Most wallets are designed to store keys. That’s it.
You send tokens, maybe sign a few things, and hope it works the next time you log in.
But as the internet shifts towards the First Permanent Cloud with decentralized compute, permanent data, and user-owned infrastructure — the old definition of a wallet isn’t going to cut it.
That’s where Beacon Wallet steps in. Beacon is the wallet for the AO Computer.
However, it’s not just a wallet for the apps on AO Computer. It’s your named identity as you surf the Permanent Cloud.
Your Primary Name = Your Passport
When you open Beacon Wallet, you’re not just looking at balances. You’re looking at the start of your permanent onchain identity — powered by the Arweave Name System (ArNS) and backed by the AR.IO network.
Beacon lets you register an ArNS primary name — a human-readable name that stays with you - instead of having a 42 character public key.
Transaction ID -> Sam
This name is portable. It works across AO applications, Arweave content, and anything built on the AR.IO ecosystem.
Think of it like an onchain passport. It doesn’t change. It’s programmable. And it’s yours.
Moving Across AO Computer with a Primary Name, Not Just a Key
AO is a decentralized computer built on Arweave. It’s fast, modular, and scalable. And it runs on messages. Apps talk to each other. Agents process logic. Smart contracts trigger actions.
What Beacon & what an ArNS Primary Name does is simple, but powerful: it lets you show up in that system with your name, not just your wallet address.
You don’t need to paste long strings of hex anymore. Your identity is human.
And more importantly, it’s portable. You can sign into different apps, send tokens, manage agents, and host content — all under your ArNS primary name.
As you show up in all of these applications there is no need to get a new handle for each of them. You can show up with your ArNS primary name, and be known across many platforms.
Imagine having the same username on X, Facebook, Reddit, and Medium?
This is what Beacon and ArNS primary names will allow you to do in the permanent cloud.
But wait, it is more than a handle.
ArNS Names: Permanent, Programmable Identity
Owning a name on ArNS isn’t like grabbing a Twitter handle. These names are stored permanently on Arweave. You buy them once. They live forever.
You can also point them to wallets, apps, or content. Host a site. Link your agent. Spin up a DAO. The name you use becomes the reference point for everything you build.
And as AO grows, those references become more powerful. Apps will recognize your name. Agents can respond to it. You’ll be able to program what your name does — beyond just being a URL.
That’s what makes this system different. It’s not just readable — it’s actionable.
With Beacon Wallet and ArNS names it is going to make surfing the Permanent Cloud a completely new experience to what we are used to.
We can’t wait to use all the new apps that will incorporate this powerful feature.
More features of Beacon Wallet
Along with ArNS Primary Names, Beacon Wallet has added some great features:
Use Beacon on iOS, with the same secure functionality now available on your mobile device
Set up shared wallets with multi-sig approval thresholds for teams, DAOs, or group funds
Enable social recovery, so trusted contacts can help you recover access — no seed phrase anxiety
Collaborate transparently with time-stamped shared wallet invites and transaction history
Stay informed with smart notifications — get real-time alerts when funds move or transactions fail
As the AO ecosystem expands, Beacon keeps pace. It’s built for developers, communities, and everyday users — all moving through a decentralized compute layer that’s growing fast.
