The @Walrus 🦭/acc network reached a major milestone when its mainnet went live in March 2025. This meant that the project moved from testing and early builds into a real working system that people and developers can use in daily life. The main network is now run by a group of independent storage node operators that help make the network strong and resilient. These operators are spread across many places and bring real capacity to store data for users and applications on the system. �
The idea behind Walrus is to provide a new way to store data that is open and decentralized instead of being locked inside big companies or single servers. Traditional storage systems keep copies of files in a few big places. If a server goes down those files may not be available. Walrus breaks large files into small pieces and spreads them out across many nodes. This way even if some nodes are offline the data is still available to users when they need it. �
When the mainnet launched the system had support from more than 100 storage node operators who took part in running the network. These independent nodes work together to hold and serve data for anyone who wants to store files on Walrus. The presence of so many operators shows that the network is growing beyond just a small experiment and is ready for real world use. �
Walrus lets developers and users publish blobs of data. Blobs are large files like documents videos images and other forms of content. Once these blobs are stored on the network they can be accessed at any time as long as enough nodes are online. At the same time the system uses a two week period called an epoch to organize how storage is assigned and managed across nodes. This makes sure that the network stays balanced and reliable over time. �
The native token of the network is called WAL. This token is used to pay for storage services and also plays a role in supporting the node operators. People and institutions can stake their WAL to help secure the system and earn rewards for their contribution. This creates an incentive for people to take part in running the network and makes the whole system healthier as it grows. �
One clear benefit of having more than 100 independent storage nodes is resilience. If a part of the network fails or if some operators go offline the data is still available because other nodes hold the needed pieces. This distributed approach makes it possible to serve applications that rely on fast access to data even under stress. �
The mainnet also supports more than just basic storage. Users can upload and browse Walrus Sites that act like decentralized web pages. These sites can host content that is stored directly on the network so visitors can access that content without depending on a central host. In addition the network includes tools for taxing storage fees and reclaiming unused space when data is no longer needed. �
Since the launch the network’s activity has grown. The system has stored millions of blobs amounting to petabytes of data and a growing number of projects and accounts use it for real tasks. This shows that decentralized storage with many independent nodes is not just a theory but a working reality that can support substantial data volumes and real applications. �
Looking forward the presence of more than 100 independent storage nodes on Walrus mainnet is a strong foundation for continued growth. As more developers build applications that need decentralized storage and more users start to store their data with Walrus the network is likely to expand further. This can help shape the future of data storage in decentralized web systems and give everyday users better control over their own information. �