embedded Web3 wallets).
  • Backend: Node.js/Express, PostgreSQL (database), and integration with NARA/LOC APIs.
  • Web3: Chainlink Functions (DON queries), Base Sepolia (smart contracts), and Arweave (ArDrive wallet for permanent storage).

Challenges we ran into

  • GEDCOM Parsing: Dealing with irregular GEDCOM files of over 2,000 nodes efficiently.
  • Chainlink Functions integration: Formatting and managing off-chain responses back into smart contracts.
  • Privacy Controls: Implementing client-side data redaction so living relatives' names are not permanently leaked to public block explorers.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Seamlessly integrating passwordless Privy wallets so non-crypto users can interact with blockchain technology.
  • A functional 10-step wizard with Leroy the Griot.
  • Verifying historical records trustlessly using Chainlink.

What we learned

  • How to manage complex genealogical data structures.
  • Integrating multiple decentralized networks (Base, Arweave, Chainlink) into a single cohesive UX.

What's next for MyBlockRoots

  • Full-scale integration with NARA whitelists.
  • ERC-6551 Token Bound Account assets and descendant contribution incentives. ## What we learned

What's next for MyBlockRoots

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