The tIO token serves two purposes in the AR.IO Network: Paying for the Arweave Name System and incentivizing gateways.

ArNS: Arweave Name System

ArNS enables friendly names for transactions to make life easier in the Arweave ecosystem. Let’s see how!

Arweave

Use tIO tokens to purchase ArNS names for webpages, applications or files stored on Arweave.

ArNS turns Arweave transaction IDs into friendly names.

Instead of browsing to https://arweave.net/tCce4miTTRuDybbuMdLD2voSdrwxOe6nVkzBJRkz-5Q go to ---> https://sam.arweave.net → or, ar://sam

Any gateway in ar.io network will support the friendly name: https://sam.ar.io.dev or https://sam.bobsgateway.com or https://sam.gatewaydao.io

AO computer

AO builders can now utilize human readable ArNS names as identifiers for processes, gamer tags, labels for specific data or entire apps.

Any AO Process can be mapped to a friendly name.

Quick guide for using ArNS with AO --->> AO ArNS Resolver | ar.io Docs

ArConnect

You can send AR or AO tokens with ArConnect to registered ArNS names.

Put a registered ArNS name instead of a long and complex wallet address to make sending transactions easier.

How to get an ArNS name?

Purchase names via arns.app using test IO (tIO) tokens.

Gateways: ar.io

With your tIO tokens you can join a gateway to the Network and/or delegate your stake to one of those gateways.

1. Operate a gateway: Operating a gateway is easy - gateways can be setup in 15-30 minutes on a device as small as a Raspberry Pi.
   Joining the AR.IO Network requires staking tIO tokens. Joining the Network has many benefits, including rewards in tIO token which can be used for ArNS purchases, increasing a gateways stake, or delegated to a gateway.
   
   See all the gateways operating with the GAR and docs to get started.

2. Delegate to a gateway: With delegated staking, anyone can participate in the rewards of gateways even without operating one. Stake tIO tokens to an operational gateway that accepts it to share in the rewards of that gateway’s performance.
   
   Go to AR.IO's Network Portal to delegate tIO tokens to a gateway and to view all the gateways operating in the network.  

How can I get tIO tokens?

To get your tIO tokens come to the ar.io discord:

join discord -> #testnet channel -> type /apply and select the ArNS application or join AR.IO Network Application

tIO may also be available on ecosystem exchanges. Please do your own research and note the terms of use prior to connecting your wallet. We do not officially endorse or represent any of these projects and the use of them is at your own risk.

permaswap.network/#/ao/AR-TIO

What do tIO tokens have to do with mainnet IO tokens?

The tIO token are the first step in participating in the AR.IO - Your gateway to the permaweb -ecosystem! They are not indicative of mainnet IO token.

Test IO tokens powering the testnet are just that - test tokens. Tokens will be stressed, may break, and there is no guarantee of continued support for them during and after completion of the testnet. Test IO tokens are not being carried over to mainnet and are not a proxy of any rewards when mainnet launches. There is no supply cap on Test IO tokens and the team can print and destroy them at their discretion. During the testnet, Test IO tokens are meant to be used for: joining a gateway to network, delegating stake to a gateway, and registering a name with ArNS.

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ar.io team