On a blockchain, data is copied across many computers. The same data is stored with each validator. This keeps the system secure. However, when there is a lot of data, the system becomes slow and costly. Sometimes people just need to share data without performing any computations on it. In such cases, it is not necessary to replicate the full data everywhere. That’s why a special type of storage is used called decentralized storage.
In this system, data is only stored on certain nodes, but it still remains safe, available, and difficult to modify or delete. For NFTs, the actual data—like the original photos or videos—is stored here. Otherwise, only the metadata exists on the blockchain, and the original files could be deleted. For AI, it’s also important to preserve the original data so that it can be verified as authentic and unchanged.
Web3 apps, social platforms, and rollups all require decentralized storage to safely keep their data. Nowadays, decentralized storage is often used together with encryption. This makes data secure, private, and fully under the user’s control. Users do not need to rely on a single company. Simply put, decentralized storage is a new system for keeping data safe, and it is very important for the future of Web3.