Walrus Protocol: A new generation storage solution developed by the Sui team

Key Points Overview

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

• The two main reasons Walrus has attracted widespread attention:

1. High cost-effectiveness and security: More advantageous than existing storage solutions.
2. Programmability: Able to program stored data through the Sui network.

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

Background of the Walrus protocol

After successfully launching the Sui network and the DeepBook protocol, Mysten Labs is venturing into the new domain of the Walrus protocol. Although the market is filled with anticipation for Walrus, there are also some concerns:

• There are already many decentralized storage solutions on the market, many of which perform poorly.
• Worried that Mysten Labs' continued development of the Sui network will affect the progress of the Walrus project.

This article will explore the structure of the Walrus protocol, analyze its differences from existing storage solutions, study the relationship between Walrus and the Sui network, and focus on how Walrus integrates and enhances the Sui ecosystem.

The Difference Between Walrus and Existing Storage Solutions

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 storage nodes.
• Walrus uses Red-Stuff encoding, achieving efficiency up to 100 times that of other solutions.

Walrus combines the advantages of Arweave and Filecoin through low replication costs and low data loss risk. As the network grows, Walrus's storage cost advantages become more apparent.

2. Programmability

The most notable feature of Walrus is "programmability". It achieves programmable decentralized storage through the Sui network, granting more functionality to stored data:

• Smart contracts can directly reference or trigger stored data.
• The stored data can be controlled and transferred as Sui objects.

This makes Walrus far superior to Arweave and Filecoin in terms of dynamic integration with on-chain applications.

3. Data Access and Deletion

Walrus allows users to modify or delete data as needed, a feature that enhances its potential in enterprise applications. In contrast, Arweave's data cannot be modified or deleted, and the deletion of data in Filecoin is not under the user's active control.

Collaboration between Walrus and the Sui Network

Walrus does not divert attention from Sui, but rather完善Sui生态 as a storage stack. A symbiotic relationship has formed between the two:

• Sui's storage fund addresses the storage challenges brought by blockchain growth.
• Walrus provides a large-scale blob data storage solution for Sui.
• Walrus achieves data programmability and controllability through Sui.

Additionally, the use of Walrus will lead to more SUI being locked, helping SUI to become a deflationary asset.

The Importance and Future Outlook of Walrus

1. Walrus is a key part of Mysten Labs' vision for building a complete Web3 infrastructure.

2. Walrus is not limited to the Sui ecosystem, it can be used by any third party and may even replace other storage or DA layer solutions.

3. Walrus has the potential to become a leading protocol in the storage field, because:

   • Efficient operating mechanism
   • Functions beyond existing storage protocols
   • Have a solid user base through the Sui network

If Walrus can become a representative storage protocol for Web3 as envisioned by Mysten Labs, it is likely to take a leading position in the storage field.