Why it’s considered "Practical"

Unlike many blockchains that struggle to store anything larger than a tiny text file, Walrus uses a proprietary technology called Red Stuff (a 2D erasure coding algorithm). This allows it to:

  • Store Massive Files: It can handle gigabytes and terabytes of unstructured data ("blobs") efficiently.

  • Reduce Costs: It claims to be up to 100x cheaper than competitors like Filecoin because it doesn't require every node to store a full copy of the data.

  • High Resilience: Even if up to two-thirds of the storage nodes go offline, the network can still reconstruct your original file instantly.

Real-Life Use Cases for $WAL

In the Walrus ecosystem, the @Walrus 🦭/acc coin has four concrete functions that drive its value:

  1. Storage Payment: Just like a subscription, you pay in #walrus to store data for a specific duration (up to 2 years, with options to extend).

  2. Node Incentives: Storage providers earn $WAL

    WALSui
    WAL
    0.1229
    -3.22%

    for proving they are actually holding your data safely.

  3. Governance: Holders vote on network parameters, such as storage pricing and security settings.

  4. Programmable Assets: Because it’s built on Sui, stored data (like an NFT image) is a "smart object." A developer can write a contract that automatically deletes a file when a game ends or updates a file when a user changes their profile.