By providing a decentralized method for proof of data possession and retrieval attestations, SPARK introduces key primitives for retrieval incentives in the Filecoin economy. As a datasource, SPARK can provide unique value to the growth of Filecoin’s utility as a network, particularly when considering topics such as SP performance, storage integrity, retrievability of data, and others.
This document evaluates paths to sustainable funding for SPARK by converting its beneficiaries (i.e. those to whom it is a valuable datasource) into customers.
SPARK is the first module being run in the Station Network. It’s value to beneficiaries is dependent on a network of light clients running Station, which are rewarded for doing so via FIL. In terms of its design, SPARK has a progressively decentralized architecture (i.e. it will begin with some centralized services), which will help to build trust in its fairness and efficacy in its fraud prevention over time. In its end-state, SPARK exists as a two-sided marketplace:
identified as top candidates for long-term sustainable funding:
| Title | Why would this pay for SPARK? | Est. Vol. of Capital (1-5) | Est. long-term funding stability | Method of implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLGo Grant | Uses SPARK to incentivize early adoption of retrieval incentive systems in Filecoin ecosystem | 1 | 1 | BD with PL LT |
| ReputationDAO | Uses SPARK as a datasource to calculate reputational statuses for Storage Providers (e.g. fraudelent, performant, etc.) | 1 | 2 | BD with ReputationDAO |
| Filecoin Foundation | Uses SPARK as a datasource for automating and incentivizing retrieval markets across multiple projects | 2 | 2 | BD with FF |
| End user | [Check if model exists in CDN] | |||
| FIL+ | Uses SPARK as a datasource to move from a manual eligibility reviews of SPs to a quantitative or performance-based eligibility | 3 | 3 | BD with Retrieval Incentives |
| Filecoin Protocol | Uses SPARK as a datasource for automating and incentivizing retrieval markets across multiple projects | 4 | 5 | FIP |
| SPs | Pay into SPARK as a ‘membership fee’ for incentives (such as FIL+) | 3 | 3 | BD with Retrieval Incentives, Network Growth, etc. |
Community & Social Incentives
Direct Payments: The customer or beneficiary pays into SPARK in exchange for its access to its data on SPs
Sponsored Payments: A third party pays SPARK for the value it provides to a different stakeholder or two the network as a whole: