2026-01-08 19:22:45

Data sovereignty is one of the hottest topics in current Web3 discussions. Since the development of the internet, user data has been primarily controlled by a few major tech giants—stored on centralized servers, facing risks of censorship, privacy leaks, and even high ransom demands. This situation has become even more acute in the AI era. Massive training data, model weights, and generated media all require secure and reliable storage solutions.

Walrus Protocol targets this very pain point. Built on the Sui blockchain, this decentralized storage network focuses on the urgent need for large file storage in AI applications. Simply put, it uses innovative Blob technology to encrypt and shard data, then distribute it across nodes worldwide. The benefits are clear—data no longer depends on a single server, redundancy mechanisms ensure perpetual availability, and no single party can tamper with or freeze the data.

When developers upload data to Walrus, they receive an immutable proof on the blockchain. What does this proof mean? It signifies that your digital assets truly belong to you, rather than being stored in someone else’s pipeline. Freed from data shackles, AI applications can truly unleash their creativity.

What role does the WAL token play in this ecosystem? First, it is the payment tool for storage fees. Users who need to store data use WAL to pay, creating incentives for node operators. Second, WAL also involves governance rights—token holders can vote on the protocol’s direction and upgrades, making them not just participants in the ecosystem but also holders of power.

The total supply of WAL is set at 5 billion tokens. The protocol also incorporates stability mechanisms, anchoring WAL’s value to actual storage costs to avoid market volatility impacting user experience. Holders participate in governance and can enjoy storage discounts and other ecosystem benefits.

Returning to the fundamental question: in today’s era of rapid AI technological iteration and increasing data value, what do we need? We need a truly foundational infrastructure that restores data sovereignty to users and developers. The emergence of Walrus Protocol fills this gap. It is not just a storage service but a commitment to data freedom—within a decentralized network, no one can decide your data’s fate.

WAL-8%

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

11 Likes

Reward
11
6
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

RugpullTherapist

· 01-08 22:49

Basically, it's just about reclaiming the data stolen by the giants. This should have existed a long time ago. Just thinking about my own data being stored on someone else's server makes me uncomfortable. The WAL design is quite interesting, tying the token to actual costs... but we still have to wait and see the real liquidity. As for when Walrus will be as user-friendly as Google Drive, we'll see. Decentralization sounds great, but the key question is whether users will actually come to use it.

View OriginalReply0

ColdWalletGuardian

· 01-08 19:45

Data sovereignty sounds great, but I'm worried it might just be another excuse to harvest retail investors again.

View OriginalReply0

WhaleShadow

· 01-08 19:40

That's quite right, but isn't a supply of 5 billion WAL a bit too much? --- Wait, can this thing really get off the ground? Who bears the operational costs of the nodes? --- Data sovereignty sounds good, but in practice, it still depends on whether people actually use it... --- Another storage project on Sui, let's see how far this one can go. --- It seems that projects like this ultimately can't escape liquidity issues. Can WAL maintain its value? --- But indeed, big tech companies controlling data should be changed. --- The Blob technology with encrypted sharding sounds promising, but I'm worried whether the technology implementation and the white paper will match. --- 50 million... We need to understand the release mechanism clearly, or it will just be another inflation horror story. --- If it can truly return data sovereignty to users, this concept is worth paying attention to, but it depends on how it is implemented.

View OriginalReply0

HodlKumamon

· 01-08 19:36

Oh no, the aspect of data sovereignty really hit home for me... The setting of 5 billion WAL pegged to storage costs is quite interesting, at least it's much more reliable than some worthless coins (´；ω；`)

View OriginalReply0

MEVHunter

· 01-08 19:32

okay but who's actually running these nodes tho... same centralization risk repackaged

Reply0

NotFinancialAdviser

· 01-08 19:26

It sounds like another story about selling storage, can it really be implemented? --- 50 billion WAL, same old story, the coin price can't stay stable, brother. --- Data sovereignty sounds great, but will users really come? --- The Blob technology is indeed innovative, but the key is whether node incentives are sufficient. --- They hype it up so much, but it still depends on the ecosystem activity. --- On-chain proof sounds good, but the key question is who is actually using it. --- Many projects have failed in the decentralized storage space, so why is Walrus still alive? --- The WAL governance design is okay, but I worry it will turn into a game for the wealthy. --- Does AI large models really need this, or is it just another pseudo-demand? --- Is the stability mechanism anchored to storage costs? Sounds like the pattern of stablecoins. --- The term "data shackles" is well used, but in reality, which big companies would use decentralized storage?

View OriginalReply0