When it comes to cryptocurrencies, many people's minds are filled with speculation and hype; when it comes to decentralized storage, most only think of cold, technical parameters—but the Walrus protocol breaks this pattern with real actions. It uses the WAL token not only to solve storage and privacy issues but also to build a bridge between real assets and Web3.

Take traditional cloud storage, for example, which is like renting someone else's safe—you store your data on a platform that controls everything. Not only are the costs ridiculously high, but you also have to worry about policy changes or platform glitches causing your data to vanish out of thin air. Walrus's decentralized storage is completely different—distributed storage means you truly own your data sovereignty. Leveraging the high throughput and low latency advantages of the Sui blockchain, along with clever erasure coding design, storage costs can be significantly reduced, while also preventing censorship and tampering. A particularly thoughtful feature is the Walruscan tool, which allows you to see where your files are stored, how the nodes are performing, and how the rewards are distributed—all at a glance, eliminating the need to deal with black boxes.

What is the real value of the WAL token? It makes ecosystem participation very accessible. You don't need to understand complex technology—just stake WAL with reliable storage nodes to earn a share, which is like passive income just by leaving it there; enterprises wanting to bring real assets like commercial real estate or precious metals onto the chain need to stake WAL as a credit guarantee, and can also use it to pay for verification and storage fees. This cycle of "transactions as payment + staking as reward + voting as governance" ensures that WAL is no longer just a speculative tool but a vital part of the ecosystem's operation.