Shelby launches amid surging demand for cloud services, driven by the rapid growth in global data storage needs.
Aptos Labs and Jump Crypto have introduced a cloud-based storage network tailored for Web3 and decentralized applications — a system its creators say rivals traditional cloud services.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the network — called Shelby — is a globally distributed platform powered by Aptos’ high-throughput technology. It is chain-agnostic, offering compatibility with Ethereum, Solana and other major blockchains.
Shelby is built for developers who need cloud-like speed and remote access for demanding use cases, including streaming video, artificial intelligence and decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) applications.
Aptos Labs is the creator of the Aptos blockchain, which is recognized for its emphasis on scalability and performance.
Jump Crypto, the digital asset division of Jump Trading Group, is actively engaged in venture investing and developing blockchain and crypto-native projects.
Shelby is launching in a highly competitive cloud marketplace, which is dominated by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
Pranav Raval, Aptos’ engineering lead, told Cointelegraph that Shelby offers similar performance to leading cloud platforms, but gives developers the ability to “retain ownership, control pricing and program business logic at the protocol level.”
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AI workloads boost demand for data storage
Raval was asked about the role of cloud services in supporting AI workloads, particularly in light of the massive data storage requirements and growing need for data center infrastructure.
Citing International Energy Agency data, S&P Global recently reported that global data center power demand is projected to double by 2030. These rising data demands fuel the need for scalable, efficient storage solutions, placing increased pressure on cloud platforms to keep up.
“When data is activated, it builds new worlds and powers new economics, creativity, and coordination,” said Raval, adding:
“For AI, that means AI agents aren’t just smart, they’re connected to live, contextual data anytime, anywhere. AI data marketplaces hosted on Shelby empower builders to train models faster, using relevant data streamed in as needed.”
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