Walrus is a decentralized storage solution built on the Sui network. Its primary goal is to empower users and businesses to permanently store various data types, such as images and PDF files, on Sui without compromising network performance or security. As of this writing, Walrus is still in its testnet phase, with no official mainnet launch date announced.
Table Content:
The Walrus User Interface.
Walrus Operational Model: A Six-Component Breakdown
Walrus operates on a relatively straightforward model comprising six key components:
- End User: Individuals or entities utilizing Walrus to store data (blobs) like images and audio files on the Sui network. Blobs are essentially datasets that users can access and retrieve.
- Publisher: The component responsible for writing blobs onto the Sui network.
- Client: Acts as the intermediary between the End User and the Publisher, receiving and reading blobs from users and subsequently forwarding them to the Publisher.
- Storage Node: The core element of Walrus, responsible for data storage and processing End User requests. According to the project team, becoming a Walrus node requires staking WAL, the native token of the Walrus platform.
- Aggregator: Collects data from Storage Nodes and relays it to other systems or End Users upon request. The Aggregator optimizes data storage and retrieval processes for enhanced user experience.
- CDN/Cache: A temporary storage system designed to provide data to End Users with minimal latency.
Walrus Operational Model. Image: Walrus.
This architecture allows Sui to maintain optimal performance by leveraging the Aggregator and CDN/Cache. Furthermore, utilizing multiple Storage Nodes enhances data security by eliminating reliance on a single point of storage.
Exploring the Potential Applications of Walrus
While blockchain-based storage solutions are still relatively nascent, Walrus envisions its technology being applied in various scenarios:
- NFT Metadata Storage: Walrus can permanently store diverse metadata (images, audio, etc.) for NFTs, offering a robust alternative to centralized servers where data is susceptible to alteration or loss.
- AI Applications: The platform can facilitate data storage and training for AI models, potentially reducing storage costs for AI development ventures.
- Data Availability for Layer 2 Solutions: While currently operating on Sui, Walrus’s technology could potentially reduce data availability costs for Layer 2 solutions by enabling universal data access and validation.
- Copyright Registration: Walrus allows creators to store content and control access via decryption keys, enabling monetization through subscriptions or purchases.
Walrus: Team, Investors, and Partners
The Team Behind Walrus
The team behind Walrus hails from Mysten Labs, the company that founded the Sui network. Key members include:
- Evan Cheng: Co-Founder and CEO of Mysten Labs, with prior engineering experience at Apple and Meta.
- Sam Blackshear: Co-Founder and CTO of Mysten Labs, boasting a background in engineering at Meta and Microsoft.
- Adeniyi Abiodun: Co-Founder and CPO of Mysten Labs, with experience at companies like PeerNova, Oracle, and Meta.
- Kostas Chalkias: Co-Founder and Chief Cryptographer at Mysten Labs, formerly CTO at Safemarket and Erybo.
- George Danezis: Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Mysten Labs, with previous roles at Privitar and The Alan Turing Institute.
The Team Behind Walrus.
Investors and Partners
Currently, Walrus has not disclosed information regarding investors or funding rounds. However, the project has established strategic partnerships with prominent entities like The Defiant and Sui.
Comparable Projects in the Decentralized Storage Landscape
- EthStorage: A decentralized storage solution built on Ethereum as a Layer 2, designed for long-term data archiving accessible by rollups and facilitating the development of diverse applications.
- Arweave: A project focused on providing permanent data storage with a one-time payment model.
