Overview
Decentralized storage breaks files into encrypted fragments and distributes them across a global network of independent nodes. This approach eliminates single points of failure and reduces the risk of data breaches or censorship.
Key Benefits
- Security: Data is encrypted and fragmented, making it nearly impossible for a single node to read the entire file.
- Censorship Resistance: No central authority can delete or block access to the data.
- Reliability: Redundancy ensures that data remains available even if some nodes go offline.
- Cost-Efficiency: Utilizes unused storage space globally, often leading to lower prices than centralized providers.
Major Protocols
- IPFS: Content-addressed P2P storage.
- Filecoin: Incentive layer for long-term storage.
- Arweave: Permanent storage model.
- Sia / Storj: Enterprise-grade decentralized cloud storage.