diff --git a/app/package.json b/app/package.json
index 5edff98..61f6601 100644
--- a/app/package.json
+++ b/app/package.json
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
     "connected-react-router": "^6.3.1",
     "drizzle": "^1.3.3",
     "history": "^4.7.2",
+    "ipfs": "^0.34.4",
+    "orbit-db": "^0.19.9",
     "prop-types": "^15.7.2",
     "react": "^16.8.1",
     "react-dom": "^16.8.1",
diff --git a/app/src/config/ipfsOptions.js b/app/src/config/ipfsOptions.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19a4f94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/config/ipfsOptions.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// OrbitDB uses Pubsub which is an experimental feature and need to be turned on manually.
+const ipfsOptions = {
+    EXPERIMENTAL: {
+        pubsub: true
+    }, config: {
+        Addresses: {
+            Swarm: [
+            ]
+        }
+    },
+};
+
+export default ipfsOptions;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/containers/SignUpContainer.js b/app/src/containers/SignUpContainer.js
index 743f2ed..13d4b66 100644
--- a/app/src/containers/SignUpContainer.js
+++ b/app/src/containers/SignUpContainer.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react';
 
 import { Header } from 'semantic-ui-react';
-import {bindActionCreators} from "redux";
-import {push} from "connected-react-router";
 import {connect} from "react-redux";
 
 class SignUp extends Component {
@@ -29,10 +27,6 @@ class SignUp extends Component {
         );
     }
 }
-const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => bindActionCreators({
-    navigateTo: () => push()
-}, dispatch);
-
 
 const mapStateToProps = state => {
     return {
@@ -40,7 +34,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = state => {
     }
 };
 
-const SignUpContainer = connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(SignUp);
+const SignUpContainer = connect(mapStateToProps)(SignUp);
 
 export default SignUpContainer;
 
diff --git a/app/src/index.js b/app/src/index.js
index c7f936b..b909cf3 100644
--- a/app/src/index.js
+++ b/app/src/index.js
@@ -4,11 +4,14 @@ import { Provider } from 'react-redux';
 import { ConnectedRouter } from 'connected-react-router'
 
 import store, {history} from './redux/store';
-import routes from './routes'
+import routes from './router/routes'
+import { initIPFS } from './orbit'
 import * as serviceWorker from './utils/serviceWorker';
 
 import './assets/css/index.css';
 
