Abstract: Disclosed is a decentralized distributed storage system comprises a storage protocol module, validation protocol module, and retrieval protocol module. The storage protocol module enables a client to perform a first plurality of steps to store data in a data storage unit deployed by a provider. The validation protocol module enables the client to place a storage challenge on a storage token chain. The provider identifies the storage challenge on the storage token chain and performs a second plurality of steps to validate the storage challenge. The storage token chain comprises storage tokens transmitted from the client to the provider on detecting a validation of the placed challenge or returned to the client on detection of non-validation. The retrieval protocol module enables the client to perform a third plurality of steps to access the data storage unit to retrieve the stored data by providing storage tokens to the provider.