Most people think Web3 apps fail because of bad UX or slow blockchains, but a quieter problem sits underneath: blockchains were never meant to store real application data. They are great at verifying transactions and enforcing rules, but terrible at handling large files, constant updates, or growing datasets. Walrus exists because Web3 needed a middle layer — something that lives between the blockchain and the real world’s data needs.
Walrus acts like a specialized data layer that blockchains can rely on without being overloaded by them. Instead of forcing a chain to store videos, game assets, AI datasets, or website files, Walrus takes on that responsibility and proves back to the chain that the data exists and remains available. This design respects the strengths of each system. The blockchain focuses on coordination and trust, while Walrus focuses on storage and availability. Together, they form a more complete stack.
What makes this important is that it allows Web3 apps to scale without quietly falling back to Web2 infrastructure. Many decentralized apps claim to be trustless, but still depend on centralized servers to store data. Walrus gives builders a way to avoid that compromise. It doesn’t try to replace blockchains or compete with them. It fills the gap they were never designed to cover, which is exactly what good infrastructure should do.
