Buy Arweave

Arweave is a project that uses blockchain technology for permanent data storage, known as the "permaweb". The project aims to end the volatility of information on the internet by using a decentralized network to keep data accessible forever. This approach solves problems such as data loss, censorship, and data manipulation that are common with traditional, centralized storage methods.

Arweave’s data structure is similar to blockchain, but is known as blockweave. This is a variation on traditional blockchain where each block is connected not only to the block before it, but also to an arbitrary previous block within the network. This structure is fundamental to the Proof-of-Access (PoA) consensus mechanism, which is the backbone of Arweave’s technical operation.

Users can use Arweave to store data permanently, ensuring data integrity and availability. Its native cryptocurrency, the AR token, is used to pay for transactions and reward miners who store and validate the data.

Among the products and features offered by Arweave are the Arweave Web Archive for archiving websites, Gitopia for storing code, and Verto, a decentralized trading protocol for profit-sharing tokens.

Who founded Arweave?

Arweave, originally launched as Archain in 2017, was founded by Sam Williams and William Jones. The project was rebranded as Arweave in 2018 after being accepted into startup accelerator Techstars and has since received funding from notable investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Union Square Ventures. The team behind Arweave consists of experts in blockchain technology, software development, and entrepreneurship.

Arweave has several functions and can therefore be used in various situations:

• Permanent data storage: Arweave enables permanent and unalterable storage of all types of digital content. This is essential for important documents or historical data that must be preserved for the long term.
• Decentralized Application (dApp) Development: Developers can build decentralized applications that take advantage of Arweave's persistent data storage, providing additional functionality to these applications.
• Content archiving: Websites and digital services can archive their content on Arweave, which guarantees secure and permanent access to the website and information.
• NFT storage: Arweave provides a reliable solution for storing non-fungible tokens, which are often associated with digital art and collectibles.

Unlike traditional blockchains which use a linear chain of blocks, Arweave implements a more complex structure called a blockweave. In a blockweave, each new block is connected to the previous block and to any other previous block in the network. These cross-connections form a tissue-like structure that allows the entire network to be searched and validated efficiently.

In Arweave's blockweave, data is stored in separate blocks that together form the permaweb. When a new transaction occurs, such as uploading data or transferring AR tokens, this transaction is split into two parts: the transaction header and the actual data. The header is added directly to a block, while the data itself can be inserted in subsequent blocks. This splitting of transaction information makes it possible to process large amounts of data without impacting network performance.

Proof-of-Access (PoA)

Proof-of-Access (PoA) is Arweave's unique consensus mechanism, which is fundamentally different from the usual Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake. PoA requires miners to have access to previously stored blocks in order to add new blocks to the blockweave. This proof-of-access ensures that the stored data remains active and permanently accessible across the blockweave.

Succinct proofs and mining

Every time a block is mined, miners must provide a succinct proof. This is proof that the miners have access to a specific, randomly chosen piece of data on the network. This is done by retrieving a small piece of data, a recall block, and verifying its hash value.

Verifiable Delay Function (VDF)

Another important aspect of Arweave is the Verifiable Delay Function (VDF), which helps decentralize the network and distribute opportunities fairly among all nodes. This function provides a cryptographic clock that ensures fairness in the mining process by randomly and fairly selecting the next data needed for the next block and then assigning it to a random node.

The AR token is used to perform transactions and reward participants. These tokens are used to pay for data storage on the network, with each transaction ensuring that data is stored permanently. Miners receive AR tokens as a reward for validating transactions and adding new blocks to the blockweave.

Importantly, the total supply of AR tokens is capped at 66 million, which limits inflation and can help preserve the value of the tokens.

To get started mining Arweave, it’s important to understand that this process focuses on data storage and making historical data accessible, rather than solving complex mathematical problems like many other PoW cryptocurrencies. Here are the steps you can follow to become an Arweave miner:

• Hardware and software: Make sure you have enough storage space, as rewards depend on the amount of data you can store and retrieve.
• Joining the network: Download and install the Arweave node software from the official Arweave website. This software turns your computer into an active node within the Arweave network, allowing you to process transactions and add them to the blockweave.
• Data storage and recall proof: To mine successfully, your node must be able to quickly retrieve past data (recall data) required to validate new transactions. Mining revenue depends on how quickly and efficiently you can deliver this data.
• Connecting to gateways: You can receive transaction requests through gateways such as g8way.io, which act as bridges between regular users and the Arweave network. These gateways ensure that you, as a miner, are assigned transactions to process.

Besides Arweave, there are other projects that focus on providing decentralized data storage. Arweave distinguishes itself from these other projects by (among other things) the following features:

• Blockweave architecture: Unlike traditional blockchains, Arweave not only connects blocks linearly, but each block is also connected to a random previous block. This significantly increases integrity and security.
• Proof-of-Access (PoA): Arweave's consensus mechanism requires miners to access previously stored blocks in order to validate new blocks. This not only encourages the storage of older data, but also ensures that the entire blockchain is regularly verified and maintained.
• Perpetual storage: Unlike other data storage providers, Arweave guarantees perpetual data storage at no additional cost after the initial payment, which is essential for preserving historical and valuable information.
• Content moderation: Users and miners can set specific policies for what type of content they want to store, allowing for a flexible yet responsible approach to content management.

Arweave (AR) can be purchased via Bitvavo. Our platform is suitable for both novice and advanced traders. Follow these steps to buy AR tokens via our website and app:

1. Log in to your Bitvavo account or create a new account.
2. Add funds to your account by clicking "Deposit".
3. Go to the Arweave (AR) purchase page.
4. Enter the amount in euros you want to spend or the number of AR tokens you wish to buy, and click "Buy".

The price of Arweave tokens depends on the current market value. After purchase, your AR tokens will be transferred directly to your Bitvavo account, where they can be easily managed and sold. This allows you to quickly respond to market movements and price changes.

Your AR tokens can be stored securely within your Bitvavo account, with the majority of assets managed offline in cold storage for maximum security. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is highly recommended as an additional security measure.

Users who prefer to keep their AR tokens in other wallets can store them in most software and hardware wallets. After purchase, you can easily transfer your AR to an external wallet by linking your wallet address to your Bitvavo account, ensuring full control over your crypto.