+initIPFS();
+
 render(
     <Provider store={store}>
         <ConnectedRouter history={history}>
diff --git a/app/src/orbit.js b/app/src/orbit.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cb5090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/orbit.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import IPFS from 'ipfs';
+import OrbitDB from 'orbit-db';
+import Keystore  from 'orbit-db-keystore';
+import path from 'path';
+import store from './redux/store';
+import ipfsOptions from './config/ipfsOptions'
+
+let ipfs, orbitdb, topicsDB, postsDB;
+
+function initIPFS(){
+    ipfs = new IPFS(ipfsOptions);
+    ipfs.on('ready', async () => {
+        store.dispatch({type: "IPFS_INITIALIZED"});
+    });
+}
+
+async function createDatabases() {
+    orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs);
+    topicsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('topics');
+    postsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('posts');
+    store.dispatch({
+        type: "DATABASES_CREATED",
+        orbitdb: orbitdb,
+        topicsDB: topicsDB,
+        postsDB: postsDB,
+        id: orbitdb.id
+    });
+    return {id: orbitdb.id, topicsDB: topicsDB.address.root, postsDB: postsDB.address.root,
+        publicKey: orbitdb.key.getPublic('hex'), privateKey:orbitdb.key.getPrivate('hex')};
+}
+
+async function loadDatabases(id,mTopicsDB, mPostsDB,publicKey,privateKey) {
+    let directory = "./orbitdb";
+    let keystore = Keystore.create(path.join(directory, id, '/keystore'));
+    keystore._storage.setItem(id, JSON.stringify({
+        publicKey: publicKey,
+        privateKey: privateKey
+    }));
+    orbitdb = new OrbitDB(ipfs,directory,{peerId:id, keystore:keystore});
+    topicsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + mTopicsDB +'/topics');
+    postsDB = await orbitdb.keyvalue('/orbitdb/' + mPostsDB +'/posts');
+
+    topicsDB.load();
+    postsDB.load();
+
+    store.dispatch({
+        type: "DATABASES_LOADED",
+        orbitdb: orbitdb,
+        topicsDB: topicsDB,
+        postsDB: postsDB,
+        id: orbitdb.id
+    });
+}
+
+export { initIPFS, createDatabases, loadDatabases };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/redux/reducers/orbitReducer.js b/app/src/redux/reducers/orbitReducer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bd3583
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/redux/reducers/orbitReducer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+const initialState = {
+    ipfsInitialized: false,
+    ready: false,
+    orbitdb: null,
+    topicsDB: null,
+    postsDB: null,
+    id: null
+};
+
+const orbitReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {
+    switch (action.type) {
+        case 'IPFS_INITIALIZED':
+            return {
+                ...state,
+                ipfsInitialized: true
+            };
+        case 'DATABASES_CREATED':
+            return {
+                ...state,
+                ready: true,
+                orbitdb: action.orbitdb,
+                topicsDB: action.topicsDB,
+                postsDB: action.postsDB,
+                id: action.id
+            };
+        case 'DATABASES_LOADED':
+            return {
+                ...state,
+                ready: true,
+                orbitdb: action.orbitdb,
+                topicsDB: action.topicsDB,
+                postsDB: action.postsDB,
+                id: action.id
+            };
+        case 'DATABASES_NOT_READY':
+            return {
+                ...state,
+                ready: false,
+                orbitdb: null,
+                topicsDB: null,
+                postsDB: null,
+                id: null
+            };
+        default:
+            return state
+    }
+};
+
+export default orbitReducer;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/redux/reducers/rootReducer.js b/app/src/redux/reducers/rootReducer.js
index 532467e..03155e9 100644
--- a/app/src/redux/reducers/rootReducer.js
+++ b/app/src/redux/reducers/rootReducer.js
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ import { combineReducers } from 'redux';
 import { drizzleReducers } from 'drizzle';
 import { connectRouter } from 'connected-react-router'
 import userReducer from './userReducer';
+import orbitReducer from "./orbitReducer";
 
 export default (history) => combineReducers({
     router: connectRouter(history),
     user: userReducer,
+    orbit: orbitReducer,
     ...drizzleReducers
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/redux/sagas/drizzleUtilsSaga.js b/app/src/redux/sagas/drizzleUtilsSaga.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bd241b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/redux/sagas/drizzleUtilsSaga.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import getWeb3 from '@drizzle-utils/get-web3';
+import getContractInstance from '@drizzle-utils/get-contract-instance';
+import { call, put, takeLatest, select } from 'redux-saga/effects'
+
+import Forum from '../../contracts/Forum';
+
+const accounts = (state) => state.accounts;
+let initFlag, web3, contract;
+
+function* init() {
+    if(!initFlag) {
+        web3 = yield call(getWeb3);
+        contract = yield call(getContractInstance,{
+            web3,
+            artifact: Forum
+        });
+        initFlag=true;
+        yield put({type: 'DRIZZLE_UTILS_SAGA_INITIALIZED', ...[]});
+    }
+    else
+        console.warn("Attempted to reinitialize drizzleUtilsSaga!");
+}
+
+// If the method below proves to be problematic/ineffective (i.e. getting current account
+// from state), consider getting it from @drizzle-utils/get-accounts instead
+// with (yield call(getAccounts, {web3}))[0];
+function* getCurrentAccount(){
+    return (yield select(accounts))[0];
+}
+
+function* drizzleUtilsSaga() {
+    yield takeLatest("DRIZZLE_INITIALIZED", init);
+}
+
+export { web3, contract, getCurrentAccount }
+
+export default drizzleUtilsSaga;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/redux/sagas/orbitSaga.js b/app/src/redux/sagas/orbitSaga.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e587645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/redux/sagas/orbitSaga.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { call, put, take, takeLatest } from 'redux-saga/effects'
+import { contract, getCurrentAccount} from './drizzleUtilsSaga';
+import { loadDatabases } from '../../orbit'
+
+let latestAccount;
+
+function* getOrbitDBInfo() {
+    yield put({type: 'ORRBIT_GETTING_INFO', ...[]});
+    const account = yield call(getCurrentAccount);
+    if(account!==latestAccount) {
+        console.log("Deleting local storage..");
+        localStorage.clear();
+        const txObj1 = yield call(contract.methods["hasUserSignedUp"], ...[account]);
+        try {
+            const callResult = yield call(txObj1.call, {address:account});
+            if(callResult) {
+                const txObj2 = yield call(contract.methods["getOrbitDBInfo"], ...[account]);
+                const info = yield call(txObj2.call, {address: account});
+                //TODO: update localStorage OrbitDB stuff
+                yield call(loadDatabases, info[0], info[1], info[2],info[3], info[4]);
+            }
+            else
+                yield put({type: 'DATABASES_NOT_READY', ...[]});
+
+            latestAccount=account;
+        }
+        catch (error) {
+            console.error(error);
+            yield put({type: 'ORBIT_SAGA_ERROR', ...[]});
+        }
+
+    }
+}
+
+function* orbitSaga() {
+    yield take("DRIZZLE_UTILS_SAGA_INITIALIZED");
+    yield take('IPFS_INITIALIZED');
+    yield takeLatest("ACCOUNT_CHANGED", getOrbitDBInfo);
+}
+
+export default orbitSaga;
diff --git a/app/src/redux/sagas/rootSaga.js b/app/src/redux/sagas/rootSaga.js
index 6c308c5..9120498 100644
--- a/app/src/redux/sagas/rootSaga.js
+++ b/app/src/redux/sagas/rootSaga.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { all, fork } from 'redux-saga/effects'
 import { drizzleSagas } from 'drizzle'
+import drizzleUtilsSaga from './drizzleUtilsSaga'
 import userSaga from './userSaga';
+import orbitSaga from "./orbitSaga";
 
