I still remember a few years ago when I first heard about Blockchain storage, I was quite excited. Back then, I thought, "Wow, in the future, my data won't be at risk of being lost, and it can be stored in a decentralized way, how secure!"
In practice, I found quite a few pitfalls: Filecoin is like renting a warehouse, and it requires renewal when it expires, which is exhausting; Arweave, although it claims to be permanent, has high and volatile prices, and large files are frustratingly slow to check. To be honest, I once felt that these so-called "storage chains" are more about concepts than reality.
It wasn't until I came across @Irys_xyz that I realized data can be more than just "stored"; it can be a "living asset" that actually runs logic and serves applications and AI. This really opened my eyes.
Today I will talk about Irys and compare it with established storage chains like Filecoin and Arweave to see what makes it stand out. Simply put, I feel that Irys has taken a different approach, giving storage a sense of "dynamism."
🔹 Storage Mode: Rent vs Archive vs Component
The problem with Filecoin is obvious: it can only be rented for a maximum of 540 days, and you have to renew it when it expires, which is troublesome. The contract also does not show the stored data, and the price fluctuates with the market, making it unstable.
Arweave seems powerful, paying once for permanent storage, but the price is tied to the AR token, which is high and often fluctuates. Small files are fine, but large files are incredibly slow to check. Moreover, it lacks native execution capabilities and relies on external modules.
Irys is smart, offering both short-term and permanent options, with prices anchored to hard drive costs, approximately $2.5/GB for short-term and only $0.03/GB for permanent. It features a multi-ledger architecture for fast data retrieval. Most importantly, it allows EVM contracts to read and write data directly, and comes with a built-in verification mechanism for enhanced security.
For example: Filecoin is "warehouse rental", Arweave is "archive", while Irys turns data into "components that can run logic", which can be directly used by applications and AI.
🔹 Callability: Dead vs Alive
Filecoin's contracts cannot manipulate data. Arweave can only store files, and the logic relies on external sources. The latency is also high.
Irys is different; EVM contracts can directly read and write data, and the multi-ledger architecture allows you to access data anytime. What's even better is that permission, access, and monetization logic can be directly written into the data. Data is no longer rigid, but rather a "living" asset. Imagine AI models reading and writing simultaneously, achieving incredibly high efficiency.
🔹 Security: Outsourcing vs Native
Story Protocol only puts metadata on the blockchain, while the file itself remains off-chain, with verification relying on third parties, which carries significant risks. Walrus also has limitations, storing for a maximum of 2 years, and users have to renew it themselves, making the operation complex, and the dual-token model is even more troublesome.
Irys's approach is very straightforward: the asset itself is on the chain, permanent and verifiable. It is an independent L1, integrating storage, execution, and consensus. Miners automatically verify and index, and contracts can directly access data. At least 10 copies, so it doesn't matter if 90% of the network goes down. Simple and brutal, ensuring security to the end.
🔹 AI Collaboration: A Chain Dedicated to AI
Irys is not just a storage chain; it is more like a programmable data chain that provides AI with a truly usable underlying layer:
Data carries logic, and contracts can operate directly.
IrysVM is compatible with EVM, lowering the development threshold.
Multiple ledgers, avoid congestion
The consensus mechanism ensures that only useful data is put on the Blockchain, and malicious behavior is directly reduced.
In AI scenarios, it can perform calculations (Proof-of-Compute), training (data verifiable), and inference (Proof-of-Inference), completely opening the black box.
🔹 Market Logic: Crisis vs Opportunity
The demand for data by AI is increasing, with the training data market expected to reach $17 billion by 2032. However, on-chain storage is outrageously expensive, with storing 1 GB on ETH costing $900,000, and Rollup burning several million each year. AI companies are still scraping web data without a good monetization mechanism.
Irys has solved the problem: it turns data into tradable and verifiable assets, and can directly serve AI. The team raised 20 million USD, indicating that resources are in place, and they have the confidence to advance the mainnet and ecosystem.
Ultimately, Filecoin and Arweave each have their advantages, but they both remain at the level of "storage." Irys transforms data from a dead asset into a living component, not just placing it on the chain, but allowing it to be directly used by contracts and AI. To me, this is the truly valuable breakthrough.
Whoever can seize the intersection of AI and Web3 in the future may become the king of the new generation of infrastructure. And Irys just happens to stand at this intersection.
So, if you, like me, don't want to just watch the excitement anymore, then take advantage of the opportunity now as @irys_xyz TGE approaches and get on board early. If you miss this chance, you might have to wait for the next cycle.
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