Irys: Have we all been fooled by the name "decentralized storage"? Last time, I talked with everyone about #Irys's technology (AI transparency) and ecosystem (Surf AI), and the feedback was quite positive. But I want to say, if you still see Irys as just a decentralized storage project, you are really underestimating it. What is the biggest bottleneck in Web3 right now? It's not slow transactions, but rather that data is just data; it is isolated on various L1 or L2 networks, either too expensive or only capable of storage without movement. It is just a static file that cannot work with smart contracts and cannot execute logic on its own. What Irys is doing this time is bringing data to life. It is not a hard drive; it is a data operating system. ✅ Why do we say Irys is a data "operating system"? Previously, your data on Arweave or Filecoin was like a CD locked in a warehouse. Want to use it? You have to take it out first, then run to another place (like EVM on L1) to execute the code. This process is slow, expensive, and lacks trust, making it impossible for applications to run. Irys introduces IrysVM (an EVM-compatible execution layer), which directly places smart contract logic and data in the same location. 🔸 Data comes alive: Your NFT is no longer just a link; it can execute logic on its own, check if you hold a specific token, and then automatically display hidden content or update its appearance based on off-chain events, transforming into a myriad of forms like Sakura?? 🔸 Integrated computation and storage: In Irys, data is code, and code is data, reducing the latency and costs caused by the separation of data and computation. This is the true Web3 data infrastructure. ✅ How does Irys solve the high-cost problem of L1? We all know that Ethereum is a groundbreaking product, along with various L2s, but whenever large-scale data storage is involved, the storage costs of these L1/L2s can be daunting. Irys provides a perfect data storage solution for these applications through a multi-ledger architecture and low storage costs: 🔸 L1/L2 is responsible for executing core logic (like transactions, state updates) 🔸 Irys is responsible for storing everything and giving this data programmable capabilities. Most importantly, because IrysVM is EVM-compatible, the learning and migration costs for developers are extremely low. You can operate programmable data on Irys using familiar tools like MetaMask and Ethers.js. This significantly lowers the barrier for innovation in Web3. 🔱 To summarize: Irys does not aim to replace any storage project; it wants to become the foundational data layer for AI and all Web3 applications. It addresses the issues of data lacking proactivity and credibility. Personally, I think this operation is much grander than merely the narrative of decentralized storage. I have noticed that the project team has been very active recently, and the expectations for TGE are high. This project is not only technically sound and has a thriving ecosystem, but it is also a key breakthrough in Web3 infrastructure, which I believe is worth our continued deep attention. Moreover, I have many friends who have gone all in on Irys, and I hope they can achieve significant results.