#walrus is changing the way data storage works for AI.
Built on the Sui network,$WAL is a decentralized protocol designed to handle the large datasets that modern AI systems depend on. Data stored on Walrus is verifiable, secure, and owned by its users — and for the first time, data providers can earn value directly from it. The WAL token sits at the center of the system, powering payments, staking, and governance.
As AI adoption accelerates into 2026, Walrus introduces a new kind of on-chain data market. It allows AI builders and data owners to interact in a transparent, trust-minimized environment that traditional storage systems simply don’t offer.
At the technical level, Walrus uses erasure coding. In simple terms, data is split into multiple pieces, combined with recovery information, and distributed across many nodes. Even if some pieces are lost, the system can fully restore the data. WAL tokens incentivize node operators, ensuring performance and reliability even under heavy data demand.
Walrus also runs on a delegation staking model. WAL holders support nodes by staking tokens, which increases both network security and individual influence. Stakers participate in governance decisions and earn a share of storage fees, creating strong incentives for honest behavior and long-term reliability.
Storage payments are made in WAL, measured precisely using smaller units called FROST. Users pay upfront for storage duration and capacity, making costs clear and predictable — a critical feature for AI teams planning long-term projects.
A simple way to view Walrus is as a self-sustaining system: data is securely stored, nodes maintain availability, and stakers align incentives across the network. An AI researcher can upload training data, lock in access with WAL, and rely on the network to keep that data available, resilient, and protected at all times.
Walrus isn’t just storing data — it’s building the foundation for how AI data markets can work in a decentralized world.
