feat: Replace Pinata IPFS with Web3.Storage (free alternative)

.env.stencil

@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
 #API KEYS AND SECRETS 
 
+# Web3.Storage - FREE IPFS storage (recommended)
+# Get your free token at: https://web3.storage
+# 5GB free storage, no cost restrictions
+WEB3_STORAGE_TOKEN=
+
+# Pinata - Legacy IPFS provider (optional, paid after free tier)
+# Only needed if Web3.Storage is not configured
 PINATA_API_KEY=
 PINATA_API_SECRET=
+
 ALCHEMY_API_KEY=
 
 #APPLICATION CONFIGURATION

lib/pages/mint_nft/mint_nft_images.dart

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/providers/mint_nft_provider.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/color_constants.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/dimensions.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/logger.dart';
-import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/ipfs_services.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/basic_scaffold.dart';
 
 class MultipleImageUploadPage extends StatefulWidget {

lib/pages/organisations_pages/create_organisation.dart

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/providers/wallet_provider.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/color_constants.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/organisation_factory_contract.dart/organisation_factory_contract_write_functions.dart';
-import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/ipfs_services.dart'; // Add this import for your IPFS function
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/basic_scaffold.dart';
 
 class CreateOrganisationPage extends StatefulWidget {

lib/pages/register_user_page.dart

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/components/transaction_dialog.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/providers/wallet_provider.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/color_constants.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/tree_nft_contract/tree_nft_contract_write_functions.dart';
-import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/ipfs_services.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/basic_scaffold.dart';
 
 class RegisterUserPage extends StatefulWidget {

lib/pages/tree_details_page.dart

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/logger.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/tree_nft_contract/tree_nft_contract_read_services.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/tree_nft_contract/tree_nft_contract_write_functions.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/conversion_functions.dart';
-import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/ipfs_services.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/basic_scaffold.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/map_widgets/static_map_display_widget.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/nft_display_utils/tree_nft_details_verifiers_widget.dart';

lib/utils/services/storage_service.dart

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+import 'dart:convert';
+import 'dart:io';
+import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
+import 'package:flutter_dotenv/flutter_dotenv.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/logger.dart';
+
+/// Storage service that supports multiple providers for decentralized file storage.
+/// Currently supports: Web3.Storage (free IPFS pinning via Filecoin)
+/// 
+/// Web3.Storage provides:
+/// - 5GB free storage
+/// - IPFS-compatible content addressing (same hash format)
+/// - No cost restrictions for reasonable usage
+/// - Backed by Filecoin for persistence
+
+class StorageService {
+  // Web3.Storage API token (get free at https://web3.storage)
+  static String get _web3StorageToken =>
+      dotenv.get('WEB3_STORAGE_TOKEN', fallback: "");
+
+  // Legacy Pinata keys (kept for backward compatibility)
+  static String get _pinataApiKey =>
+      dotenv.get('PINATA_API_KEY', fallback: "");
+  static String get _pinataApiSecret =>
+      dotenv.get('PINATA_API_SECRET', fallback: "");
+
+  /// Upload a file to decentralized storage and return the gateway URL.
+  /// 
+  /// Tries Web3.Storage first (free), falls back to Pinata if configured.
+  /// Returns the full gateway URL with the IPFS hash.
+  static Future<String?> uploadFile(
+    File file,
+    Function(bool) setUploadingState,
+  ) async {
+    setUploadingState(true);
+
+    try {
+      // Try Web3.Storage first (free option)
+      if (_web3StorageToken.isNotEmpty) {
+        final result = await _uploadToWeb3Storage(file);
+        if (result != null) {
+          setUploadingState(false);
+          return result;
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Fall back to Pinata if Web3.Storage fails or isn't configured
+      if (_pinataApiKey.isNotEmpty && _pinataApiSecret.isNotEmpty) {
+        final result = await _uploadToPinata(file);
+        if (result != null) {
+          setUploadingState(false);
+          return result;
+        }
+      }
+
+      logger.e('No storage provider configured. Please set WEB3_STORAGE_TOKEN or PINATA_API_KEY in .env');
+      setUploadingState(false);
+      return null;
+    } catch (e) {
+      logger.e('Error uploading file: $e');
+      setUploadingState(false);
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Upload to Web3.Storage (free IPFS pinning)
+  /// Get your free token at: https://web3.storage
+  static Future<String?> _uploadToWeb3Storage(File file) async {
+    try {
+      final url = Uri.parse('https://api.web3.storage/upload');
+
+      final request = http.MultipartRequest('POST', url);
+      request.headers.addAll({
+        'Authorization': 'Bearer $_web3StorageToken',
+      });
+
+      request.files.add(
+        await http.MultipartFile.fromPath('file', file.path),
+      );
+
+      final streamedResponse = await request.send();
+      final response = await http.Response.fromStream(streamedResponse);
+
+      if (response.statusCode == 200) {
+        final jsonResponse = json.decode(response.body);
+        final cid = jsonResponse['cid'];
+        logger.d('Web3.Storage upload successful. CID: $cid');
+        // Use w3s.link gateway (Web3.Storage's fast gateway)
+        return 'https://w3s.link/ipfs/$cid';
+      } else {
+        logger.e('Web3.Storage upload failed: ${response.statusCode} - ${response.body}');
+        return null;
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      logger.e('Web3.Storage upload error: $e');
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Upload to Pinata (legacy, paid after free tier)
+  static Future<String?> _uploadToPinata(File file) async {
+    try {
+      final url = Uri.parse('https://api.pinata.cloud/pinning/pinFileToIPFS');
+
+      final request = http.MultipartRequest('POST', url);
+      request.headers.addAll({
+        'pinata_api_key': _pinataApiKey,
+        'pinata_secret_api_key': _pinataApiSecret,
+      });
+
+      request.files.add(
+        await http.MultipartFile.fromPath('file', file.path),
+      );
+
+      final streamedResponse = await request.send();
+      final response = await http.Response.fromStream(streamedResponse);
+
+      if (response.statusCode == 200) {
+        final jsonResponse = json.decode(response.body);
+        final ipfsHash = jsonResponse['IpfsHash'];
+        logger.d('Pinata upload successful. Hash: $ipfsHash');
+        return 'https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/$ipfsHash';
+      } else {
+        logger.e('Pinata upload failed: ${response.statusCode} - ${response.body}');
+        return null;
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      logger.e('Pinata upload error: $e');
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Extract the IPFS CID/hash from a gateway URL
+  /// Works with any IPFS gateway URL format
+  static String? extractCidFromUrl(String url) {
+    // Match patterns like:
+    // https://w3s.link/ipfs/bafybeig...
+    // https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/Qm...
+    // https://ipfs.io/ipfs/Qm...
+    final regex = RegExp(r'/ipfs/([a-zA-Z0-9]+)');
+    final match = regex.firstMatch(url);
+    return match?.group(1);
+  }
+
+  /// Get alternative gateway URLs for a given IPFS URL
+  /// Useful for fallback if one gateway is slow/down
+  static List<String> getAlternativeGateways(String originalUrl) {
+    final cid = extractCidFromUrl(originalUrl);
+    if (cid == null) return [originalUrl];
+
+    return [
+      'https://w3s.link/ipfs/$cid',           // Web3.Storage gateway (fast)
+      'https://ipfs.io/ipfs/$cid',            // Protocol Labs gateway
+      'https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/$cid', // Cloudflare gateway
+      'https://dweb.link/ipfs/$cid',          // dweb.link gateway
+    ];
+  }
+}
+
+// Legacy function for backward compatibility
+// This wraps the new StorageService
+Future<String?> uploadToIPFS(
+  File imageFile,
+  Function(bool) setUploadingState,
+) async {
+  return StorageService.uploadFile(imageFile, setUploadingState);
+}

