Proof-of-Replication

Proof-of-Replication (PoRep) is a type of cryptographic proof that convinces a verifier that a storage provider has made a dedicated, physically unique copy of some data and is storing it on its own hardware. It is a core part of Filecoin, a decentralised storage network built by Protocol Labs alongside the InterPlanetary File System. Without such a proof, a dishonest provider could claim to store several copies of a file while keeping only one, or pretend to store data it fetches from elsewhere on demand. PoRep prevents this through a slow encoding process called sealing, which transforms each copy using the provider's identity so it cannot quickly be regenerated. The provider then submits a compact proof, built with zk-SNARKs, to the chain. PoRep proves storage at the start of a deal; ongoing storage is checked by Proof-of-Spacetime.