• The IO token (ɸ) facilitates the AR.IO Network 

• AR.IO is a network of decentralized gateways that power the permaweb – a permanent, immutable web built on Arweave

• Gateways are the ‘In and Out’ access to Arweave

• IO token incentivizes gateways and their delegates through staking rewards

• AR.IO gateways serve permanent domains with the Arweave Name System (ArNS)

• IO Tokens can be used to permanently buy or lease an ArNS name

  
  

What is the IO token? 

The IO Token serves as the backbone of the AR.IO Network, an ecosystem aimed at leveraging the power of permanent data storage via Arweave, with an emphasis on real-world applications.

Unlike many cryptocurrencies that focus solely on financial transactions, the IO Token is a multi-functional asset within the Arweave ecosystem.

Using the IO token 

The IO token is how users to interact with the AR.IO Network & protocol. Here's how the IO token is used:

• Protocol Incentives: The IO Token is used to incentivize participants within the network, rewarding behaviours that benefit the network's health and growth - indexing, serving, and caching data to empower the permaweb.
  
  

• Gateway Staking: To be part of the AR.IO Network, gateway operators need to stake a set amount of IO tokens. This shows their commitment to maintaining the network's standards and reliability. Check out the AR.IO Network portal.

  
  

• Delegated Staking: IO token holders can participate by assigning tokens to gateway operators through delegated staking. This increases the operator's stake, which can help improve their standing in the network. In return, stakers can earn a share of the rewards that the operator gains.

  
  

• Arweave Name System (ArNS): The Arweave Name System works like a regular domain name system, allowing users to link easy-to-remember names with permaweb content. IO tokens are needed to register these names, renew leases, and renew leases, add subdomains (called undernames), and other utilities. The token revenue from these activities circulates back goes back into the network to support and reward gateway operators and their stakers.

Learn more about the IO Token

• Take a technical deep dive in our AR.IO white paper

• See our IO Token docs for the latest