Pre-Signed URLs: The Key to Gated IPFS Content

As Web3 matures, it’s no longer just about storing data on IPFS—it’s about controlling how that content is accessed, distributed, and monetized.

Whether you’re launching NFT unlockables, time-limited airdrops, or paywalled DAO resources, you need a content delivery model that’s as dynamic and decentralized as the infrastructure it’s built on.

That’s where pre-signed URLs come in.

These scoped, time-limited links enable powerful, conditional access to IPFS content—without requiring full-blown access control systems or revealing sensitive credentials.

This guide breaks down how pre-signed URLs empower gated, time-sensitive, and conditional content delivery in Web3, and how Filebase makes it easy to implement.

What Makes Pre-Signed URLs a Fit for Web3?

Web3 projects are inherently different from traditional apps. You're not just delivering assets—you're enforcing ownership logic, tying content access to smart contracts, and reacting to events across chains.

Pre-signed URLs give you a simple way to enforce access rules at the file layer, without spinning up full backend auth.

Think of them as on-demand, self-expiring permission slips—a secure way to deliver IPFS content under specific conditions:

• 🔐 Time-limited
• 🎯 Action-specific (GET for download, PUT for upload)
• 🔄 Generated dynamically, without manual token exchange
• ⚡ Usable by non-technical users (just a link)

They’re not just a convenience—they’re a tool for building token-gated experiences, timed content reveals, and secure off-chain distribution pipelines.

Core Use Cases for Controlled IPFS Access in Web3

Let’s look at how Web3 builders are already putting pre-signed URLs to work:

🎟️ NFT Unlockables + Token-Gated Content

After minting, users can unlock special files—artwork, PDFs, video, 3D models—stored on IPFS. But you don’t want to expose that content to the world indefinitely.

Solution: Generate a pre-signed GET URL after verifying ownership client-side or through your backend.

• ✅ No need to give users access to the raw CID
• ✅ The link expires after X minutes or hours
• ✅ Easily automated based on smart contract checks

⏰ Time-Limited Drops and Promotions

You’re releasing an online zine, game build, or exclusive track—but only for 24 hours. Or maybe you’re running a limited beta test.

Solution: Pre-signed URLs with strict expiration windows ensure users only access what they should, when they should.

• ✅ Temporary, event-driven access
• ✅ Works with Web3 or Web2-style signups
• ✅ No custom auth stack needed

💰 Post-Purchase Digital Goods Delivery

Sell something—deliver it immediately, securely.

After a payment clears (Stripe, crypto, anything), generate a temporary pre-signed URL pointing to the IPFS-hosted content.

No manual fulfillment. No complexity. Just instant, secure delivery.

Perfect for:

• Templates, design packs, music samples
• Web3 ecommerce drops
• Smart contract-triggered asset releases

🧩 Membership Tiers + DAO Toolkits

Maybe you want only Level 3 members in your DAO to access a toolkit, roadmap, or internal playbook.

Pre-signed URLs let you scope access by user tier, verify on-chain conditions, and serve content through a secure, short-lived link.

• ✅ Avoid storing credentials on client devices
• ✅ Enforce logic via smart contract or snapshot votes
• ✅ Works in community portals, dApp frontends, or headless CMS setups

🧠 Conditional Access (Post Interaction, Event, or Proof)

Let users unlock content only after they’ve:

• Completed a quiz
• Reached a level
• Submitted a form
• Proven something off-chain (e.g. Proof of Attendance)

Instead of building a whole access service, just trigger the pre-signed URL generation server-side, and deliver the content with confidence.

Why Filebase Makes It Easy

Filebase provides an S3-compatible interface for IPFS, which means you can use standard tools and SDKs (like AWS CLI, boto3, or custom scripts) to generate pre-signed URLs.

What you get:

• ✅ Secure, signed URL generation for GET and PUT
• ✅ Automatic expiration enforcement
• ✅ Global delivery via CDN-backed IPFS gateways
• ✅ No need to set up custom gateways or token auth layers

📘 Docs → Pre-Signed URLs with Filebase

You focus on logic. Filebase handles the infra.

Next Steps

If you’re building content-rich Web3 experiences, pre-signed URLs should be in your toolbox.

They’re how you move beyond "anyone with a CID can access this" into gated, owned, and event-driven distribution—all backed by IPFS, and powered by Filebase.

If you’re new to IPFS or want a quick refresher, check out our recent guide: How Do I Upload to IPFS?

👉 Generate your first pre-signed URL with Filebase
👉 Sign up for a Filebase account to get started