As the explosive growth in data requirements for AI model training continues, by 2026 decentralized storage has become a hot topic—who can solve the problem of secure and high-quality data circulation will win. Walrus Protocol has seized this opportunity.

On the Sui chain, this protocol builds an open and monetizable data marketplace. Its two main technical innovations are blob storage and erasure coding—simply put, the ability to disperse large files across multiple storage nodes at remarkably low costs, while offering durability that surpasses centralized cloud services. Its anti-censorship capabilities are inherently strong, ensuring no one can interfere with your data.

The truly outstanding feature lies in its privacy design. Data is first sharded and then encrypted before storage, so no single node can access the complete content. For AI developers, this is a lifesaver—uploading terabyte-scale training data no longer worries about leaks, and it also enables the construction of verifiable decentralized models. In an era where model transparency is increasingly important, its value is self-evident.

The application scenarios are also quite diverse. Permanent NFT projects can fully on-chain media, eliminating concerns about URL expiration; gaming and metaverse applications require high-definition resource storage, and Walrus can provide users with an ultra-immersive experience.

In terms of ecosystem, $WAL, as the native token, supports half the sky. Want to use the network? Prepay storage fees with $WAL. These fees are proportionally distributed to node operators and stakers, creating a healthy cycle. The delegated staking mechanism lowers participation barriers, allowing holders to earn rewards easily while strengthening network security. Governance rights are handed over to the community, enabling token holders to decide the protocol’s direction, complemented by a deflationary design to boost token value.

Currently, Walrus is accelerating integration with leading projects in the Sui ecosystem, and global node distribution is becoming increasingly balanced. In an era driven by AI and everything interconnected, Walrus is not just an infrastructure layer but also an engine for free data flow. For friends interested in the intersection of Web3 and AI, this is worth a deep dive.