> The main concept of the Berty Protocol is the "group", a virtual place where multiple devices can share messages and metadata using OrbitDB, which itself relies on IPFS.

Doesn't IPFS rely on blockchain?

I believe there's some work being done to use cryptocurrency micro payments as a layer on top of IPFS to incentivize data storage.

edit; Filecoin, https://docs.filecoin.io/about-filecoin/ipfs-and-filecoin/#d...

no, it uses distributed hashtables to find stuff.

Not at all.

The people that make it are developing a blockchain product that uses IPFS, but that is totally separate.

Not for basic features. There is discussion about using smart contracts via ethereum to enable some eCommerce/dynamic kind of flows in a distributed way, but there are non-blockchain alternatives being talked about too.