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Crust Network

Paid APISelf-hostedWeb

What Crust Network is

Crust Network is a decentralized storage network that supports IPFS and provides storage interfaces for applications. Users place on-chain orders for files identified by IPFS CIDs, which Crust nodes fetch, store, and distribute. Orders are shown as waiting while nodes retrieve a file and as successful after storage. Once an order succeeds, files can be accessed through standard IPFS interfaces and gateways. Users can upload through a gateway, signing authorization with a Crust account, or use a local IPFS client. The gateway authorization has no transaction fee. Storage fees adjust with network storage, on-chain state, and throughput resources; users can add a tip to expedite an order. The Storage User application and download links provide retrieval options, while IPFS Scan shows distribution, retrieval locations, storing nodes, and storage status. Developers can use crust.js and JavaScript libraries, and publish websites through Crust CLI, a Node.js package, or a GitHub Action. Crust is listed as paid, with no free plan, and supports API, self-hosted, and web use.

Who it suits

Crust Network may suit developers or projects that want decentralized file storage with IPFS access, on-chain storage orders, or documented website-publishing tools. Its wallet and storage-order limitations should be considered before relying on it.

What it does well

Supports IPFS interfaces and gateways
Offers gateway uploads and local IPFS client uploads
IPFS Scan displays file and storage status
Website publishing options include CLI, Node.js, and GitHub Action
Provides a PolkadotJS-based SDK

What to know first

No free plan is listed
Lost wallet mnemonic phrases or backup files cannot recover assets
Crust Wallet does not support Parachain or ERC20-based CRU tokens
The maker recommends files smaller than 32G when troubleshooting pending orders

Verdict

Crust Network provides decentralized storage built around on-chain orders and IPFS access, with tools for developers and website publishing. Consider its dynamic fees, account recovery limitation, and wallet-token support before choosing it.

Facts from Crust Network's own pages

Account security: Crust Wallet is non-custodial; the maker says lost mnemonic phrases or backup files cannot be used to recover the account or its assets. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Consensus: Crust's GPoS consensus uses storage-proof reports to calculate storage-related parameters and encourages token holders to stake with nodes. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Developer API: Crust provides a PolkadotJS-based SDK, crust.js, for accessing Crust Network functionality. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Developer tools: Crust documents JavaScript libraries for interacting with the network, with code released under an Apache-2.0 license. · docs.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
File uploads: Users can upload through a gateway or use a local IPFS client; gateway uploads require signing with a Crust account, and that authorization has no transaction fee. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Hosting integrations: The documented GitHub Actions workflow can use Crust's public IPFS gateway or other pin services, including Pinata and IPFS Cluster. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: The maker documents website publishing through Crust CLI, a Node.js package, or a GitHub Action. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Notable limit: The maker recommends keeping files smaller than 32G when troubleshooting storage orders that remain pending. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Pricing: Storage fees are dynamically calculated; an order fee includes a basic file fee, a dynamic adjustment fee and an optional user-selected tip. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Proof mechanism: Crust says its MPoW storage-proof mechanism uses Trusted Execution Environment technology to check storage and generate reports verifiable by network nodes. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Retrieval: Users can retrieve stored files through the Storage User application or use its download link. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Security: Crust describes its storage proof layer as using Trusted Execution Environment technology to periodically check node storage and produce workload reports verifiable by other nodes. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Smart contract integrations: Crust documents storage smart contracts deployed on Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Polygon, Astar, Aptos and Elrond. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Storage access: After an order succeeds, files can be accessed through standard IPFS interfaces and gateways. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Storage market: Users can place on-chain storage orders for files, which Crust nodes store and distribute. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Storage orders: Users can place on-chain storage orders for files identified by IPFS CIDs, and Crust nodes store those files. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Storage order status: Crust Apps shows orders as waiting while nodes fetch the file and success after Crust nodes have fetched and stored it. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Storage status: IPFS Scan displays file distribution, retrieval locations, storing nodes, and storage status across incentive layers. · wiki.crust.network, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The developer documentation directs users to log issues or submit pull requests for documentation gaps and questions. · docs.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Wallet limitation: Crust Wallet supports interaction with Crust Mainnet but not Crust Parachain or ERC20-based CRU tokens. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
Website hosting: Crust documents three ways to publish websites: its command-line tool, a Node.js package and a GitHub Action. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026
What it does: Crust provides a decentralized storage network that supports protocols such as IPFS and exposes storage interfaces to applications. · wiki.crust.network, 9 Oct 2026

Where Crust Network stands on Freedom251

Decentralized Storage Services#19 of 25