Clear DefinitionsSia
1 min read
Pronunciation
[sahy-ə]
Analogy
Sia is like a decentralized Dropbox where multiple hosts each store encrypted shards of your file, ensuring privacy and redundancy.
Definition
A decentralized cloud storage platform where hosts rent storage space and renters pay in Siacoin to store encrypted files.
Key Points Intro
Sia secures storage through these mechanisms:
Key Points
File contracts: Smart contracts that lock collateral and payments.
Redundancy: Files are split into shards with erasure coding.
Proofs of storage: Hosts submit Merkle proofs to verify uptime.
Siacoin token: Used for payments and collateral.
Example
A developer uploads backups to Sia; three different hosts store encrypted shards, and the renter automatically pays Siacoin monthly based on usage.
Technical Deep Dive
When a renter uploads a file, Sia client creates a file contract specifying collateral and rental rate. The file is erasure‑coded into segments, each encrypted and distributed. Hosts submit periodic storage proofs (Merkle proofs) to the blockchain. If proofs fail, collateral is forfeited.
Security Warning
Hosts can go offline, making shards temporarily unavailable; ensure redundancy factor is high.
Caveat
Performance depends on host reliability; under‑collateralized hosts risk data availability.
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