I’m seeing more people talk about decentralization, but storage is often ignored. Walrus exists because blockchains were never built to hold large files. Storing data directly on chain is slow and expensive, while cloud storage puts control back in the hands of companies.
Walrus approaches this differently. Instead of storing files in one place, they’re split into small pieces and distributed across a network of storage nodes. Even if some nodes go offline, the data can still be recovered. This makes storage more reliable and harder to censor.
The system runs alongside the Sui blockchain, which tracks data availability and handles payments without carrying the heavy files itself. WAL tokens are used to pay for storage and to reward node operators who keep data available. I’m starting to understand that Walrus is not just about storage. They’re building a foundation for apps that need data ownership, privacy, and long term reliability without trusting a single provider.
