I've researched Web3 infrastructure for nearly two years now, and decentralized storage has proven to be the most challenging problem I can't crack. To be frank, this is critically important—it directly impacts data sovereignty, the core lifeblood of the ecosystem, and determines whether we can truly break free from dependence on centralized infrastructure.

But after going through the rounds, I've encountered far more complaints than bright spots. Projects that emerged during the hype cycle stalled technologically after gaining attention, with nothing from the whitepaper promises ever materializing; some teams are fond of using complex technical jargon to intimidate people, sounding profound and mysterious, yet they can't even stabilize secure file access and retrieval; and there's a whole bunch that treats token speculation as their core business, with ecosystem applications being mere decoration—this system can't do anything except tell stories.

I often ask myself: can decentralized storage really only exist in speeches and plans? Is there actually a project that can strike a balance between security, cost, and user experience at these three points, making it directly usable by ordinary people?

This question has been gnawing at me for a long time. Until half a year ago, when I encountered a new line of thinking. From actually operating the most basic storage functions, to dissecting the underlying technical design logic, to genuinely participating in ecosystem building—this half year of exploration has gradually made me see through some things and given me clear insight into the actual value of this direction. The thoughts I'm sharing today aren't some industry authority proclamation, just the genuine feelings of a researcher after hands-on experience.

My initial interest in this direction actually stems from an unexpected discovery during a user needs survey. At the time, I was mapping out various barriers in Web3 storage usage, progressively communicating with numerous users...