 export default function* root() {
-    let sagas = [...drizzleSagas, userSaga];
+    let sagas = [...drizzleSagas, drizzleUtilsSaga, orbitSaga, userSaga];
     yield all(
         sagas.map(saga => fork(saga))
     )
diff --git a/app/src/redux/sagas/userSaga.js b/app/src/redux/sagas/userSaga.js
index 24508be..168eb82 100644
--- a/app/src/redux/sagas/userSaga.js
+++ b/app/src/redux/sagas/userSaga.js
@@ -1,65 +1,43 @@
-import getWeb3 from "@drizzle-utils/get-web3";
-import getContractInstance from "@drizzle-utils/get-contract-instance";
-import getAccounts from "@drizzle-utils/get-accounts";
-import { call, put, take, takeLatest, takeEvery } from 'redux-saga/effects'
+import { call, put, take, takeEvery } from 'redux-saga/effects'
 
-import Forum from "../../contracts/Forum.json";
+import { contract, getCurrentAccount } from './drizzleUtilsSaga';
 
-let initFlag, web3, contract, account;
-
-function* initUser() {
-    if(!initFlag) {
-        web3 = yield call(getWeb3);
-        contract = yield call(getContractInstance,{
-            web3,
-            artifact: Forum
-        });
-        initFlag=true;
-        yield put({type: 'USER_SAGA_INITIALIZED', ...[]});
-    }
-    else
-        console.warn("Attempted to reinitialize userSaga!");
-}
+let account;
 
 function* updateUserData() {
-    if(initFlag){
-        const currentAccount = (yield call(getAccounts, {web3}))[0];
-        if(currentAccount!==account) {
-            account = currentAccount;
-            yield put({type: 'ACCOUNT_CHANGED', ...[]});
-        }
-        const txObj1 = yield call(contract.methods["hasUserSignedUp"], ...[account]);
-        try {
-            const callResult = yield call(txObj1.call, {address:account});
-            if(callResult) {
-                const txObj2 = yield call(contract.methods["getUsername"], ...[account]);
-                const username = yield call(txObj2.call, {address:account});
-                const dispatchArgs = {
-                    address: account,
-                    username: username
-                };
-                yield put({type: 'USER_HAS_SIGNED_UP', ...dispatchArgs});
-            }
-            else{
-                const dispatchArgs = {
-                    address: account
-                };
-                yield put({type: 'USER_IS_GUEST', ...dispatchArgs});
-            }
+    const currentAccount = yield call(getCurrentAccount);
+    if(currentAccount!==account) {
+        account = currentAccount;
+        yield put({type: 'ACCOUNT_CHANGED', ...[]});
+    }
+    const txObj1 = yield call(contract.methods["hasUserSignedUp"], ...[account]);
+    try {
+        const callResult = yield call(txObj1.call, {address:account});
+        if(callResult) {
+            const txObj2 = yield call(contract.methods["getUsername"], ...[account]);
+            const username = yield call(txObj2.call, {address:account});
+            const dispatchArgs = {
+                address: account,
+                username: username
+            };
+            yield put({type: 'USER_HAS_SIGNED_UP', ...dispatchArgs});
         }
-        catch (error) {
-            console.error(error);
-            yield put({type: 'USER_FETCHING_ERROR', ...[]})
+        else{
+            const dispatchArgs = {
+                address: account
+            };
+            yield put({type: 'USER_IS_GUEST', ...dispatchArgs});
         }
     }
-    else
-        console.warn("Attempted to fetch data without initializing!");
+    catch (error) {
+        console.error(error);
+        yield put({type: 'USER_FETCHING_ERROR', ...[]})
+    }
 }
 
