- The Sui Foundation is injecting $30 million into the DATA Network, securing its position as the project’s top institutional holder.
- The DATA Network intends to sunset its standalone blockchain and swap all DATA tokens at a 1:1 conversion rate.
- To date, Trace has logged upwards of 250 million contributions, and Walrus is slated to act as the primary storage foundation for DATA Foundation apps.
As announced on October 12, 2026, the Sui Foundation is pouring $30 million into the DATA Network as the artificial intelligence data protocol transitions to the Sui blockchain and phases out its standalone network. This financial backing will position the Sui Foundation as the DATA Network’s primary institutional stakeholder.
This collaboration also integrates the DATA Network’s Trace registry into the Sui ecosystem, designating Walrus as the core storage layer for apps managed by the DATA Foundation. The initiative seeks to link AI developers with verifiable data whose provenance and usage permissions can be audited prior to model training.
The DATA Network specializes in monitoring real-world data contributions alongside their associated rights. Rolled out in June 2026, its Trace registry logs data origins and facilitates compensation for contributors. According to the DATA Foundation, Trace has logged over 250 million contributions, averaging more than three million daily receipts.
DATA Token to Migrate at a 1:1 Ratio
Per the arrangement, the DATA Network will function as a protocol built on Sui, deprecating its original independent blockchain following the switch. Current DATA tokens are slated for a 1-to-1 migration to the Sui network. Furthermore, the outlined terms guarantee that participants’ governance and economic rights will be preserved at parity with their current standing, and existing vesting conditions and lockups will remain intact.
Because the migration remains underway, the DATA Network will maintain regular operations until the upgrade reaches completion. Both foundations have stated they will release a comprehensive schedule and token-holder migration guide ahead of time.
Walrus will handle storage for source data files—encompassing encrypted versions equipped with restricted access. Coupled with Trace logs, this setup is designed to enable AI laboratories to cross-reference a dataset against its official registry entry, bypassing the need to trust initial creation-time metadata alone.
The $30 million capital injection from the Sui Foundation forms a core component of this broader strategic alliance. The initial disclosure omitted a granular breakdown of the funding terms and did not specify a launch date for the migration.
Formerly recognized as the Story Foundation, the DATA Foundation pivoted its strategy toward AI training data this past June. Amid surging demand for compliant datasets featuring transparent origins and usage permissions, this integration merges its infrastructure and data registry directly into Sui.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Sui Foundation investing in the DATA Network?
The Sui Foundation is making a $30 million investment, which will establish it as the network’s largest institutional holder.
What will happen to existing DATA tokens?
Existing DATA tokens will transition to the Sui blockchain at a 1:1 ratio, while preserving current lockups, vesting schedules, and governance and economic rights.
What role does Walrus play in the partnership?
Walrus is set to function as the default storage layer for applications managed by the DATA Foundation, providing storage for original data files and encrypted copies with restricted access.
What is the Trace registry?
Launched in June 2026, Trace is a registry that records data origins and supports contributor payments. It has tracked more than 250 million contributions to date.
