Node operators play a central role in the design of Walrus Protocol, going beyond simply running infrastructure. Operators contribute real storage capacity and participate in the network by staking $WAL and proving data availability, aligning incentives around reliability and long-term performance.
The protocol uses clear economic mechanisms to encourage honest participation. Availability proofs help ensure data remains accessible, while penalties for misbehavior are designed to protect overall network integrity. This creates a balanced system where service quality and accountability are closely linked.
As more operators join, redundancy and resilience improve, which in turn supports higher confidence for developers and users building on top of the network. Integrated with the high-throughput environment of the Sui Network, Walrus demonstrates how decentralized storage networks can align incentives with real utility in a sustainable way.