Proof of Replication

Juan Benet explains how Protocol Labs grew out of the IPFS project and describes IPFS as a peer-to-peer system for distributing content by what it is rather than where it is stored. He presents Filecoin as a storage market that uses a native currency and proofs of storage, including proof of replication, to incentivize providers and secure consensus. The conversation explores why decentralized networks and token-based funding became more feasible, how CoinList helps projects run token sales, and how rewards might flow back to open-source contributors. Benet also discusses Filecoin’s potential advantages over centralized cloud storage, resilience, and the broader role of decentralization in software and markets.