Infinito purpura

@Walrus 🦭/acc is a decentralized storage protocol created to address a problem that many blockchains were never built to solve: handling large and complex data at scale. While blockchains excel at tracking ownership, transactions, and state transitions, they are poorly suited for storing items such as images, videos, large datasets, or application binaries. As a result, many Web3 applications have quietly fallen back on centralized cloud services, reintroducing trust dependencies that decentralization was supposed to eliminate. Walrus aims to resolve this tension by offering a decentralized, verifiable, and economically viable way to store large volumes of data—while remaining deeply connected to blockchain logic rather than existing as a separate, loosely coupled layer.

At a fundamental level, Walrus prioritizes practicality over ideology. Instead of replicating full copies of data across every node—a method that quickly becomes inefficient and costly—the protocol relies on sophisticated data-partitioning and encoding techniques. Uploaded files are divided into smaller fragments and mathematically transformed so that only a portion of them is needed to recover the original data. These encoded pieces are then distributed among independent storage providers. This design allows the network to withstand node failures or downtime without data loss, all while avoiding the excessive overhead associated with full replication. To users, the data appears intact and readily accessible, even though it exists as a distributed and resilient patchwork beneath the surface.

A defining feature of Walrus is its close integration with the Sui blockchain. Rather than operating as a standalone storage network or relying heavily on off-chain coordination, Walrus represents stored data as on-chain objects. Each file is assigned a unique identity on Sui, along with metadata specifying its duration, payment status, and access or reference conditions. This structure enables smart contracts to interact directly with stored data in meaningful ways. Applications can verify the existence of a file, respond to storage expiration events, or link financial logic to the availability of particular datasets. Storage, in this model, becomes programmable and verifiable rather than a passive external dependency.

The protocol’s incentive system is powered by the WAL token. WAL is used to pay for storage services, secure the network, and align the interests of users, storage providers, and token holders. When data is stored on Walrus, users pay upfront in WAL for a specified period. These payments are released to storage operators gradually, contingent on the continued availability of the data. This mechanism encourages honest behavior and long-term reliability among node operators. In addition, WAL holders can stake or delegate their tokens to storage nodes they trust, sharing in the rewards those nodes earn. This transforms token ownership into active participation in the network’s security and performance. Governance rights attached to WAL further allow the community to influence key protocol decisions, such as pricing structures or future upgrades, helping prevent centralized control.

Although Walrus is closely tied to Sui, its relevance extends beyond a single blockchain ecosystem. Sui provides a fast and scalable execution layer, but the data stored on Walrus can be referenced by applications across multiple chains. This makes Walrus a potential piece of shared infrastructure for cross-ecosystem development. A decentralized application might execute its core logic on one chain while using Walrus to host media assets, training datasets, or historical records. To ease adoption, the protocol also offers familiar APIs and developer tools, making it accessible to teams with traditional web development experience. This combination of blockchain-native design and developer-friendly tooling increases the likelihood of real-world usage rather than purely experimental deployments.

From a use-case perspective, Walrus already fits a wide range of practical applications. Decentralized websites can store static assets on Walrus instead of centralized servers, reducing censorship risks and single points of failure. NFT platforms can rely on Walrus to host high-resolution media without depending on third-party cloud providers that may alter terms or restrict access. AI and data-driven projects can store large datasets in a transparent and verifiable manner, an increasingly important requirement as concerns around data provenance and model training intensify. Blockchain infrastructure teams can also use Walrus to archive historical data or network checkpoints without overloading their primary chains, maintaining accessibility while managing costs.

That said, Walrus is not without challenges. The decentralized storage space is highly competitive, with established networks that already benefit from strong reputations, liquidity, and developer mindshare. Attracting developers and enterprises requires more than technical innovation—it demands proven reliability, long-term stability, and clear economic advantages. Network security at scale is another critical factor. Walrus depends on a sufficiently large and geographically distributed set of honest storage nodes, as well as incentive mechanisms that remain effective as usage grows. Its deep integration with Sui also introduces a degree of dependency, meaning significant issues within the Sui ecosystem could have downstream effects on Walrus.

Looking forward, the ultimate impact of Walrus will depend on whether Web3 applications continue evolving beyond simple financial use cases into more data-intensive areas. As gaming, media, AI, and enterprise applications expand within decentralized environments, the need for scalable, programmable storage will become increasingly important. Walrus positions itself as infrastructure for this next phase—one where storage is a foundational component of application architecture rather than an afterthought. Its focus on efficiency, aligned incentives, and blockchain-native integration reflects an effort to address real-world constraints instead of chasing short-lived trends.

In a broader sense, Walrus signals a shift in how decentralized systems approach data management. Rather than forcing all information directly onto blockchains or outsourcing critical storage to centralized providers, it proposes a balanced alternative: large-scale data that remains decentralized, verifiable, and economically sustainable. Whether Walrus ultimately becomes a dominant solution or one of several specialized storage layers, its design highlights a growing maturity in Web3 infrastructure. It acknowledges the shortcomings of early blockchain models and offers a more nuanced architecture one that embraces complexity in order to make decentralization viable at scale.

#WalrusUSDT @Walrus 🦭/acc $WAL

MarketVector Indexes has launched two new benchmarks focused on stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization (RWA) infrastructure, alongside the debut of two exchange-traded funds from US issuer Amplify ETFs designed to track the indexes.

According to Tuesday’s announcement, the MarketVector Stablecoin Technology Index and the MarketVector Tokenization Technology Index are designed to give investors regulated exposure to companies and digital asset products involved in stablecoin issuance, payments and settlement, as well as platforms supporting tokenized RWAs.

The company also announced the launch of two funds from Amplify ETFs tied to the new benchmarks. The Amplify Tokenization Technology ETF (TKNQ) tracks the tokenization-focused index, while the Amplify Stablecoin Technology ETF (STBQ) follows the stablecoin benchmark. 

Both funds are structured to follow MarketVector’s benchmarks rather than hold stablecoins or tokenized assets directly. The ETFs will trade on the NYSE Arca exchange in the United States.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Based in Germany, MarketVector is an index provider and regulated benchmark administrator overseen by BaFin, with benchmarks licensed by exchange-traded product issuers worldwide.

The company did not disclose which companies or products are currently included in the index.

Stablecoin and RWA growth in 2025

Stablecoins and the tokenization of real-world assets were among the key narratives shaping crypto markets in 2025.

DeFiLlama data shows the stablecoin market cap is currently $308.6 billion, up more than 50% from the end of 2024.

Despite the launch of several new stablecoins last year, the market remains highly concentrated. Tether’s USDt (USDT) accounts for about 60% of total stablecoin market capitalization, while Circle’s USDC (USDC) represents about 24% of the market.

Stablecoin market cap. Source: DefiLlama

Real-world asset tokenization, the process of representing traditional financial assets as blockchain-based tokens, experienced even faster growth in 2025.

According to data from RWA.xyz, the total value of tokenized RWAs rose to about $19.6 billion at the time of writing, up from roughly $5.55 billion at the end of 2024, an increase of about 250%.

Tokenized RWA market cap. Source: RWA.xyz

Tokenized US Treasury debt accounts for roughly $9 billion of the total RWA market, driven largely by products such as BlackRock’s BUIDL, Circle’s USYC and Franklin Templeton’s BENJI, which tokenize short-term government securities.

Several crypto industry executives who spoke with Cointelegraph late last year said they expect adoption of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets to continue growing in 2026.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026