# 3. Decide how to store digital assets in a  long-term sustainable way

Findex (FIX) Token and NFTs are either minted to contain the digital content file itself or to contain a reference to the digital content. Accordingly, it is important to understand how the digital content being distributed by the Findex (FIX) Token and NFT is being stored. Many of the existing platforms that creators can use to create Findex (FIX) Token and NFTs will host the media files through either decentralized or centralized storage methods described below:

#### **1. Directly on the Blockchain**

When this occurs, the token as well as the digital content is stored on the blockchain. Because the storage capacity allocated by the blockchain software can be limited, the file size allowed can be rather small. At least for now, many companies find storing digital content on the blockchain directly to be cost-prohibitive.

#### **2. Decentralized Storage**&#x20;

When storage files are spread across a distributed network, there is no dependence on a single entity. Developers of these peer-to-peer storage protocols, such as Arweave, offer varying degrees of storage permanence for different price points.

#### **3. Centralized Storage**

&#x20;There is also the option to use storage from a central provider like many well-known cloud storage providers today. In this model, the Findex (FIX) Token and NFT marketplace provides the service of storing the digital content through its relationships with its cloud providers. There is a dependency on the provider and the Findex (FIX) Token and NFT creator to continue to host the asset – if the media is no longer hosted, the Findex (FIX) Token and NFT will not point to anything.
