There is a storage protocol doing something interesting — redesigning cloud storage using blockchain technology.

The most direct advantage is cost. Traditional blockchain storage requires hundreds of copies to ensure data security, which is very expensive. Walrus uses erasure coding technology to split files into fragments, and only 4-5 fragments are needed to achieve the same level of security. The result? Costs are cut by 90%, and the price is even cheaper than Alibaba Cloud.

Fault tolerance is also more robust. Even if 2/3 of the fragments are deleted, the remaining data can be automatically repaired — this means that events like a single server crash or hacker attacks won't disrupt the system. It offers bank-grade fault tolerance reliability without the cumbersome permission management of traditional cloud storage.

The most imaginative part is programmability. Once a file is uploaded to the Sui network, it becomes a digital asset that can be controlled by smart contracts. Want to implement logic like "payment from 100 users required to download"? Just write code, and it executes automatically. This opens up new possibilities for content platforms, membership services, and NFT repositories.

Large file transfers are also not a bottleneck. Uploading and downloading several GBs of movies, AI training datasets, or game assets has been optimized for speed, ensuring a smooth user experience. Compared to established storage protocols like Filecoin, which are technically mature, Walrus offers more flexibility and better cost control. Walrus is more like a storage infrastructure tailored for Web3 applications.