Verifiable Decentralized IPFS Cluster: Unlocking Trustworthy Data Permanency for Off-Chain Storage

In Decentralized Applications, off-chain storage solutions such as the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) are crucial in overcoming Blockchain storage limitations. However, the assurance of data permanency in IPFS relies on the pinning of data, which comes with trust issues and potential single points of failure. This paper introduces Verifiable Decentralized IPFS Clusters (VDICs) to enhance off-chain storage reliability with verifiable data permanency guarantees. VDICs leverage Decentralized Identifier, Verifiable Credentials, and IPFS Clusters to create a trustworthy ecosystem where the storage of pinned data is transparent and verifiable. Performance evaluations demonstrate that VDICs are competitive with traditional pinning services. Real-life use cases validate their feasibility and practicality for providers of Decentralized Applications focused on ensuring data permanency.