Walrus is a decentralised storage and data availability protocol designed for large binary files, known as "blobs." This just really means any files a users already uploads to the likes of Dropbox etc.
It provides a robust and cost-effective solution for storing unstructured content across decentralised storage nodes, ensuring high availability and reliability even in the presence of Byzantine faults. Walrus leverages advanced erasure coding to maintain storage costs at approximately five times the size of the stored blobs, making it significantly more cost-effective than traditional full-replication methods.
The protocol integrates with the Sui blockchain for coordination, attesting availability, and handling payments. Storage space and blobs are represented as resources on Sui, allowing smart contracts to manage their availability and lifecycle. Walrus operates through a delegated proof-of-stake mechanism using its native token, $WAL, which is crucial for network operation and governance.
