Three Companies Store Almost Everything You See Online | Marta Belcher

Amazon, Microsoft and Google hold the back end of the web. Marta Belcher on what decentralised storage changes. Book Ian for your event → iankhan.com | booking@iankhan.com SUMMARY Marta Belcher of the Filecoin Foundation explains what it means for users to control their own data, how storage providers are verified and paid automatically, and where programmable money could go beyond storage. KEY FINDINGS • Almost every website today stored by one of three companies • Files stored across many computers rather than one provider • Users retaining control over their own data • Automatic verification that a file is still stored, then automatic payment • Storage providers posting collateral before accepting files • A version of Wikipedia where editors are compensated automatically • Automating money flows in ways centralised systems cannot NOTABLE QUOTES "It's almost always being stored by one of three companies: Amazon, Microsoft or Google." — Marta Belcher GUEST Marta Belcher, Filecoin Foundation FULL TRANSCRIPT iankhan.com/futurist/marta-belcher-decentralised-storage Recorded at Consensus 2025 for The Futurist. ──────────────────── ABOUT IAN KHAN — AI & FINANCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER Most AI keynotes end with a better understanding. Mine end with a measured readiness score and a ninety-day plan. Your leadership team is assessed before the event, the room sees its own collective result live, and every attendee leaves with a ninety-day plan they helped build. Every year I interview more t