As 2024 comes to a close, it is time to reflect on and celebrate a year of progress, milestones, and innovation across the entire Filecoin ecosystem. This year, developers built more applications on Filecoin than ever before, storage providers expanded their services, and AI teams found new ways to collaborate with the Filecoin ecosystem to integrate decentralized storage and computing into their products. Let's dive in and replay the highlights.
A milestone year: Space and cross L1
At the beginning of this year, we announced that the Filecoin Foundation (FF) successfully completed a pioneering mission to deploy the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) in space. This demonstration involved the implementation of an IPFS protocol designed specifically for space communication, sending files from Earth to orbit and back.
FF is bridging with other Layer 1 (L1) ecosystems to enhance decentralization and resilience. This month, Blockfrost announced integration with Filecoin as a robust backup layer for Cardano applications built with Blockfrost. Blockfrost will also introduce a new service layer for Cardano builders that includes IPFS and Filecoin storage.
Earlier this year, we announced a collaboration driven by Triton One and DCENT to archive Solana's block history on Filecoin, enhancing the decentralization of the Solana ecosystem.
Filecoin is the key infrastructure for decentralized AI.
As the AI industry continues to grow, the demand for data storage and computational power is increasing. Web3 tools like Filecoin have unique advantages in helping decentralize and support AI development without concentrating power in the hands of a few participants. This approach fosters advancements in AI while ensuring development remains open and transparent.
FF announced that in 2024 it will collaborate with leading AI companies such as SingularityNET, Theoriq, Bagel, Nuklai, KiteAI, and Aethir, each emphasizing the versatility of the Filecoin network as a decentralized infrastructure for AI.
In November, Filecoin was selected for Fast Company's 'New Tech Game Changer' list, which aims to recognize emerging technologies that have far-reaching impacts across industries. Filecoin is considered a key part of the internet infrastructure powering decentralized artificial intelligence.
Filecoin L2s take off
The rise of Filecoin L2s, including Akave, Storacha, and Textile's Basin, provides modular, customizable, and scalable solutions for building on Filecoin. L2 expands Filecoin's chain functionality and performance, enabling tailored features for different markets and customers, including AI, DePIN, enterprise, computing, gaming, and more.
As the network expands, these developments mark a turning point in the status of the Filecoin network as the largest decentralized storage network, designed to preserve humanity's most important information.
Dozens of new teams are contributing to the network. The Filecoin ecosystem provides a thriving environment for projects, teams, and companies to build today's and tomorrow's technologies. Over the past year, new organizations have been established to support the network's growth and decentralization, driving the transformation of Filecoin and the web.
FIL-B, FilOz, Akave, Curio, Storacha, Filponto, IPC, ANSA Research, CryptoEconLab, DeStor, and Space Meridian are just some of the new organizations helping to make Filecoin a decentralized network foundational layer.