How to Migrate Your IPFS Content from Pinata to Filebase

Let's talk about growing pains. Your project's scaling, your IPFS needs are evolving, and Pinata's basic pinning just isn't cutting it anymore. Maybe you're looking for better infrastructure, maybe you're tired of unpredictable costs, or maybe you just need tools that play nicely with your existing stack.

Whatever brought you here, we've got you covered. This guide walks you through moving your IPFS content to Filebase—without the usual migration headaches. No downtime, no content gaps, no late-night deployment stress.

The Migration Magic: What Actually Happens

Before we dive into the how-to, let's peek under the hood. When you connect Pinata to Filebase, we don't just copy files from A to B. Think of it more like a carefully choreographed dance:

First, we take inventory. Like a good moving company, we catalog everything you've got pinned and prep the new space. Then, we start the actual transfer, with each file getting its own integrity check (learn more about IPFS content addressing) (trust but verify, right?). Finally, your content gets settled into its new home on our enterprise infrastructure.

The best part? Your Pinata pins stay active the whole time. It's like moving to a new house while keeping your old one until everything's perfect.

Let's Get Moving

You'll need two things: your Pinata account and a Filebase account. The setup takes about 5 minutes, though the actual transfer time depends on how much data you're bringing with you.

Step 1: Get Your Pinata API Key

First up, we need a key from Pinata—but not just any key. We're creating one with the minimum permissions needed. Think of it as a temporary pass card that only lets us see your pin list, nothing else.

1. Log into your Pinata dashboard
2. Click API Keys in the left menu
3. Select New Key in the top right
4. Enable the pinList permission

That's it for permissions—we're not here to mess with your existing setup, just to read what needs moving.

Step 2: Set Up Your Filebase Account

Now let's get your new home ready:

1. Create your account at filebase.com
2. Verify your email address
3. Visit the Billing page and upgrade to the $20 Starter Plan. Use code PINATA to get your first month free.

Step 3: Start Your Migration

Here's where it all comes together:

1. Go to Buckets in your Filebase dashboard
2. Click Create Bucket
3. Name your bucket (e.g., pinata-migration)
4. Choose Pinata as Import Source
5. Enter your API key
6. Click Create Bucket

Watching the Move

Once you kick off the migration, each file goes through three stages:

Queued
Your content is in line for transfer. This usually takes just a few minutes while our system prepares the migration.

Pinning
The file is actively moving to Filebase. Larger files naturally take longer here, so be patient with big transfers.

Pinned
Success! Your content is now available through our infrastructure and ready to serve.

After the Move

Once everything's migrated, your content gets the full Filebase treatment:

• Distribution across our global infrastructure network
• Automatic announcements to the Amino IPFS DHT (learn about IPFS publishing to the DHT) and IPNI.
• Access through our high-performance gateways
• Full S3-compatible API support

Ready to Level Up?

1. Create your Filebase account
2. Use code PINATA for migration access and receive a $20 credit to your account. This credit covers one month on the Starter Plan, provided you stay within the plan's limits.
3. Follow the steps above to begin

Got questions? Our support team lives and breathes IPFS infrastructure. We're here to help make your migration smooth sailing.

Related Reading

If you're interested in how DAOs can leverage IPFS for governance, check out our recent article: Hosting Decentralized Voting Records on IPFS: Web3 DAOs. It's a comprehensive guide on ensuring transparency and persistence in DAO voting records.