lib/widgets/profile_widgets/profile_section_widget.dart

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/color_constants.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/dimensions.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/logger.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/tree_nft_contract/tree_nft_contract_read_services.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 
 class VerificationDetails {
   final String verifier;
@@ -387,14 +388,14 @@ class _ProfileSectionWidgetState extends State<ProfileSectionWidget> {
                               logger.e("Error: $error");
                               logger.e("Stack trace: $stackTrace");
 
-                              // Try alternative IPFS gateway if original fails
+                              // Try alternative IPFS gateways if original fails
                               String originalUrl =
                                   _userProfileData!.profilePhoto;
-                              if (originalUrl.contains('pinata.cloud')) {
-                                String ipfsHash =
-                                    originalUrl.split('/ipfs/').last;
-                                String alternativeUrl =
-                                    'https://ipfs.io/ipfs/$ipfsHash';
+                              final alternatives = StorageService.getAlternativeGateways(originalUrl);
+
+                              if (alternatives.length > 1) {
+                                // Try the second gateway (first is usually the original)
+                                String alternativeUrl = alternatives[1];
                                 logger.d(
                                     "Trying alternative IPFS gateway: $alternativeUrl");
 

lib/widgets/profile_widgets/user_profile_viewer_widget.dart

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/color_constants.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/constants/ui/dimensions.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/logger.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/contract_functions/tree_nft_contract/tree_nft_contract_read_services.dart';
+import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/utils/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:tree_planting_protocol/widgets/profile_widgets/profile_section_widget.dart';
 
 class UserProfileViewerWidget extends StatefulWidget {
@@ -164,12 +165,12 @@ class _UserProfileViewerWidgetState extends State<UserProfileViewerWidget> {
                         'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',
                       },
                       errorBuilder: (context, error, stackTrace) {
-                        // Try alternative IPFS gateway if original fails
+                        // Try alternative IPFS gateways if original fails
                         String originalUrl = _userProfileData!.profilePhoto;
-                        if (originalUrl.contains('pinata.cloud')) {
-                          String ipfsHash = originalUrl.split('/ipfs/').last;
-                          String alternativeUrl =
-                              'https://ipfs.io/ipfs/$ipfsHash';
+                        final alternatives = StorageService.getAlternativeGateways(originalUrl);
+
+                        if (alternatives.length > 1) {
+                          String alternativeUrl = alternatives[1];
 
                           return Image.network(
                             alternativeUrl,