Centralized cloud providers don't guarantee data safety: file deletion, bankruptcy, and pricing changes are real risks. Cryptographic proofs from Filecoin — Proof of Replication — solve this by ensuring unique and continuous storage. The network incentivizes storage providers to prove data integrity every 24 hours. IPFS handles fast delivery, while Filecoin ensures verifiable long-term storage. Savings compared to AWS S3 can reach 60% for volumes over 1 TB. Our team has over 5 years of experience integrating Filecoin and has completed 10+ decentralized storage projects up to 100 TB.
According to the Filecoin specification, "Proof of Spacetime is a cryptographic proof that requires a storage provider to demonstrate they have continuously stored data over a specified period."
How to choose: direct API or aggregator?
Working directly with Filecoin via a Lotus node requires manually finding storage providers, negotiating deal parameters (price, duration, replication factor), and waiting for the deal to appear on-chain (~24 hours). For typical applications, this is overkill. Aggregators (Web3.Storage, Lighthouse, Storacha) abstract away the complexity: you upload a file via HTTP API, they handle deals and IPFS access. Aggregators simplify integration by about 10x compared to the direct API — implementation time drops from 2–3 days to a few hours.
| Service | API | Filecoin deals | IPFS access | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web3.Storage (Storacha) | S3-like | Yes, automatic | Yes | 5 GB |
| Lighthouse | HTTP REST | Yes | Yes | 100 MB |
| NFT.Storage | HTTP REST | Yes (for NFT data) | Yes | Unlimited for NFTs |
| Estuary (deprecated) | — | — | — | — |
Comparison of direct API vs aggregator:
| Parameter | Direct Lotus API | Aggregator (Web3.Storage) |
|---|---|---|
| Integration time | 2–3 days | a few hours |
| SP selection control | full | limited |
| Deal costs | gas fee + SP fee | included in service |
| Monitoring | manual | automatic |
Integration via Web3.Storage (Storacha) — simple path
npm install @web3-storage/w3up-client import { create } from '@web3-storage/w3up-client' import { filesFromPaths } from 'files-from-path' async function uploadToFilecoin(filePaths: string[]): Promise<string> { const client = await create() const files = await filesFromPaths(filePaths) const cid = await client.uploadDirectory(files) return `https://${cid}.ipfs.w3s.link` } Direct integration via Lotus API
For cases requiring full control (SP selection, deal parameters):
import { LotusRPC } from '@filecoin-shipyard/lotus-client-rpc' const client = new LotusRPC( 'https://api.node.glif.io/rpc/v0', { token: process.env.GLIF_TOKEN } ) const miners = await client.stateListMiners([]) const minerInfo = await client.stateMinerInfo(minerAddress, []) const minerPower = await client.stateMinerPower(minerAddress, []) How to avoid data loss when storing on Filecoin?
Common integration mistakes:
- Incorrect deal cost calculation. Storage providers charge per GB per month — typically $0.01–0.05/GB. Not accounting for network gas fees when publishing a deal can increase final cost by 10–20%. We recommend a 15% buffer.
- Ignoring replication. Data loss is possible if relying on a single storage provider. Filecoin deals include multiple replicas by default, but you must set the count explicitly. Minimum 3 replicas for production.
- No monitoring of expiring deals. Storage contracts have a fixed term (6 months to 3 years). If not renewed in time, data becomes unavailable. Solutions: FVM contracts for automatic renewal or external monitoring via Lotus API.
- Choosing a pricey SP. Compare offers on filfox.io or filecoin.tucuman.io.
Why CAR format and FVM matter?
Filecoin stores data in CAR archives. Large files must be chunked into pieces up to 32 GB. With the introduction of FVM (Filecoin Virtual Machine), programmable storage became possible. Smart contracts in Solidity can automatically renew deals, manage fund allocation, and verify storage status. Example contract for deal renewal:
// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT pragma solidity ^0.8.19; import {MarketAPI} from "@zondax/filecoin-solidity/contracts/v0.8/MarketAPI.sol"; import {MarketTypes} from "@zondax/filecoin-solidity/contracts/v0.8/types/MarketTypes.sol"; contract DealRenewal { function renewDeal(uint64 dealId) external { MarketTypes.GetDealActivationReturn memory activation = MarketAPI.getDealActivation(dealId); int64 expiryEpoch = activation.terminated; // ... renewal logic } } FVM addresses differ from EVM: format f410f... (FEVM). Conversion is possible via @glif/filecoin-address.
Turnkey integration process
- Analysis — We examine your architecture, data volumes, availability requirements, and cost constraints. We determine the optimal number of replicas and storage duration.
- Design — We select the integration method (aggregator or direct API), define deal parameters, and design smart contracts if needed.
- Implementation — We write upload code, smart contracts, configure an IPFS gateway and monitoring.
- Testing — We verify deal correctness, storage verification, upload/download performance.
- Deployment and monitoring — We deploy to production, set up alerts for deal status, expiration, and errors.
- Team training — We transfer knowledge on Filecoin operations and administration.
What's included in the work
- Repository with integration code (TypeScript/JavaScript)
- Documentation for upload and verification processes
- Configured custom IPFS gateway (optional)
- Deal monitoring and expiration notifications
- Team training on Filecoin usage
- Technical support during implementation (1 month)
Timelines and savings
A typical project takes 1 to 2 weeks. Storage cost savings compared to centralized cloud can reach 30–60% depending on volume. For long-term storage (3+ years), Filecoin is 2x cheaper than AWS S3. Average Filecoin storage cost is $0.01–0.05 per GB per month. Contact us for a project assessment — we'll prepare a proposal in 1–2 days. Get a consultation on decentralized storage. Order Filecoin integration today and ensure reliable data storage.