Walrus – Decentralized Storage Protocol for the AI Era

In the AI era, data is not only a resource but also the foundation that determines the competitive edge of both individuals and organizations. However, traditional centralized storage models are revealing many limitations: high costs, censorship risks, third-party dependence, and lack of transparent verification mechanisms. @WalrusProtocol was created to directly address these issues, with the goal of building a decentralized data marketplace where data becomes trustworthy – valuable – and manageable. What Is Walrus? #Walrus is a decentralized storage protocol specifically designed for (unstructured data) such as: AI training data, machine learning models, videos, images, large documents… This protocol allows data to be stored on decentralized nodes while ensuring: High availability Byzantine fault tolerance Cost efficiency On-chain verification capability Unlike simple storage solutions, Walrus is built to form and operate a future AI data marketplace. Key Features of Walrus

1. Data Storage and Retrieval Walrus supports core basic operations: Write data (write blobs)Read data (read blobs) A special feature is that anyone can prove that a data blob has been successfully stored and remains available for future retrieval. This is extremely important for AI applications, where data must be guaranteed to exist long-term and remain unaltered.
2. Cost Efficiency and Superior Performance Walrus does not use full replication (full replication), which is very costly. Instead, the protocol applies advanced erasure coding techniques: Storage costs are approximately 5 times the size of the original data Each node stores an encrypted data fragment Data can still be recovered even if many nodes fail or act maliciously Compared to solutions that store data on a small group of nodes, Walrus is more stable and secure, especially in a decentralized environment.
3. Tight Integration with Sui Blockchain Walrus leverages Sui blockchain as a central coordination layer, responsible for: Authenticating data availability Paying storage fees Managing on-chain storage resources In Walrus: Storage space is represented as a resource on Sui, which can: Own Share Transfer Blob data objects are also on Sui, enabling smart contracts to: Check if a blob still exists Know when a blob is stored Extend storage time Even delete blobs if needed This opens up the possibility of (programmable data) – a key element for Web3 and AI.
4. Epoch, Tokenomics, and Delegated Proof-of-Stake Mechanism Walrus operates with a committee of storage nodes, updated each epoch. Native token: WAL Smallest unit: FROST 1 WAL = 1 billion FROST Role of WAL Token Stake for storage nodes Nodes with higher stakes become committee members Pay storage fees Distribute rewards At the end of each epoch: Rewards are distributed to: Storage nodes (delegator) stakeholders Activities are executed and transparent via smart contracts on Sui This mechanism encourages: Honest node operation High uptime Stable data serving
5. Flexible Access Capabilities Walrus does not sacrifice user experience for decentralization. The protocol supports: CLI for technical users SDK for developers HTTP/Web2 for traditional integration Especially, Walrus: Works well with cache and CDN But still allows running the entire process locally, ensuring maximum decentralization when needed Architecture and Operation The core of Walrus is designed to be simple yet extremely powerful: Uses high-speed linear fountain codes Enhanced to resist Byzantine faults Operates with a set of storage nodes that change dynamically across epochs Even if: Many nodes go offline Some nodes behave maliciously ➡️ Data can still be fully and accurately retrieved Storage node management and blob certification are delegated to Sui smart contracts, reducing complexity at the core protocol layer while ensuring transparency and security. Conclusion Walrus is not just a decentralized storage solution but also the data infrastructure for the AI and Web3 era. By combining: Cost-effective storage Robust fault resistance On-chain smart governance Clear tokenomics Walrus paves the way for a future where data truly belongs to its owners, can be traded, verified, and used transparently. As AI increasingly depends on high-quality data, Walrus has the potential to become an indispensable infrastructure piece in the decentralized data economy. $WAL