Walrus, the Web3 data platform from Mysten Labs’ ecosystem, has brought onchain access control to decentralized storage with the mainnet launch of Seal, a decentralized secrets management (DSM) service. Seal combines access control and threshold encryption to deliver what Walrus calls fine‑grained and programmable data access for data stored on its network.
Unlike many Web3 storage solutions where data is public by default and encryption is left to individual apps, Seal centralizes secrets management so builders can decide who can access a file, when, and under what conditions. That capability, Walrus Foundation executive Rebecca Simmonds says, is the platform’s “killer feature”: it lets developers gate content, require payment, or set timed releases without relying on a centralized middleman.
Practical uses range from NFTs that unlock video or music assets, to decentralized document signing and AI workflows that grant models limited, auditable access to training data. Because every item on Walrus is stored as a controllable data blob, smart contracts can enforce access rules and track usage onchain — enabling new business models such as pay‑per‑use data access for AI. Mysten Labs and Seal say this is the first decentralized data management solution to provide built‑in access control on a decentralized storage layer.
Brands and projects are already experimenting with the stack. NFT collections like Pudgy Penguins and Claynosaurz, AI training platform FLock.io, and decentralized ad network Alkimi (which works with clients such as Coca‑Cola) have integrated Walrus. Decrypt itself stores articles and videos on the platform, demonstrating live use cases.
Seal’s combination of threshold encryption and programmable access represents a technical step forward for decentralized data, but it brings trade‑offs. Developers and data owners should weigh key‑management complexity, the security of secret‑sharing schemes, and privacy or compliance obligations when building on the system. Proper implementation is essential to avoid accidental exposure or access‑control errors.
Source: Decrypt. Read the original coverage for full details.