Don't be intimidated by big terms like 'blockchain' and 'decentralization.' Today, let's talk about something practical: @Walrus 🦭/acc Does this thing really help ordinary people store photos, videos, and files? Is it just a gimmick, or can it actually solve some problems? $WAL #walrus
First, think of a few annoying issues you've definitely encountered: your phone's memory constantly alerts you, and you have to upload photos and videos to the cloud. And then what? Free cloud storage might have speed limits, or one day suddenly tell you 'some content violates regulations' and gets blocked; as for paid cloud storage, it could be one price this year and possibly increase next year, plus there's the worry of it shutting down one day. Your digital memories are actually quite passive.
Blockchain storage options like Walrus aim to provide a new alternative. It focuses on two points you might care about:
First, it is a backup that is 'anti-censorship.' You upload family photos and travel videos, and as long as you don't delete them yourself, in theory, no centralized company can 'determine' that your memories are in violation and delete them. Your data is fragmented, encrypted, and dispersed across many volunteers' hard drives around the world, and they cannot see your complete information individually. It’s like tearing your diary into countless pieces and storing them in safes owned by strangers all over the world, who neither know the content nor have the incentive (and certainly not the power) to piece them together to snoop or destroy. This adds a layer of 'insurance' to your precious data.
Second, privacy and ownership are clearer. In traditional cloud storage, although your files are in your account, the terms of service may state that they have the right to analyze data (for advertising recommendations, etc.). On Walrus, privacy features can make your storage and access behavior itself more discreet. More importantly, the feeling that 'data is your on-chain asset' is stronger, theoretically allowing you to control it more freely, such as setting complex access rules.
But hold on, don't rush to say 'this is great!' What’s the cost?
It's more complex and more 'not foolproof': the operation is definitely not as simple as 'clicking upload' to some cloud storage. You need to manage an encrypted wallet, pay with cryptocurrency (WAL tokens), and understand network status. For most users who just want a 'mindless backup,' the threshold is too high.
Not a 'free lunch forever': it’s not free either. And its payment model is quite interesting: you can think of it as needing to continuously 'pay for electricity' to maintain the files you store. If the files are not accessed, the storage nodes can’t earn incentives, and your data may slowly 'power off' and disappear. This is completely different from the thinking you are used to of 'buying a big hard drive once.'
Speed and stability are unknown: access speed depends on the current network traffic and the online status of the storage nodes; it can be fast or it can be erratic. It is definitely not as stable and fast as giants like Alibaba Cloud and Google Cloud.
So, what’s the conclusion?
Walrus is not meant to replace your iCloud or Baidu Cloud. It is more like a 'digital safe,' suitable for storing those you consider extremely important, needing to resist long-term risks (platform shutdowns, changes in censorship) 'digital assets.' For example, your creative manuscripts, important historical images, or electronic albums you wish to pass down.
For everyday, frequently used files, traditional cloud storage is much more convenient. But if you start to care about 'property rights' and 'long-term security' in the digital world, and want to find a more decentralized 'Noah's Ark' for your most precious data, then the technology represented by Walrus is worth your time to understand and study. It doesn't solve the issue of 'convenience,' but rather the issue of 'peace of mind.' Will you accept its complexity and different rules for this sense of 'peace of mind'?
