What is MCP? (Model Context Protocol)

A beginner-friendly deep dive into MCP: What it is, why it matters, and how it standardizes AI ↔ tool communication.

What is MCP? (Model Context Protocol)

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that allows AI agents to connect to real, trusted data and tools beyond their own LLM-limited memory. In the context of the Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG), MCP is the bridge between the reasoning power of AI and the verifiable, linked knowledge that lives on the network.

Think of an AI agent as a brilliant brain — capable of reasoning, summarizing, and generating language — but often trapped inside its own head. MCP acts as the “bridge” or “port” that lets that brain reach out into the real world: to query databases, fetch live knowledge, call APIs, and even publish new knowledge back into the DKG.

Some in the AI space call MCP the “USB-C of AI” — because it standardizes how models connect to external systems. Instead of writing custom code for every single integration, MCP provides a single, universal way to plug AI into anything: from enterprise APIs and local tools to DKG Nodes, where cryptographically verified knowledge lives.

Why MCP matters

1. Eliminates the “M x N” connector problem

Before MCP, connecting AI systems to external tools was messy. Imagine you have one AI model (like a chatbot) and ten different tools it needs to use (a database, a calendar, a search engine, a file system, etc.). You’d usually have to write ten separate custom integrations just for that one model.

Now imagine adding a second AI model — you might need to write those integrations all over again. That’s the M × N problem: the number of integrations grows out of control as you add more models and more tools.

MCP fixes this by being a universal connector. Once a tool supports MCP, any AI model that speaks MCP can use it. Think of it like a USB-C port for AI — instead of needing a different charger for every device, you just use one cable.

2. Interoperability & composability

Because MCP is an open protocol, it’s not tied to one company or platform. Anyone can build tools, agents, or DKG Nodes that use it.

This creates a world where:

• A LangChain agent, a VS Code extension, and a Copilot Studio bot can all talk to the DKG through the same MCP server.

• Developers don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time.

• You can combine tools easily — like chaining together a calendar, a file system, and the DKG — without special hacks.

This is what “composability” means: building larger, more powerful systems out of smaller, interoperable parts. Just like Lego blocks, if each piece follows the same standard, they all fit together.