In the EcoPoW design, the miner contributes the computation for PoW consensus, and some disk space for USER's files storage.
So, do the files get saved in a separate chain, ideally a sidechain, wherein all hosters earn coins to incentivize them continue hosting? What's the difference with filecoin?
We can see the EcoPoW from two angles.
From the blockchain storage angle:
EcoPoW idea comes from my study of Filecoin.
Filecoin uses Proof of Replication framework, but their encoding algorithm is SDR plus the more expensive zk based verify algorithm, make the storage very very expensive.
On the other hand, the Expect Consensus (EC) is actually a kind of PoS.
https://spec.filecoin.io/algorithms/expected_consensus/EcoPoW intends to use PoW as the encoding algorithm, meanwhile the blockchain is PoW protected as well.
From the PoW blockchain angle:
In an ideal case, the blockchain doesn't need to issue coins to reward the miners like Bitcoin.
It is like a free protection to the PoW blockchain network.
The amount of computation spent on consensus is no longer limited by the Bitcoin price.
The real storage demand will power the consensus/block generation.
The more data stored on the blockchain storage system will be turned into the chain security.
(Maybe we still need the concept of token, such as ERC20 to create something like USDT, so that users can pay the miners)
Thus, we can have a more cheap and decenterizaled blockchain storage powered by PoW.
People can mine the blockchain at home with common devices.
And there is no mining pool.
And we're not taxing the user. It is the real the storage demand.
Okay, I thought that since the miner gets paid to use his storage, he earns an extra bitcoin, which would make it a tax. But, we're talking about a sidechain / altcoin reward here as far as I understand.
Sure, since we're upgrading PoW, it is nice to build something without limitation.
Maybe years later we can discuss about how to apply this back to Bitcoin, or just leave it there.
For a normal user, they may prefer to purchase the storage with stable coin such as USDT or DAI, which is also different from Filecoin.