🧠 Executive Summary

The PDP SPX Program is a focused initiative to onboard and support a cohort of Filecoin Service Providers (SPs) in becoming early adopters of storage backed up by Proof of Data Possession (PDP). This is the first edition in our FWS SP program, and more will be rolling out as the new services appear in the network. Now that PDP is depleted on Maine, with interested data clients, we want to help bootstrap a group of SPs who can provide high-quality PDP services.

By seeding and supporting at least fifteen geographically diverse SPs and three external data clients, we will validate the PDP stack, demonstrate real use cases, and build momentum for wider adoption - while avoiding the launch gaps seen with previous technologies like FVM contract deals.

Throughout the PDP SPX program, Storage Providers will receive test deals from real data clients, helping to lay the groundwork for future partnerships in production PDP operations.

The PDP SPX program will run through May and June 2025 as an initial two-month pilot. Based on results and momentum, we may propose extending the program or launching follow-on initiatives.

🎯 Program Goals

• Onboard 15+ PDP-ready SPs - 3 per region - NA, EU, Middle East, Africa, China, Korea, Japan, Asia.
• Work with 3+ real data clients to store and verify datasets via PDP.
• Prove PDP is usable today with real retrievals, data pipelines, and user feedback.
• Create proof-of-use for PDP as a critical layer for improving Filecoin retrieval guarantees.
• Enable builder confidence by ensuring PDP services are available on Calibration and Mainnet from launch.

This is an MVP-phase program and not designed for scale, monetization, or production SLAs, but for bootstrapping ecosystem readiness.

🧪 PDP service MVP Scope

Included in scope:

• Use of Curio to run the PDP protocol & PDP nodes
• Creation of proofsets and submission of PDP proofs
• Retrieval testing via HTTPS
• Off-chain client <> SP coordination