(WAL) is a decentralized, high-performance data storage and availability protocol built on the Sui blockchain, designed to provide scalable and cost-efficient storage for large binary files ("blobs") like media, AI datasets, and application data. It addresses the limitations of traditional blockchain storage (high cost, low efficiency) and centralized cloud storage (single point of failure, censorship) by enabling secure, decentralized, and programmable data management.
Scalability and Technical Architecture
Walrus is built for high-throughput applications, such as AI, Web3 gaming, and decentralized web hosting (Walrus Sites). Its scalability is achieved through several key technical innovations:
Red Stuff (Erasure Coding): Instead of storing multiple full copies of a file, Walrus uses a custom, two-dimensional erasure-coding algorithm called "Red Stuff". This divides files into "slivers" and distributes them across a decentralized node network with a low replication factor (approx. 4.5x), significantly reducing costs while ensuring data can be reconstructed even if two-thirds of storage nodes fail.
Sui-Powered Control Plane: Walrus uses the Sui blockchain to store metadata and proofs of availability (PoA). This allows for rapid verification of data integrity without needing to download large files, making the system highly efficient.
Self-Healing and Efficient Retrieval: The protocol includes "self-healing" capabilities, where lost fragments are recreated using minimal bandwidth. Data retrieval is facilitated by CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) and caching to provide low-latency access.
Decentralization at Scale: To prevent centralization as the network grows, Walrus uses delegated staking to spread power among independent nodes, rewarding them based on performance rather than size.