AO Launches Mainnet, Unveils Revolutionary Platform for Decentralized Computing

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AO, a revolutionary platform for decentralized computing, launches its mainnet today following a highly successful testnet phase

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AO, a revolutionary platform for decentralized computing, today announced the launch of its mainnet following a successful testnet phase, which included key milestones.

“Combined with Arweave, AO’s architecture has the potential to radically change how we interact and transact on the web.”

“AO is not just a smart contract platform; it’s a decentralized supercomputer,” said Sam Williams, founder of AO and Arweave. “Combined with Arweave, AO’s architecture has the potential to radically change how we interact and transact on the web.”

AO's mainnet launch marks a significant step in advancing decentralized computing. Here's a closer look at AO's breakthrough capabilities:

Fusing Blockchain and the Web: Introducing AO-Core

AO-Core, the core protocol of AO, embeds verifiable, cryptographically linked computation directly into HTTP. As a result, every HTTP request—from loading a webpage to executing complex computations—becomes a potential AO transaction. Built on the web's native standards, HTTP3 and the HTTP Signed Messages, AO-Core transforms them into a decentralized computational platform, addressing the scalability and trust limitations of centralized systems.

AO-Core embeds verifiable proofs of the correctness of online results, offering attestations of trustworthiness similar to the familiar padlock icon for secure connections.

Harnessing the Web's Immense Network Effects

AO uniquely leverages the vast network effects of the existing web infrastructure. By building upon established standards like HTTP Signed Messages, AO taps into a network far larger than any individual blockchain.

Existing web infrastructure, such as Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), can now function as AO-Core state resolvers, dramatically increasing efficiency and scalability.

Enhanced Security with TEEs: Enabling Private Computation

AO offers a flexible security model, including execution inside TEEs, providing hardware-level security for private computations. This approach achieves high verifiability without the performance overhead of traditional methods like FHE and ZKPs.

This trust-minimized verifiable infrastructure allows developers to run any application in a secure and transparent manner. TEEs enable secure decentralized exchanges, private voting systems, and confidential smart contracts.

Fair Launch Tokenomics: A Foundation for Equitable Growth

AO's tokenomics are designed for fairness and long-term sustainability. A 100% fair launch, with a total supply of 21 million tokens and a continuous release mechanism, ensures equal access on equal terms.

Arweave holders are eligible for AO tokens, recognizing Arweave's crucial role in providing permanent storage.

Introducing the Permaweb Index (pi): Simplifying Access and Fueling Ecosystem Growth

The Permaweb Index (pi) is designed to simplify user interaction with the permaweb by providing a single, accessible entry point to this decentralized ecosystem. Pi offers a diversified collection of assets, including:

Key Features of the Permaweb Index:

“The Permaweb Index (pi) represents a critical step towards building a unified economic base of the permaweb,” said Williams. “By bridging the computational and storage layers, pi creates a cohesive ecosystem that fosters innovation and accelerates the growth of decentralized applications.”

About Forward Research

Forward Research is a venture protocol development company dedicated to growing the permaweb ecosystem. We are building towards a vision of a truly decentralized web, where user rights are immutably protected and software and data is permanent.

Founded and led by Sam Williams, the founder of the Arweave and AO protocols, Forward Research looks to incubate projects that expand permaweb adoption and use cases. We believe that the permaweb’s unique approach to data storage and its potential for creating truly decentralized applications will revolutionize the way we interact with the internet.