 
 function* userSaga() {
-    yield takeLatest("DRIZZLE_INITIALIZED", initUser);
-    yield take("USER_SAGA_INITIALIZED");
+    yield take("DRIZZLE_UTILS_SAGA_INITIALIZED");
     yield takeEvery("ACCOUNTS_FETCHED", updateUserData);
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/PrivateRoute.js b/app/src/router/PrivateRoute.js
similarity index 100%
rename from app/src/PrivateRoute.js
rename to app/src/router/PrivateRoute.js
diff --git a/app/src/routes.js b/app/src/router/routes.js
similarity index 57%
rename from app/src/routes.js
rename to app/src/router/routes.js
index b837d4a..e121f3a 100644
--- a/app/src/routes.js
+++ b/app/src/router/routes.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import React from 'react'
-import { Route, Switch, Redirect } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom'
 import PrivateRoute from './PrivateRoute.js';
-import NavBarContainer from './containers/NavBarContainer';
-import HomeContainer from './containers/HomeContainer'
-import SignUpContainer from './containers/SignUpContainer'
-import NotFound from './components/NotFound'
+import NavBarContainer from '../containers/NavBarContainer';
+import HomeContainer from '../containers/HomeContainer'
+import SignUpContainer from '../containers/SignUpContainer'
+import NotFound from '../components/NotFound'
 
 
 const routes = (
diff --git a/contracts/Forum.sol b/contracts/Forum.sol
index 2bae986..c9e5136 100644
--- a/contracts/Forum.sol
+++ b/contracts/Forum.sol
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ contract Forum {
 
     //----------------------------------------USER----------------------------------------
     struct User {
-        string username;
+        string username;    // TODO: set an upper bound instead of arbitrary string
+        OrbitDB orbitdb;
         uint[] topicIDs;    // IDs of the topics the user created
         uint[] postIDs;    // IDs of the posts the user created
         uint timestamp;
@@ -17,10 +18,11 @@ contract Forum {
     event UserSignedUp(string username, address userAddress);
     event UsernameUpdated(string newName, string oldName,address userAddress);
 
-    function signUp(string memory username) public returns (bool) {
+    function signUp(string memory username, string memory orbitDBId, string memory orbitTopicsDB, string memory orbitPostsDB, string memory orbitPublicKey, string memory orbitPrivateKey) public returns (bool) {
         require (!hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender), "User has already signed up.");
         require(!isUserNameTaken(username), "Username is already taken.");
         users[msg.sender] = User(username,
+            OrbitDB(orbitDBId,orbitTopicsDB, orbitPostsDB, orbitPublicKey, orbitPrivateKey),
             new uint[](0), new uint[](0), block.timestamp, true);
         userAddresses[username] = msg.sender;
         emit UserSignedUp(username, msg.sender);
@@ -57,9 +59,149 @@ contract Forum {
         return false;
     }
 
+    function getUserTopics(address userAddress) public view returns (uint[] memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up yet.");
+        return users[userAddress].topicIDs;
+    }
+
+    function getUserPosts(address userAddress) public view returns (uint[] memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up yet.");
+        return users[userAddress].postIDs;
+    }
+
     function getUserDateOfRegister(address userAddress) public view returns (uint) {
         require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up yet.");
         return users[userAddress].timestamp;
     }
 
