Tanglestash is an open-source algorithm that lets you persist arbitrary data onto the tangle of IOTA, the distributed ledger built around a directed acyclic graph instead of a traditional blockchain. It is aimed at developers and technically curious users who want to experiment with storing files on a feeless distributed ledger rather than on a conventional server.
The project's own summary frames it as IOTA meeting BitTorrent, a useful mental model: the data is split into pieces and spread across the network, and you retrieve it later with the same module. Note that the project has had no code updates since February 2018, so it should be treated as a reference implementation and a learning tool rather than a production-ready service.
What Is Tanglestash and How Does It Work?
At its core, Tanglestash takes a piece of data, prepares it for transmission, and writes it into transactions on the IOTA tangle. Unlike a blockchain, where blocks are chained in a single sequence, the tangle links each new transaction to earlier ones, so the structure grows as a web rather than a line.
The resulting record is public and replicated across participating nodes. That is what makes it attractive for persistence experiments, and also why privacy considerations matter. Anything written without encryption should be assumed visible to anyone who knows how to look for it.
Who Is This Tool Best Suited For?
Tanglestash fits developers who already work with JavaScript or TypeScript and want to learn how data can be embedded in a distributed ledger. It is also useful for researchers comparing storage models, or for hobbyists who enjoy exploring how IOTA handles transactions.
It is less suitable for anyone who needs guaranteed uptime, reliable retrieval speeds, or a support channel. Since development has stopped, you will need to troubleshoot issues yourself or rely on the community.
Practical Use Cases to Consider
A common experiment is storing a small configuration file or a short document and then retrieving it on a different machine to confirm the round trip works. Another is testing whether a password-protected payload can be recovered after the original environment is gone.
You might also use the module as a teaching example when explaining how tangle-based ledgers differ from block-based ones. Because the source is MIT-licensed, you can read the code, adapt it, or use it as a starting point for your own tooling.
Comparing Storage Approaches on Distributed Networks
Distributed storage projects generally trade off permanence, cost, privacy and speed. Peer-to-peer file sharing systems prioritize moving files between peers, while ledger-based approaches prioritize immutability and public verifiability. Tanglestash sits in the second group.
That distinction matters when choosing a tool. If your goal is fast, private file sharing, a dedicated file-transfer protocol will serve you better. If your goal is to explore data persistence on a feeless ledger, Tanglestash is a reasonable place to start.
Key features
Store Any Data on the Tangle
Retrieve Previously Stored Data
Optional AES Password Encryption
No Prior Conversion Required
Supported coins
Tanglestash is built around the IOTA tangle, so it works with IOTA as its underlying network. It is not a multi-asset wallet and does not handle coin transfers across other blockchains.
How to install Tanglestash on Windows
- 1
Download the Source from the Official Repository
Obtain Tanglestash from its official GitHub repository at github.com/loehnertz/Tanglestash. Only download from the official source, and avoid mirrors or third-party file hosts that may bundle modified code.
- 2
Verify the Download
Check the SHA-256 checksum or signature of the archive if the publisher provides one. If none is available, review the code or compare the repository state against the version you cloned before running anything.
- 3
Set Up the Runtime Environment
Because the project is written in JavaScript and TypeScript, you will typically need a Node.js environment installed on Windows. Follow the repository's instructions for installing dependencies and building the module.
-
Run and Test the Module
Start with a small test string before attempting larger files. Confirm that you can retrieve the data using the reference output the module produces, then move on to encrypted payloads once the basic flow works.
System requirements
- Windows is listed as a supported platform in the project documentation, though this has not been verified on current Windows versions
- A JavaScript runtime capable of running the project's build and dependency setup
How to use Tanglestash
Using Tanglestash is mostly a matter of writing data to the tangle and keeping track of what you wrote so you can read it back later. Plan the process before you start, because the reference details are your only way to find the data again.
The basic workflow follows a simple sequence. Start with a short string so you can confirm the whole cycle works before committing larger files.
