Crust Network is a decentralised storage solution designed to provide a secure, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to centralised cloud services.
Built on Polkadot, it integrates seamlessly with other blockchain networks, ensuring trustless data storage and accessibility for Web3 applications.
With a network of over 485 distributed nodes and a storage capacity exceeding 229,000 terabytes, Crust is revolutionising how data is stored and managed across blockchain ecosystems.
Unlike traditional cloud services that rely on centralised control, Crust ensures data privacy and availability through blockchain incentives.
What is the Crust Network?
Crust Network is a decentralised storage platform that offers an alternative to centralised cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.
Source: Crust Network
It allows users to store data across a distributed network of nodes, reducing reliance on single points of failure. The platform is designed to support various Web3 use cases, ensuring data privacy, security, and accessibility.
Crust operates as a Polkadot parachain, benefiting from shared security and interoperability within the Polkadot ecosystem.
This means it can communicate seamlessly with other blockchains through cross-chain messaging, allowing decentralised applications from different networks to integrate Crust’s storage solutions without technical barriers.
One of the main features of Crust is its ability to store data permanently through an incentivised model. Unlike traditional cloud providers that require subscriptions, Crust allows users to pay a one-time fee to store data indefinitely.
The storage fee is extremely low, at just $0.0012 per gigabyte per year, making it a cost-effective solution for individuals and businesses seeking decentralised alternatives.
How does it Work?
Crust Network operates through a layered structure that ensures data security, efficient storage, and seamless accessibility.
Source: Crust Network
- Decentralised Physical Infrastructure: The backbone of Crust consists of globally distributed storage nodes. These nodes contribute computing power and storage capacity, forming a resilient infrastructure that guarantees uptime and redundancy.
- Blockchain and Storage Protocols: Crust uses its own blockchain combined with InterPlanetary File System integration. This ensures data is stored in a decentralised manner, preventing any single entity from controlling or censoring stored files.
- Interoperability and Tooling: Crust is designed to work across multiple blockchain ecosystems. It supports Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility, cross-chain message passing, and APIs that allow developers to integrate decentralised storage into their applications easily.
- Application Layer: The network provides various products, including Crust Files and Crust Cloud, which allow users to manage their stored data securely and efficiently.
At the core of Crust’s storage system is the Meaningful Proof of Storage mechanism. This ensures that storage providers actively store data instead of simply staking tokens for rewards.
Unlike other decentralised storage networks that focus on proof of replication, Crust’s model prioritises efficiency, scalability, and actual storage capacity.
The storage market on Crust functions as an open marketplace where users can submit storage orders. Once a file is uploaded, Crust nodes store multiple copies of it, ensuring redundancy and accessibility.
These nodes are incentivised through staking rewards and transaction fees, making it financially viable for participants to contribute storage capacity.
The Crust Token
Crust’s native token, CRU, is central to the network’s economy. It is used for staking, governance, transaction fees, and payments for storage services. With a total supply of 100 million tokens, around 80 million CRU are currently in circulation.
CRU has multiple functions within the ecosystem:
- Staking: Users can stake CRU to secure storage nodes and earn rewards. The staking model follows a Guaranteed Proof of Stake system, where nodes must prove they are storing data to receive staking benefits.
- Storage Payments: Users pay for storage services using CRU, ensuring a decentralised economy where storage fees are directly distributed among participating nodes.
- Governance: Token holders can participate in decision-making processes, voting on upgrades, storage pricing, and other network developments.
Source: Crust Network
Token Details:
- Token Ticker: CRU
- Initial Supply: 20,000,000 CRU
Token Distribution
- Token Sale: 5,000,000 CRU (25%)
- BD & Marketing: 2,000,000 CRU (10%)
- Community Development: 5,000,000 CRU (25%)
- Foundation Reservation: 4,000,000 CRU (20%)
- Technical Team: 4,000,000 CRU (20%)
In the past, CRU saw significant price fluctuations, reaching an all-time high of $179 in April 2021 before stabilising at around $0.80 due to market conditions.
The network has since implemented changes to improve token sustainability, including reducing inflation from 5% to 2% annually.
Crust also incorporates a deflationary mechanism by partially burning transaction fees, reducing token supply over time. Recent investments, such as a $1 million funding round from Victus Global in 2025, indicate renewed confidence in the project’s long-term growth.
The Governance System on Crust Network
Governance on Crust Network operates through a decentralised decision-making process powered by Polkadot’s OpenGov system.
CRU holders actively participate in shaping the network’s future by submitting proposals, voting on key developments, and overseeing treasury allocations. This ensures that control remains with the community rather than being centralised in the hands of a few entities.
Source: Crust Network
The governance system enables proposals for upgrades, economic adjustments, and strategic partnerships.
Decisions are reached through transparent voting, where CRU holders stake tokens to support or reject proposals. This democratic approach allows network improvements to be implemented based on collective agreement rather than unilateral decisions.
A significant aspect of governance is the management of Crust’s treasury, which holds around 30 million dollars.
These funds are allocated to network development, grants, and ecosystem expansion. Proposals for treasury spending must go through the governance process, ensuring responsible financial management.
Validator elections are another crucial element of governance. Validators secure the network, validate transactions, and maintain blockchain integrity. CRU holders can delegate tokens to support high-quality validators, ensuring a well-functioning and secure ecosystem.
Through this governance framework, Crust remains a truly decentralised network where community members influence decision-making, keeping the ecosystem aligned with its decentralised principles.
Conclusion
Crust Network is redefining decentralised storage by offering a scalable, secure, and cost-effective solution for Web3 applications.
With a vast storage capacity, strong governance framework, and interoperability across multiple blockchains, it provides a viable alternative to centralised cloud providers.
For developers and businesses, Crust presents an opportunity to build censorship-resistant applications while ensuring data privacy.
For investors, the CRU token offers exposure to the growing decentralised storage sector, although its price volatility highlights the risks associated with the broader market.
By continually expanding its infrastructure and partnerships, Crust is well-positioned to become a leading force in the future of decentralised cloud computing.