-}
+    //----------------------------------------OrbitDB----------------------------------------
+    struct OrbitDB {
+        string id;     // TODO: set an upper bound instead of arbitrary string
+        string topicsDB;    //TODO: not sure yet which of these are actually needed
+        string postsDB;
+        string publicKey;
+        string privateKey;
+    }
+
+
+    function getOrbitDBId(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return users[userAddress].orbitdb.id;
+    }
+
+    function getOrbitTopicsDB(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return users[userAddress].orbitdb.topicsDB;
+    }
+
+    function getOrbitPostsDB(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return users[userAddress].orbitdb.postsDB;
+    }
+
+    function getOrbitPublicKey(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return users[userAddress].orbitdb.publicKey;
+    }
+
+    //TODO: encrypt using Metamask in the future
+    function getOrbitPrivateKey(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return users[userAddress].orbitdb.privateKey;
+    }
+
+    function getOrbitDBInfo(address userAddress) public view returns (string memory, string memory, string memory, string memory, string memory) {
+        require (hasUserSignedUp(userAddress), "User hasn't signed up.");
+        return (
+        users[userAddress].orbitdb.id,
+        users[userAddress].orbitdb.topicsDB,
+        users[userAddress].orbitdb.postsDB,
+        users[userAddress].orbitdb.publicKey,
+        users[userAddress].orbitdb.privateKey
+        );
+    }
+
+
+    //----------------------------------------POSTING----------------------------------------
+    struct Topic {
+        uint topicID;
+        address author;
+        uint timestamp;
+        uint[] postIDs;
+    }
+
+    struct Post {
+        uint postID;
+        address author;
+        uint timestamp;
+        uint topicID;
+    }
+
+    uint numTopics;   // Total number of topics
+    uint numPosts;    // Total number of posts
+
+    mapping (uint => Topic) topics;
+    mapping (uint => Post) posts;
+
+    event TopicCreated(uint topicID, uint postID);
+    event PostCreated(uint postID, uint topicID);
+
+    function createTopic() public returns (uint, uint) {
+        require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender));  // Only registered users can create topics
+        //Creates topic
+        uint topicID = numTopics++;
+        topics[topicID] = Topic(topicID, msg.sender, block.timestamp, new uint[](0));
+        users[msg.sender].topicIDs.push(topicID);
+
+        //Adds first post to topic
+        uint postID = numPosts++;
+        posts[postID] = Post(postID, msg.sender, block.timestamp, topicID);
+        topics[topicID].postIDs.push(postID);
+        users[msg.sender].postIDs.push(postID);
+
+        emit TopicCreated(topicID, postID);
+        return (topicID, postID);
+    }
+
+    function createPost(uint topicID) public returns (uint) {
+        require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender));  // Only registered users can create posts
+        require(topicID<numTopics); // Only allow posting to a topic that exists
+        uint postID = numPosts++;
+        posts[postID] = Post(postID, msg.sender, block.timestamp, topicID);
+        topics[topicID].postIDs.push(postID);
+        users[msg.sender].postIDs.push(postID);
+        emit PostCreated(postID, topicID);
+        return postID;
+    }
+
+    function getNumberOfTopics() public view returns (uint) {
+        return numTopics;
+    }
+
+    function getTopic(uint topicID) public view returns (string memory, address, string memory, uint, uint[] memory) {
+        //require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender)); needed?
+        require(topicID<numTopics);
+        return (getOrbitTopicsDB(topics[topicID].author),
+        topics[topicID].author,
+        users[topics[topicID].author].username,
+        topics[topicID].timestamp,
+        topics[topicID].postIDs
+        );
+    }
+
+    function getTopicPosts(uint topicID) public view returns (uint[] memory) {
+        require(topicID<numTopics); // Topic should exist
+        return topics[topicID].postIDs;
+    }
+
+    function getPost(uint postID) public view returns (string memory, address, string memory, uint, uint) {
+        //require(hasUserSignedUp(msg.sender)); needed?
+        require(postID<numPosts);
+        return (getOrbitPostsDB(posts[postID].author),
+        posts[postID].author,
+        users[posts[postID].author].username,
+        posts[postID].timestamp,
+        posts[postID].topicID
+        );
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file