2026-01-17 06:25:15

In 2026, Web3 is moving from concept to reality. What is the most obvious change this year? Data.

Traditional decentralized storage solutions have hit a ceiling. When AI models require high-frequency access to massive datasets, and RWA credentials need real-time updates and permission management, these solutions start to falter—costly, slow, and inflexible. The problem is quite painful, but it also indicates that the market truly needs a breakthrough.

That's why Walrus Protocol has attracted attention. It’s not just a naive addition of a hard drive, but a complete overhaul of the entire storage paradigm. The core idea is this: turn stored files into "active objects" that are directly programmable on the Sui chain. Sounds abstract? Actually, it’s very practical. Data can seamlessly integrate into smart contracts, with native support for expiration, permission transfer, and paid access. It can even be deeply integrated with DeFi protocols. For data-driven applications, this is an upgrade from 0 to 1.

The technology side has also been a focus. Walrus uses its own RedStuff 2D erasure coding, with key advantages: ensuring high data availability while keeping redundancy at 4-5 times, saving significant costs and resources compared to traditional solutions. The mainnet has been stable for nearly a year now, with storage capacity surpassing 100TB. This shows it’s not just a lab concept but something that can be practically implemented.

Looking ahead? Walrus’s direction is very clear: the AI and RWA tracks. It is optimizing small file handling, accelerating on mobile devices, and integrating privacy computing capabilities. The goal is to build an infrastructure covering the entire data lifecycle.

In short, when data becomes the next-generation strategic resource, a programmable, composable, and efficient data layer is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have.

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WAL-2,77%

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GasFeeBarbecue

· 01-20 03:54

Oh, finally someone has solved the long-standing problem of storage. Can storage really be as flexible as writing smart contracts? That would be amazing. 100TB running stably, not just empty promises. Redundancy increased to 4 times, directly cutting costs. The data layer is infrastructure, no doubt, but how long Walrus can survive remains to be seen.

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SleepyArbCat

· 01-18 18:32

Wait, can storage costs really be reduced to 4-5 times redundancy? Nap warning, I need to wake up... If these numbers are true, the gas costs for RWA could indeed be saved quite a bit.

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StopLossMaster

· 01-18 17:23

Data layer is the next gold mine; traditional storage solutions should have been disrupted long ago. --- Walrus's approach is on the right track; the idea of programmable objects is truly brilliant. --- 4-5x redundancy sounds good, but can the cost really be reduced? --- Running for a year with a hundred TB, can't anymore be called just a "concept stage." --- AI and RWA working together—quite ambitious, just worried about a potential flop. --- Honestly, those previous storage solutions were just gimmicks; this time, there's finally some substance. --- RedStuff's erasure coding is self-developed? Still has some technical depth. --- The key is how DeFi integrates; otherwise, it's just self-indulgence. --- The idea of going from 0 to 1 might be a bit exaggerated; let's see actual applications first. --- Implementing permission management and automatic expiration within the contract saves many middle steps.

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0xOverleveraged

· 01-17 06:54

The data layer is indeed a hurdle that cannot be bypassed; traditional solutions can no longer keep up with the pace.

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NFTPessimist

· 01-17 06:54

Hmm... another "revolutionary" storage solution, sounds a bit familiar. When it actually gets implemented? Let's wait and see. RedStuff erasure coding saves costs, just let the data speak, don't just talk big.

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BTCWaveRider

· 01-17 06:47

Talking about breaking the situation is useless; it depends on how far we can go. Walrus is currently doing this. --- Optimizing erasure codes to 4-5 times redundancy is the real deal, not just talk on paper. --- Data layer becoming a must-have is indeed important, but the problem is how many projects truly understand how to use it. --- Running a hundred TB capacity steadily for a year? That’s convincing, much more reliable than bragging every day. --- Programmable active objects sound impressive, but I’m worried it might just be a good story that ends in a bad implementation. --- If RWA can really be done well, that will be the most competitive track in 2026, with everyone copying it. --- The idea of upgrading from 0 to 1 is exaggerated; it only counts when user growth truly happens. --- Privacy computing capabilities need to be integrated to truly become infrastructure; it’s still early days. --- I believe in RedStuff’s self-developed technology, but I worry about keeping up with iteration speed later on. --- Basically, it’s about who can standardize data management; right now, everyone is working independently.

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FlashLoanLarry

· 01-17 06:43

The data layer is finally being taken seriously, the previous storage solutions were indeed disappointing. --- Walrus's idea of turning files into programmable objects sounds much more comfortable. --- RedStuff's cost-saving erasure coding really shows that details determine success or failure. --- Running hundreds of TB steadily for a year proves it's not an air project, quite interesting. --- The question is how widespread this technology will be and whether the user threshold will still be high. --- Betting on AI and RWA simultaneously also involves significant investment, but the choice of track is solid. --- The idea that data becomes a strategic resource is correct, but whether Walrus can truly become a game-changer depends on other factors. --- If small file processing and mobile optimization can be truly improved, the ecosystem will have hope. --- Redundancy increased to 4-5 times? That technical detail is quite hardcore, traditional solutions have been crushed. --- Integrating privacy computing? That would really be a game-changer; this direction is promising.

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