AR.IO

What is this network?

AR.IO is a decentralized and incentivized gateway network aimed at attracting more gateways to the Arweave network and at making the permaweb more accessible to all. Its goal is to sustain access to the permaweb: a permanent, decentralized internet built on Arweave. The permaweb is similar to the traditional web, but one where everything published on it is stored immutably and indefinitely - envision a network without 404s. At the core of AR.IO’s incentivization mechanism is the IO Token, a utility token used for joining the network, payments, gateway accountability, and protocol incentives. The network features modular and composable gateway infrastructure in addition to the Arweave Name System (ArNS) – a system for assigning friendly domain names to permaweb data. Highlights:

1. The AR.IO Network has simplified gateway access to the Arweave network.
2. Through the IO token, the network incentivizes node operators to provide these vital gateway services.
3. Gateway operators must stake a minimum amount of IO tokens to join their gateway to the network. Operators may opt to enlarge their staked balance above the minimum to increase their gateway’s visibility on the network and chances to enforce its protocol. Operators are rewarded with tokens for their efforts.
4. Delegated Staking: Users with IO tokens can participate in delegated staking by allocating their tokens to gateway operators. This process increases the operator's stake, potentially enhancing their visibility and influence within the network. It also allows general users to share in the rewards of gateway operations
5. Arweave Name System (ArNS): Users must spend IO tokens to register ArNS friendly names, extend leases, and increase undernames. The proceeds from these expenditures then circle back to gateway operators and delegates through the reward protocol.

How can I mine tokens?

There are two primary ways to partake in the network's protocol rewards:

• by running a gateway
• by delegating stake to an existing gateway

Any geographical restrictions?

No geographical restrictions.

How can I optimize my mining rewards?

As a gateway operator, reward potential can be optimized by:

• ensuring that your gateway is running nominally and resolving ArNS names
• increasing your gateway's chances of being selected to perform observation duties, these include:
• increasing your stake either directly or by attracting delegated stakers
• having a longer tenure on the network
• ensuring that your gateway's observer service is functioning and has historically performed

As a delegated staker, reward potential can be optimized by:

• delegating to a gateway that has a historical record of performing its duties
• delegating to a gateway with high chances of being selected for observer duty
• delegating to a gateway with a high reward share ratio
• increasing your delegated stake to a gateway relative to its other delegates

How can I use the network?

There are multiple ways that one can participate in and use the network: Just by simply using and storing data on the permaweb. Gateways are responsible for indexing, caching, and serving all of the content. By purchasing and utilizing an ArNS friendly name so that your data cannot just be stored indenfinitely but also easily found and identified. Technical users and hobbyists can run their own gateway - whether that is for general utility, specific to the needs of their project, or to bolster permaweb access in their region. General users interested in participating in the network's reward system can partake in delegated staking.

Who governs this network?

The AR.IO Network and Smart Contract is comprised of immutable protocols without governance or special write access for its developers or the Foundation. This means that upgrades to the protocol can only be made through a fork which, in order to be successful, requires that the fork be advocated for, and consensus be achieved within the AR.IO ecosystem and amongst gateway operators. Details of this are elaborated on throughout the [white paper - particularly Section 4.8] (https://whitepaper_ar-io.arweave.dev/)

Funding

The founding team closed a [$17.2M funding round] (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/03/03/ardrive-raises-17m-to-make-arweaves-data-storage-blockchain-more-usable) in March 2022, this round was lead by Arweave Team (now Forward Research), Blockchain Capital, and Sino Global Capital (now Ryze Labs) as well as 10 other backing groups.