EthStorage

EthStorage¶

EthStorage is an Ethereum-based decentralized dynamic storage solution designed to provide low-cost, highly available data storage services for the Ethereum ecosystem. The project reduces storage costs to one-hundredth or even one-thousandth of traditional Ethereum calldata costs through innovative data availability proof mechanisms and Ethereum Layer 2 technology.

Technical Architecture¶

EthStorage employs a modular design with the following main components:

Storage Layer: A network of distributed storage nodes responsible for actual data storage. Nodes become storage providers by staking ETH, committing to store specific data and periodically submitting storage proofs.

Proof Mechanism: Uses Data Availability Sampling and storage proof technology. Storage nodes must periodically submit proofs to the Ethereum mainnet or Layer 2, demonstrating that they continue to store the committed data.

Incentive Layer: A smart contract-based economic incentive mechanism. Users pay storage fees, and storage nodes receive rewards for providing services. Nodes that fail to fulfill storage obligations have their staked assets slashed.

Access Interface: Provides a storage API integrated with Ethereum smart contracts, allowing DApps to store and retrieve data through standardized interfaces. Supports dynamic data updates, differentiating it from immutable storage solutions like IPFS.

Design Features¶

Ethereum-Native Integration: Deeply integrated with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), smart contracts can directly invoke storage functions without bridges or additional protocols.

Dynamic Storage: Supports data updates and deletion, suitable for application scenarios requiring frequent data modifications such as on-chain game state, social media content, and more.

Cost Optimization: Through Layer 2 technology and optimized proof mechanisms, storage costs are dramatically reduced. Compared to storing data on the Ethereum mainnet, costs can be reduced by 100-1000x.

Programmability: Storage rules can be defined through smart contracts, supporting flexible access control, lifecycle management, and payment models.

Development History¶

The EthStorage project is supported by the Ethereum Foundation and aims to solve the long-standing storage bottleneck problem in the Ethereum ecosystem. The project draws on design concepts from Danksharding and Proto-Danksharding (EIP-4844), focusing on providing infrastructure for data-intensive applications.

The development team includes Ethereum core developers and storage technology experts. During development, multiple rounds of testnet deployments and security audits were conducted to ensure system reliability and security.

Use Cases¶

EthStorage is suitable for the following scenarios:

On-chain gaming: Storing game assets, map data, player state, and other dynamic content
Social applications: Content storage for decentralized social networks, such as posts, images, and comments
Dynamic NFT metadata: NFT projects that support metadata updates
DApp data: User data, configuration information, and more for decentralized applications
Data marketplaces: Storage infrastructure for data trading platforms

Comparison with Other Solutions¶

vs IPFS/Filecoin: EthStorage focuses on the Ethereum ecosystem, providing tighter integration and lower cross-protocol costs. It supports dynamic data, while IPFS is mainly used for immutable content.

vs Arweave: Arweave provides permanent storage, while EthStorage uses a pay-as-you-go model, making it more suitable for scenarios requiring regular updates or short-term storage.

vs Ethereum Calldata: Significantly lower cost, but requires additional proof mechanisms and trust assumptions. Suitable for large data storage, while calldata is better suited for critical small data.

Technical Challenges¶

Challenges facing EthStorage include:

Data availability guarantees: Requires sufficient storage nodes to remain online and work honestly
Proof costs: Frequent storage proofs incur on-chain costs
Node incentives: Designing a sustainable economic model to attract and retain storage providers
Compatibility with Ethereum upgrades: Must follow the technical evolution of the Ethereum mainnet and Layer 2

Data Availability Sampling (DAS)
EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding)
Layer 2 Scaling Solutions
Proof of Storage