what's InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)?
IPFS is a peer-to-peer distributed file system that seeks to connect all computing devices with the same system of files, fundamentally changing the way information is distributed on the internet. Instead of relying on location-based addresses like traditional HTTP, IPFS uses content-addressing: each file or piece of content is given a unique cryptographic hash based on its contents, enabling verifiable, tamper-proof storage and retrieval across a global network of nodes. Content is versioned, chunked, and distributed via a Merkle DAG structure, allowing efficient sharing, deduplication, and persistence without central servers. Users can access IPFS content through public gateways (e.g., ipfs.io), browser extensions, or native clients. It's widely integrated into Web3 for hosting dApps, NFTs, and decentralized websites, powering projects like Filecoin for incentivized storage.
Vitalik Buterin cited IPFS as a performant, robust decentralized storage/retrieval system.
Links
x.com/ipfsMentioned by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in a detailed thread discussing decentralized web infrastructure, specifically cited as a storage system alongside Fileverse as part of the original decentralized web vision.
Is now highly performant and robust as a decentralized way of retrieving files, though does not solve the storage problem alone and has room for improvement.
Localsafe.eth launches as fully static site on IPFS hosting, offering decentralized access to Safe protocol interface.
Filecoin Pin launches, connecting Filecoin and IPFS systems to power decentralized applications, workflows, and websites.