Recently, the heat in the Sui ecosystem has indeed been rising, and among them, one project has attracted considerable attention — the decentralized storage protocol Walrus ($WAL). Compared to those outdated storage solutions, why can this system be considered a challenger to traditional cloud storage?

**Substantive Technical Differences**

Built on the Sui blockchain, Walrus employs erasure coding technology to handle large files. Simply put, it splits data and distributes storage across network nodes. Even if a large number of nodes go offline, data security remains unaffected. This mechanism solves a core pain point in on-chain storage.

Cost is another dimension of advantage. Compared to AWS or other traditional on-chain storage solutions, Walrus's pricing structure is significantly more competitive. Combined with built-in privacy features, users' data privacy rights are better protected — which is precisely what Web3 ecosystem users value most.

**Actual Drivers of Token Mechanics**

$WAL serves as the core asset within the protocol, supported by three layers of value. First is the consumption scenario — storing files requires WAL payment; second is the staking mechanism, where node operators and participants earn rewards through staking while maintaining network security; finally, there is governance rights, with future price adjustments and protocol updates decided by token holders.

This design avoids the path of pure vaporware, binding token value directly to actual applications.

**Thoughts on Track Prospects**

Storage is indeed a critical component of infrastructure. Walrus at its current stage is still in early development, and once ecosystem applications roll out, the imaginative space will be quite different. If you're tired of projects without real-world use cases, it's worth paying attention to solutions like this that have actual application support.