Arweave released the public testnet for Arweave AO, a new blockchain network that aims to offer significant scalability improvements, and invited tech enthusiasts and community members to join on Feb. 27.

The initiative is built upon Arweave’s existing data storage platform, with aspirations to support a wide range of applications, including social media and artificial intelligence (AI).

Arweave AO

Arweave co-founder Sam Williams recently said that Arweave AO’s development was spurred by the team’s exploration of social media applications, which highlighted the need for a scalable blockchain solution.

After revisiting initial plans and conducting internal tests, Arweave AO was launched on a network now encompassing 220 machines, with several projects already underway.

The main Arweave chain has recently experienced a surge in activity, reaching 3 billion transactions, a significant portion of which occurred in a remarkably short timeframe. The increase in transactions has also decreased the supply of Arweave’s native token, AR, showcasing the network’s growing traction.

Arweave AO aims to enhance blockchain scalability by modularizing its architecture, enabling high transaction volumes and parallel processing. The platform introduces an operating system, AOS, which supports the Lua programming language, facilitating a wide range of applications.

Arweave AO’s design allows for compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine and other blockchain protocols using WebAssembly for smart contracts.

One of the key features of Arweave AO is its focus on data storage, which enables the network to handle large datasets, such as those required for AI models.

Williams said this approach differentiates the network from other blockchain solutions by providing “hyper parallel” computing capabilities, aiming for extensive scalability.

Testing phase

The test phase aims to evaluate the Gateway Address Registry (GAR) and Observation Incentive Protocol, which are critical for ensuring network scalability and functionality.

The AR.IO Testnet is designed to establish a robust network of gateways that will support the decentralized web, offering incentives in the form of IO tokens to attract committed operators.

Participants are encouraged to set up their own gateways, contributing to the network’s diversity and resilience. This initiative is crucial for ensuring the network’s readiness for a wide array of applications, including those in social media and AI.

To participate, individuals are guided to start by learning about gateway setup through the ar.io documentation. The process requires a DNS domain for gateway identification and the creation of two separate wallets to manage operations and incentive rewards.

As the testnet progresses, it will provide invaluable insights into the network’s scalability, performance, and user adoption, setting the stage for the anticipated mainnet launch.

Despite the ambitious claims of becoming an “Ethereum killer,” the real test for Arweave AO will be its performance and adoption following its mainnet launch, which is anticipated later this year.

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