There is an interesting storage protocol in the Sui ecosystem that is changing developers' understanding of data hosting. The initial problem is very practical: where to store AI datasets, NFT media, on-chain archives, and similar assets? How to control costs? Centralized storage poses privacy risks, while fully decentralized solutions are slow and expensive.

The idea behind this protocol is layered processing. The underlying layer uses the Seal mechanism to protect privacy and enable fine-grained access control, allowing developers to manage who can access what data. The quilt packaging layer focuses on efficiency, consolidating fragmented data into a compact and efficient form. The result is a significant reduction in costs, and it can also run AI applications. Platforms like Everlyn have already integrated with it, indicating that this approach indeed has market potential.

The token layer is also worth noting. A deflationary model combined with staking reward mechanisms creates a positive feedback loop for node operation: participants can earn tangible rewards, and the tokens themselves have long-term appreciation potential due to the deflationary design. This not only incentivizes network reliability but also provides token holders with clear profit expectations.

The core logic is to return data ownership to users, offering developers a cheaper and more flexible storage solution, while users find a balance between privacy and cost. This model has valuable implications for the entire decentralized storage track.