Decentralized storage, as an important component of the Blockchain ecosystem, is of great significance. Although the Blockchain itself is a Distributed Ledger with certain storage capabilities, it cannot fully meet the broader "data storage" requirements. In fact, the actual data files are mapped to the on-chain through indexing.

This relationship can be likened to a computer: the blockchain is equivalent to memory, while decentralization storage acts as an external storage device, providing necessary data support for the entire system.

In this field, several projects have been running for years, among which the more well-known include Filecoin and Arweave. However, the development status of these projects varies.

Filecoin essentially adds a layer of incentive mechanism on top of IPFS, aimed at encouraging storage service providers. However, in essence, its association with Blockchain is not high, the user experience still needs improvement, and the number of nodes is relatively small.

Arweave focuses on the field of permanent storage, developing a unique block structure where each block is connected to the next block as well as two historical blocks. Although its technical architecture is relatively complete, the high costs have become a significant barrier. Nevertheless, many data-related projects choose to collaborate with Arweave, such as MindNetwork.

Recently, Arweave also launched the computing layer AO, which was supposed to be a highly anticipated product. However, its actual performance has been unsatisfactory, frequently encountering failures, leading one to doubt the working condition of its development team.

Overall, there are still many challenges in the field of decentralized storage, but its important position in the Blockchain ecosystem is undeniable. In the future, finding a balance between technological innovation, user experience, and cost control will be the key factor determining the development direction of this field.