- Prepare the data you want to store, either as a string or as a file.
- Decide whether to protect it with a password, and if so, record the password in a secure password manager.
- Run the persist operation and save the reference information the module returns.
- Later, use the retrieve operation with that reference to read the data back.
- Compare the retrieved content with the original to confirm it matches.
- Repeat with a larger file to see how the module behaves on your system.
Pros & cons
- Open source under the MIT license, so the code can be inspected and modified
- Stores both strings and whole files without special formatting
- Optional AES password encryption adds a layer of protection
- Simple concept that is useful for learning about IOTA and data persistence
- Free to use
- No code updates since February 2018, so compatibility with current tools is uncertain
- Windows support is listed in documentation but not verified
- Requires a development environment to build and run
- Data on a public ledger is visible unless encrypted
- No official support channel or ongoing maintenance
Is Tanglestash safe?
Tanglestash is open source, which allows you to inspect the code before running it. Still, download it only from the official GitHub repository, verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature when available, and never enter a seed phrase or wallet key into any third-party website or tool that asks for one.
Because the project has not received code updates since 2018, treat it with extra caution. Dependencies may contain known vulnerabilities, so review them before installation. Always encrypt sensitive content with a strong password, since anything stored on the public tangle without protection can be read by others. Check the latest status on the official repository before relying on the tool.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/loehnertz/Tanglestash. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Tanglestash differs from other tools in the catalog mainly in purpose. Several listed programs focus on cryptographic primitives, transaction construction or blockchain analysis, while Tanglestash concentrates on writing arbitrary data to a distributed ledger and reading it back. The IOHK Address Library and Dumplings, for example, deal with address handling and CoinJoin analysis respectively, which are unrelated to file persistence.
If your interest is in data storage on a ledger, Tanglestash is the more direct fit. If you are exploring transaction building or wallet logic, the PSBT Commander or the Subzero project may be more relevant. Choose based on whether your goal is storage, transactions or analysis.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 9 Feb 2018
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/loehnertz/Tanglestash
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tanglestash is free. It is released as open-source software under the MIT license, which permits use, modification and redistribution with attribution. There is no listed price for the program itself, but you should keep in mind that interacting with networks may involve other costs depending on the setup you choose.
Windows is mentioned in the project documentation as a platform, but support has not been verified on current Windows versions. You may need a JavaScript development environment installed to build and run it. Test with a small string first to confirm everything works on your machine before storing important data.
Data written to the tangle is generally public, so anyone who can access the network may be able to view it. Tanglestash offers optional AES password encryption, which you should use for any sensitive content. Even with encryption, keep your password safe, because lost passwords cannot be recovered by the project.
Yes, the module can store a whole file without converting it first, as well as plain strings. Start with a small file to test the round trip. Larger files may behave differently depending on your environment, so verify retrieval before relying on the tool for anything important.
No. The project has had no code updates since February 2018. That means it may not work with newer dependencies or operating system versions, and security issues may not be fixed. It is best used for learning and experimentation rather than as a long-term storage solution.
The source code is publicly available under the MIT license, which allows review before use. However, the project is no longer maintained, so you should download it only from the official GitHub repository, verify its integrity, and encrypt sensitive data. Never enter wallet seed phrases into third-party tools.
A regular file-sharing tool transfers files directly between users or servers. Tanglestash instead writes data into the public IOTA tangle, where it is replicated across the network and retrieved later using reference information. The approach offers persistence on a distributed ledger but is slower to experiment with and less suited to everyday file transfers.
Verdict
Tanglestash is a compact, open-source experiment for anyone curious about storing data on the IOTA tangle. Its simple feature set and MIT license make it a good learning tool for developers familiar with JavaScript. Because it has not been updated since 2018 and Windows support is unverified, it is not a dependable choice for important data. Use it to explore the concept, encrypt anything sensitive, and check the official repository for the latest status before going further.