FIL Distributes 500K Tokens as Network Pivots to Cloud Platform

James Ding
Jan 15, 2026 20:39

Filecoin (FIL) completes RetroPGF Round 3, awarding 500K FIL to 91 projects as network transforms into programmable cloud infrastructure with 100+ teams building.

Filecoin (FIL) wrapped up its third Retroactive Public Goods Funding round this week, distributing over 500,000 FIL across 91 ecosystem projects. The payout comes as the decentralized storage network completes what it calls a transformation from pure storage into a “programmable, verifiable cloud platform” — a pivot that’s attracted more than 100 development teams to its new Onchain Cloud infrastructure.

FIL traded at $1.57 as of January 15, down 0.33% over 24 hours, with a market cap of $1.15 billion.

RetroPGF Round 3 Breakdown

The funding round drew 120 applications from across the Filecoin ecosystem, with 91 ultimately receiving awards. RetroPGF differs from traditional grants by rewarding projects for contributions already made rather than future promises — a model pioneered by Optimism that’s gained traction across Web3.

The 500K FIL distribution represents meaningful capital deployment for ecosystem development, though specific allocation breakdowns by project category weren’t disclosed in the announcement.

Onchain Cloud Gains Traction

A Messari Pulse Report highlighted growing adoption of Filecoin Onchain Cloud since its testnet launch. The platform’s Filecoin Pay service has seen “growing demand,” according to the report, though specific usage metrics weren’t released.

Two significant infrastructure additions landed this week. Storacha launched Forge, offering IPFS-compatible warm storage with cryptographic proof of data possession. Akave Cloud introduced a Filecoin-powered archival tier targeting AI, IoT, and compliance workloads — sectors where verifiable storage increasingly matters.

Both services leverage Proof of Data Possession (PDP), which shipped in May 2025 alongside Fast Finality (F3) — technical upgrades that reduced transaction confirmation times and enabled verifiable hot storage.

Governance Gets an Overhaul

The Filecoin Foundation unveiled its Constellation Program at FIL Dev Summit 7, signaling a push toward more community-driven decision-making. The initiative takes an iterative approach to governance reform, testing new participation mechanisms before scaling them network-wide.

For builders looking to establish early credibility, CloudPaws NFTs offer a limited run of 100 credential-style tokens recognizing early Onchain Cloud contributors. Beyond bragging rights, these credentials could factor into future governance participation and testing access.

What’s Next

Filecoin’s 2026 roadmap appears focused on enterprise adoption, with ecosystem partner Akave identifying seven storage trends driving demand for “proof, predictability, and control.” The network’s recent DNA storage partnership with Atlas Eon 100, announced January 12, suggests a push toward novel permanence solutions.

After five years building decentralized storage infrastructure, Filecoin is betting its next phase of growth comes from becoming indispensable plumbing for AI workloads and data-heavy dApps. Whether 100+ building teams translates to sustainable protocol revenue remains the key question for FIL holders watching this transformation unfold.

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