Walrus protocol: The key storage infrastructure of the Sui ecosystem

Key Points Summary

• After Mysten Labs launched the Sui network and DeepBook protocol, it is preparing to launch a new project, the Walrus protocol.

• The two main reasons Walrus has attracted widespread attention:

  1. Higher cost-effectiveness and security

2. Programmability of stored data

• As one of the advanced decentralized storage protocols, the future practicality and value of Walrus are worth paying attention to.

Walrus protocol background

After successfully launching the Sui network and the DeepBook protocol, Mysten Labs is venturing into new territory - the Walrus protocol. The success of the Sui network and DeepBook has built anticipation for the Walrus project. However, there are also some concerns:

• There are already many decentralized storage solutions in the market, with varying performance.
• Worry that Mysten Labs' focus on the Sui network may divert resources and affect the progress of new projects.

Next, we will explore the structure of the Walrus protocol, analyze its differences from existing solutions, study the relationship between Walrus and the Sui network, and focus on how Walrus integrates with the Sui architecture to enhance the overall ecological value.

The difference between Walrus and existing storage solutions

Walrus has three main differences from the existing storage models (, especially Filecoin and Arweave ):

1. Storage Cost Efficiency

Walrus, Arweave, and Filecoin have significant differences in storage costs:

• Arweave requires all nodes to replicate and store all data.
• Filecoin allows users to decide the number of data storage nodes.
• Walrus uses Red-Stuff encoding, with an efficiency up to 100 times that of the other two.

Walrus combines the advantages of Arweave and Filecoin through low replication costs and low data loss probability.

In addition, Walrus only requires a single data transmission over the network, with each node storing a portion of the data, reducing the burden on each node as the network grows. This structure makes Walrus's storage costs significantly efficient.

2. Programmability

The most notable feature of Walrus is its "programmability". Traditional storage is just a simple data warehouse, while Walrus achieves programmable decentralized storage through the Sui network, giving stored data more functionality.

For example:

• When minting an NFT, the image file can be stored in Walrus, and the blob data object can be created on the Sui network, linked to the NFT object.
• Walrus's blob data can be stored as Sui objects and controlled through Move smart contracts.

In contrast, Arweave and Filecoin have very limited dynamic integration with on-chain applications.

3. Data Access and Deletion

Unlike existing storage protocols, Walrus allows users to modify or delete data when needed. This enhances practicality, greatly increasing its application potential in traditional enterprises and Web2 businesses.

Collaboration between Walrus and Sui Network

Walrus should not be seen as distracting attention from Sui, but rather as a storage stack that enhances Sui applications. Walrus not only complements the Sui network but also actively impacts the SUI token, making the two inseparable.

The symbiotic relationship between Sui and Walrus

Mysten Labs focused on storage issues during the early design of Sui and proposed a unique storage fund concept. The operation of the Sui storage fund is as follows:

1. Users submit fees divided into calculated Gas fees and data storage fees.
2. Sui charges storage fees in advance and deposits them into the storage fund
3. The storage fund continuously allocates funds to validation nodes.
4. Users can receive a refund of storage fees when deleting data.

This system produces two effects:

• Created economic incentives to reduce the capacity of distributed ledgers.
• Solved sustainability issues related to storage

Walrus achieves data programmability by storing large-scale blob data and managing metadata objectification on Sui. Ultimately, Sui and Walrus establish a complementary symbiotic relationship.

Walrus makes SUI a deflationary asset

When Walrus creates blob data objects, it locks SUI to the storage fund based on the size of the objects. Some fees can be refunded by deleting data, but some fees will be permanently destroyed. This creates a positive cycle: the increase in Walrus usage leads to a decrease in SUI circulation.

Walrus is expected to become the most critical protocol of Sui

Build a complete Web3 decentralized infrastructure

Mysten Labs not only focuses on the Sui network but is also committed to building a complete Web3 decentralized infrastructure that encompasses execution, storage, consensus, and communication.

Walrus is not limited to the Sui ecosystem

Walrus can be used by any third party and may even replace existing storage protocols or other DA layers. This will expand the demand for SUI beyond the Sui network, making SUI a more attractive asset.

Can Walrus surpass Filecoin?

The outlook for Walrus is optimistic for the following reasons:

1. The operating mechanism is more efficient
2. Can execute tasks that existing storage protocols cannot complete.
3. Has a solid user base through the Sui network

If Walrus can become a representative storage protocol for Web3, it is expected to become a leader in the storage field.