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Walrus vs Irys: Two Innovative Paths for On-Chain Data Storage
Walrus and Irys: Two Different On-Chain Data Storage Solutions
Walrus and Irys are both committed to solving the on-chain data storage problem, but they adopt completely different design philosophies. Walrus is a modular storage network built on Sui, while Irys is an independent Layer 1 blockchain specifically designed for data storage.
Protocol Architecture
Irys adopts a vertically integrated monolithic architecture, integrating storage, execution, and consensus into one. Verification nodes simultaneously take on the roles of storing data, executing smart contracts, and maintaining network security. This design has a high degree of consistency, but the startup costs are high, requiring the entire ecosystem to be built from scratch.
Walrus adopts a modular stacking layer design. Storage nodes operate off-chain, while Sui is responsible for handling sorting, payment, and metadata. This approach allows for quick utilization of Sui's infrastructure and developer community, but it requires managing the complexity of cross-layer coordination.
Token Economics and Incentive Mechanisms
Irys uses a single token, IRYS, to drive the entire protocol stack, including storage fees, execution gas, and miner rewards. This design simplifies the user experience but also makes the overall system's risk highly interrelated.
Walrus adopts a dual-token model: WAL is used for storage layer economics, while SUI is used for on-chain coordination. This separation makes the storage economy clearer, but it also brings the issue of incentive fragmentation.
Data Persistence and Redundancy Strategies
Walrus uses erasure coding technology to split data and add redundant parity fragments, achieving efficient space utilization and on-demand repair capabilities. In typical cases, storing 1GB of data requires about 5GB of network capacity.
Irys adopts a more direct multi-replica mechanism, with 10 miners each storing a complete copy of every 16TB of data. This strategy, while highly redundant, is logically simple and clear.
Programmable Data and On-Chain Computation
The Irys contract can directly call the read_blob method to read on-chain data without the need for oracles or external bridges. This native support makes complex scenarios such as on-chain AI and big data analysis possible.
Walrus adopts a "verify before compute" model. The caller needs to submit data fragments and proofs, which must be verified by the Sui contract before executing subsequent logic. This design can be used immediately, but it is less efficient when handling large data tasks.
Storage Duration and Permanence
Walrus uses a fixed-period leasing model, where users need to renew their fees regularly to maintain data storage. This method allows for flexible control over the data lifecycle, but requires continuous management.
Irys offers a "permanent storage" option, where users make a one-time payment, and the protocol commits to long-term data storage. This model simplifies the user experience, but the initial costs are relatively high.
Network Maturity and Usage
Despite its short launch time, Walrus has already reached PB-level storage scale, with over 100 storage operators and multiple well-known projects adopting it.
Irys is currently still in the early stages, with low storage data volume and transaction throughput, and the miner system has not been fully enabled.
Conclusion
Walrus and Irys represent two different paths in on-chain storage design. The choice of which solution to adopt depends on the needs that developers prioritize most: deep data computation integration or rapid deployment and capital efficiency. In the future, these two solutions are likely to develop in parallel within the expanding on-chain data economy, serving different types of application scenarios.