Walrus uses a coding scheme called Red Stuff, which is not simply copying files multiple times. This technology breaks data into tiny fragments and disperses them across network nodes, with a unit cost that is astonishingly lower than traditional redundancy methods—being 25 to 100 times cheaper is not a dream.

Specifically, Walrus's storage redundancy factor only needs to be 4-5 times to ensure security. In other words, storing the same data may cost dozens of times less than established storage protocols like Filecoin and Arweave, and being a hundred times cheaper is also possible. Industry estimates suggest that maintaining 1TB of data for a year might only cost around $50. This is not just talk; it is genuinely integrated into the protocol's design logic—the encoding algorithm itself reduces redundancy requirements, with nodes only retaining necessary data fragments.

Even more interesting is the way Walrus integrates with the Sui chain. It stores Blob metadata on-chain, and the corresponding data objects can be directly read and verified by smart contracts. This means storage is no longer just space occupation but enables on-chain business logic and data to truly communicate. The protocol also supports dynamic adjustments, allowing you to modify or delete data lifecycle via smart contracts. For scenarios requiring compliance management or enterprise-level applications, this flexibility far exceeds those schemes that only support permanent storage.

From an economic perspective, running Walrus on Sui also creates an intriguing effect: each data write consumes SUI tokens to pay for on-chain coordination fees. According to some analyst projections, if Walrus's storage needs truly expand to the exabyte (EB) level, this on-chain consumption could become a significant part of SUI's circulation. In other words, Walrus not only reduces storage costs but may also alter the flow of Sui's entire economic ecosystem. This close coupling of on-chain consumption and storage behavior is something traditional storage protocols cannot achieve.

Another key feature is that Walrus allows storage space to be used as a composable on-chain resource, which can be split, merged, or transferred. This enables developers to design more complex and diverse data trading markets or leasing models, rather than being limited to the old one-buy-one-rent approach. From this perspective, Walrus turns data into a truly operable asset on the chain, rather than just a passive attachment. For the future evolution of Web3 applications, this programmable storage and on-chain interaction capability may be the key.