Filecoin's FVM vs Arweave's SmartWeave: Storage-Related Logic

Full EVM/Solidity support: FVM is a WASM runtime with a built-in EVM-compatible execution environment. This allows developers to fork and deploy existing Ethereum dApps (like Uniswap, Aave) and integrate with the broader EVM ecosystem (MetaMask, The Graph). It matters for teams with existing Solidity codebases or those needing deep DeFi/L2 composability.

Client-side execution model: Contract state is computed off-chain via lazy evaluation, pushing compute cost to the user. This allows for massively scalable and complex logic (like entire AMMs) without burdening the network or incurring high gas fees. It matters for data-heavy computations (e.g., rendering engines, AI inference) where on-chain execution would be prohibitively expensive.

Tightly coupled with a live storage market: FVM contracts interact directly with Filecoin's $3.5B+ storage capacity and its cryptoeconomic incentives (staking, slashing). This enables verifiable proofs of storage (PoRep/PoSt) to trigger contract logic. It matters for insurance protocols, data-backed NFTs, and CDNs that require proof of physical storage availability.

Single, permanent data layer: Arweave provides both data storage and contract state in one deterministic layer. There is no separation between "storage" and "execution" chains, simplifying architecture. State resolution is deterministic and verifiable by any node. It matters for protocols prioritizing archival integrity and auditability over sub-second transaction finality.

Specific advantage: State is computed off-chain via a 'lazy evaluation' model, where clients validate contract history. This enables infinite compute per transaction, as execution cost is borne by the user, not the network. This matters for data-intensive dApps like decentralized video rendering (e.g., everVision) or complex data indexing that would be prohibitively expensive on gas-based VMs.

Specific advantage: Logic and data exist on the same permanent storage layer. Smart contracts are stored as data on Arweave and their state is derived from it, creating a truly immutable and verifiable application history. This matters for archival dApps and DAOs (e.g., ArDrive, Verto) where the integrity and permanent availability of the entire application state is non-negotiable.

Specific advantage: Native access to Filecoin's storage market and deal lifecycle through built-in actors (e.g., market, miner, datacap). This enables on-chain enforceable storage deals. This matters for storage-focused applications like Data DAOs (e.g., Ocean, Filecoin Green), CDN orchestration, or automated repair/replication services that need to manage storage incentives and SLAs programmatically.

Specific advantage: Full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) bytecode compatibility, enabling direct porting of Solidity contracts and integration with Ethereum tooling (MetaMask, Hardhat) and liquidity (bridged assets). This matters for DeFi and NFT projects (e.g., GLIF, STFIL) that want to build storage-backed financial products while leveraging existing developer skills and cross-chain capital.

Specific trade-off: Lazy evaluation relies on clients agreeing on correct state, which can be complex for contracts with non-deterministic operations or require trusted indexers. This matters if you need strong, immediate consensus on state for high-frequency trading or payment applications, where the FVM's on-chain execution provides stronger guarantees.

Specific trade-off: Compute (FVM) and storage (Filecoin) are separate systems with different lifecycles and costs. Long-term data persistence requires ongoing storage deals and fees. This matters for truly permanent dApps where you want logic and data to have the same guaranteed lifespan, a core promise of Arweave's single-layer model.