Arweave (AR) has unveiled the token economics for its decentralized computing network "ao," along with the fair launch plan for AO tokens on June 14.
AO Token: A Fair Launch Model
AO adopts a 100% fair launch model, mirroring Bitcoin's economic principles. This ensures equal opportunities for all participants without presales or pre-allocations, promoting fairness and accessibility.
Minting Mechanism & Initial Distribution
AO token minting began retroactively on February 27, 2024 (EST 13:00, Block 1372724). During this period:
- 100% of minted AO tokens were distributed to Arweave (AR) holders based on 5-minute snapshots of their balances
- AR holders on exchanges must contact their platforms to claim tokens
Ongoing Minting Rewards & Cross-Chain Incentives
Future distribution will follow this structure:
- 33.3% minted every 5 minutes for AR holders (proportional to holdings)
- 66.6% allocated to incentivize ecosystem growth through cross-chain asset bridging
Cross-Chain Bridge Now Live
The initial phase of cross-chain contracts is now operational:
- Pre-Bridge Phase: Users retain native assets while receiving AO tokens
- Phase 2 (Coming Soon): Assets can be deposited into new cross-chain contracts for usage on AO network
👉 Learn more about cross-chain bridging
Cross-Chain Rewards Schedule
- Rewards begin: June 18, 2024 (11:00 AM EDT)
- AO earnings only accrue after reward period starts
- Daily distributions available
Token Lockup & Supply Details
- Tokens remain locked until ~15% total supply is minted (estimated February 8, 2025)
- Total supply: 21 million AO (Bitcoin-style halving every 4 years)
- Current minted supply (as of June 13, 2024): 1,038,700 AO
Token Allocation & Ecosystem Funding
| Allocation | Percentage | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| AR Holders | 36% | Base layer security |
| Cross-Chain Incentives | 64% | Ecosystem growth |
Permissionless Ecosystem Funding
Developers attracting asset deposits to their dApps earn AO rewards, creating sustainable revenue streams without grants.
Guild Development Fund
- Dedicated organizations share native yields from bridged assets
- Supports protocol development, marketing, and infrastructure
- Funding decreases proportionally with minting rate
How to Claim AO Tokens?
- Visit ao.arweave.dev
- Connect your self-custody wallet
- View your AO balance
- Exchange users: Contact your platform for distribution updates
AO Rewards Calculator (12-Month Projection)
| AR Held | AO Earned |
|---|---|
| 1 AR | 0.016 AO |
| 10 AR | 0.16 AO |
| 50 AR | 0.8 AO |
| 100 AR | 1.6 AO |
| 500 AR | 8.0 AO |
| 1000 AR | 16.0 AO |
Tokens become transferable around February 8, 2025
stETH Cross-Chain Opportunity
Eligibility & Process (Excludes US persons)
- Visit AO minting page
- Connect Ethereum wallet (MetaMask/Rabby)
- Enter Arweave wallet address
- Deposit stETH into audited contract
- Sign transaction
👉 Start stETH bridging process
AO's Bitcoin-Inspired Innovation
AO introduces a groundbreaking minting process that rewards both users and developers. Its commitment to fairness aims to foster permissionless decentralization, though AR token prices haven't reflected this announcement amidst broader market declines.
FAQ
Q: When will AO tokens be tradeable?
A: Estimated February 8, 2025 after ~15% supply minting.
Q: Can I claim AO if my AR is on an exchange?
A: Yes, but you must contact your exchange's support team.
Q: What's the difference between pre-bridge and Phase 2?
A: Pre-bridge locks assets on native chains, while Phase 2 enables actual cross-chain usage.
Q: How often are stETH rewards distributed?
A: Daily, starting June 18, 2024.
Q: Why does AO mimic Bitcoin's economics?
A: To ensure fair distribution and predictable, halving-based supply.
Q: What happens to unclaimed AO tokens?
A: Remain in circulation for future distribution cycles.