Arweave (AR)

The protocol is based on a blockchain-like data structure often described as the blockweave. Its consensus design uses proof of access, requiring miners to demonstrate access to previous data in order to add new blocks. This approach is intended to encourage broad data replication while linking network security to the availability of stored information. Arweave’s design makes it particularly relevant for applications that need censorship-resistant, persistent records, such as public archives, NFT metadata, decentralised websites, academic materials and blockchain transaction histories.

A key part of the Arweave ecosystem is the permaweb, a collection of applications and pages stored on the network that can remain accessible without relying on a single company or server. Developers use Arweave to host front ends, media files and data layers for Web3 projects, while other protocols rely on it for decentralised data availability and archival storage.

Arweave operates in a market traditionally dominated by centralised cloud providers, but its value proposition is different: it prioritises permanence, open access and resistance to removal. AR therefore functions not only as a payment token, but as the economic layer supporting long-term decentralised data preservation.