Walrus Protocol is a next-generation decentralized storage and data availability network designed to handle large binary files — like videos, images, AI datasets, and more — in a secure, cost-efficient, and programmable way. It is deeply integrated with the Sui blockchain, enabling developers to build applications that treat storage as a first-class on-chain primitive rather than a separate, off-chain service.
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1️⃣▪️Origins and Funding
Walrus was originally developed by Mysten Labs — the team behind Sui — and is now guided by the Walrus Foundation. Before launching its mainnet, the project raised $140 million in a private token sale led by Standard Crypto, with participation from a16z Crypto, Electric Capital, and Franklin Templeton Digital Assets. This strong backing reflects institutional confidence in Walrus’s long-term vision and potential.
2️⃣▪️Mainnet Launch and Status
Walrus’s mainnet went live in March 2025, with over 100 decentralized storage nodes now operating and serving real applications. The protocol supports publishing, retrieving, and managing “blobs” (binary large objects) directly on chain, opening up new possibilities for Web3 app developers.
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How Walrus Works
At its core, Walrus tackles one of blockchain’s toughest challenges: efficient, trustless storage of large data at scale. It achieves this through:
Erasure coding (RedStuff) — files are split into fragments (slivers) and distributed in such a way that the original data can be reconstructed even if many pieces are missing. This ensures data durability and availability with a low replication factor, reducing overall cost and overhead.
3️⃣▪️WAL Token: Utility and Economics
The native token $WAL plays multiple roles within the Walrus ecosystem:
Storage payments: Users pay in WAL to upload and store data on the network.
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Staking and Rewards: Node operators and delegators earn rewards for securing and providing storage.
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Governance: WAL holders can participate in decisions about network parameters and future upgrades.
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The tokenomics were designed to encourage active participation and long-term commitment, with significant allocations to community incentives and ecosystem growth, including early airdrops to testnet and mainnet participants.
4️⃣▪️Ecosystem Adoption and Use Cases
Walrus isn’t just theory — projects are actively using its storage capabilities:
Humanity Protocol migrated millions of credentials (hundreds of gigabytes of identity data) onto Walrus for more reliable and cost-effective storage.
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Other ecosystem partners — from NFT platforms to Layer-1 chains — are choosing Walrus for blob storage, tapping into its scalability and Sui integration.
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Typical use cases include:
NFT and media hosting (ensuring assets remain available independently of any single host).
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AI dataset storage (verified, accessible data for training workflows).
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Decentralized app data (dynamic storage accessible via smart contracts).
5️⃣▪️Position in Web3’s Future
As blockchain adoption scales, the demand for trustless, resilient, and cheap data storage is intensifying — especially for use cases that require real-time access or large file support. Walrus is positioned as one of the protocols addressing this need by combining programmable blockchain logic with decentralized storage infrastructure, potentially reshaping how dApps, games, and decentralized AI systems manage data..
