Walrus is a new kind of decentralized storage network built on the Sui blockchain, created for a future where data lives freely, securely, and without control from any single company. Instead of trusting big cloud providers, Walrus lets users and developers store huge files like videos, images, AI datasets, and media directly on a decentralized network that anyone can help run.
At its core, Walrus breaks files into many encrypted pieces and spreads them across multiple nodes. Even if some nodes go offline, the data can still be recovered easily. This makes storage more reliable, cheaper, and far more resistant to failure or censorship than traditional systems. What makes Walrus special is that this storage is programmable, meaning smart contracts can interact with data, sell access to it, rent it out, or build full applications around it.
The network runs using a delegated proof-of-stake system. People who hold the WAL token can stake it to validators, help secure the network, earn rewards, and vote on important decisions like pricing, upgrades, and future features. The system works in daily cycles, adjusting parameters to keep the network efficient and fair.
Privacy is another big focus. Walrus is designed so that data can be proven to exist and be stored correctly without exposing its contents. Advanced encryption and secret management tools allow developers to store sensitive information safely while still benefiting from decentralization.
The WAL token is the fuel of the entire ecosystem. It is used to pay for storage, reward node operators, participate in governance, and unlock features in apps built on Walrus. The total supply is capped at five billion tokens, with a significant portion distributed to the community through testnet participation, early usage, and ecosystem rewards. These airdrops helped bring in early builders and users before and after mainnet launch.
Walrus officially launched its mainnet in March 2025 and quickly became one of the most important infrastructure projects in the Sui ecosystem. Shortly after launch, WAL began trading on major exchanges like Binance and KuCoin. Before going live, the project raised around $140 million from top-tier investors, showing strong confidence from both crypto-native and institutional players.
Since launch, development has not slowed down. New tools, SDKs, and integrations continue to roll out, making it easier for developers to build apps that rely on decentralized storage. Mobile support, secrets management, and improved developer experience are all actively being expanded. Today, more than 170 projects and nodes are already building with or running Walrus, and that number keeps growing.
In simple terms, Walrus is becoming the memory layer of Web3. It gives blockchains, apps, and users a place to store real-world data at scale without sacrificing security, privacy, or decentralization. As data-heavy use cases like AI, gaming, NFTs, and social platforms grow, Walrus is positioning itself as a critical backbone of the decentralized internet.
