[Idea Review]: Replace batch balancer with explicit proof fee [update: + demand-pricing]

[anorth]

Request Summary

Proposed in https://github.com/filecoin-project/FIPs/discussions/557

I propose to separate the accounting of fees for storage proof verification from the fees charged for general execution (gas). These two fees apply to resources with very different properties, and using gas fees to account for both introduces complexity and misalignment between technological progress and network good. Explicit proof fees will allow the Filecoin network to set explicit pricing policies and continue to capture value as technological innovation drives the underlying costs downwards. This proposal doesn’t change economic policy, but introduces clear parameters to do so in the future in response to changing technological and ecosystem conditions.

Audience / Consumer for this Review

Core Developers

Timeframe

Needed in 3 months

Rationale

The urgent reason is that the batch balancer exacerbates the problem of high FVM gas usage pricing out core protocol messages, specifically PoRep. The less urgent reason is that when we introduce an improvement to proof technology, we need to have a mechanism to capture part of the revenue from that. The batch balancer is an unnecessarily complex mechanism with some unwanted effects once the FVM is live. It would be better to separate the fee mechanisms from complex proof upgrades. Expect such proof improvements in the next 3-6 months.

Desired Deliverables

Analysis of tradeoffs, in preparation for future FIP.

Additional Information

No response

Contact Details (if Private Response Requested)

No response

[anorth]

@juanpmcianci @AxCortesCubero I have extended this idea with a further proposal for dynamic proof fees via demand pricing. I think it makes sense to review these two together as one larger proposal. The original proposal lacks a relevant feature, restored and improved by this follow-up.