Replication-related protocols for decentralized networks

A method comprising:

• submitting a storage ask order to a blockchain, wherein the storage ask order comprises an amount of storage space and an award in tokens;
• receiving, by a first node of a distributed computing network, a request to store a file;
• storing the file;
• encoding, by the first node, the stored file using an encoding function to produce a number of distinct encoded stored replicas of the file, wherein producing each replica takes a minimum of an encoding time period;
• generating, by a second node of the distributed computing network, a challenge, wherein the challenge is a request to prove that the first node has produced the number of distinct encoded stored replicas;
• receiving, by the second node, a proof from a prover in response to the challenge within a verify time period, wherein the proof is determined in part by decoding the encoded stored file, and wherein the verify time period is shorter than then encoding time period;
• and
• providing, by the distributed computing network, tokens in response to receiving the proof by the second node.

A system comprising:

• one or more computers and one or more storage devices on which are stored instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
• submitting a storage ask order to a blockchain, wherein the storage ask order comprises an amount of storage space and an award in tokens;
• receiving, at a prover, a file;
• storing the file;
• encoding the stored file using an encoding function to produce an encoded stored file wherein the time to encode using the encoding function takes at least a minimum encoding time;
• receiving a challenge at the prover;
• producing a proof at the prover in response to the challenge within a verify time period, wherein the proof is determined in part by decoding the encoded stored file and wherein the verify time period is less than the minimum encoding time;
• and
• receiving tokens at the prover based at least in part on the proof.