Succinct Proofs of Random Access (SPoRA)

Succinct Proofs of Random Access (SPoRA) is a consensus mechanism used by Arweave, a network that aims to store data permanently, to decide which miner produces the next block. To compete, a miner must show that it can quickly fetch a randomly selected piece of the network's past data, called a chunk, and combine it with its mining attempt. Because the chunk is chosen unpredictably, miners who store more of the blockweave locally, and can read it fast, have a better chance of winning, which rewards keeping data rather than simply buying computing power. SPoRA was introduced in 2021 as a refinement of Arweave's earlier proof of access design, and later Arweave upgrades built further on the idea. It forms part of the wider field of decentralized storage and differs from proof of work, which rewards computation alone.