From Application Process to Fees: A Comparison of the Top Ten Crypto Payment Cards
As the global cryptocurrency infrastructure gradually matures, users' demand for the "real-world usability" of on-chain assets is also increasing. However, how to truly use on-chain assets in real life has always been a concern for crypto users. Crypto payment cards (also known as "U cards") have quietly risen in this context—they not only bridge the "last mile" of asset usage but also subtly reshape people's understanding of wallets, PayFi, and payment networks. Whether it is binding to mobi...
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Laos, facing a power surplus and heavy debt from massive hydropower dam construction, is attempting to convert its excess electricity into economic gains by developing energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining. This move has drawn international attention and sparked domestic controversy. * Power Surplus & Debt Problem: Laos aimed to become the "Battery of Southeast Asia" by building numerous hydropower dams. However, power supply now far exceeds demand, and the dam projects have brought a heavy ...
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From Application Process to Fees: A Comparison of the Top Ten Crypto Payment Cards
As the global cryptocurrency infrastructure gradually matures, users' demand for the "real-world usability" of on-chain assets is also increasing. However, how to truly use on-chain assets in real life has always been a concern for crypto users. Crypto payment cards (also known as "U cards") have quietly risen in this context—they not only bridge the "last mile" of asset usage but also subtly reshape people's understanding of wallets, PayFi, and payment networks. Whether it is binding to mobi...
A Comprehensive Review of the High-Performance Public Chain MegaETH Ecosystem
Seed Round Funding of $20 Million, with Vitalik Participating—A Comprehensive Review of MegaETH Ecosystem Projects This article, compiled by @Mega_Ecosystem, provides a review of the MegaETH ecosystem projects as of January 2025. For each project listed, a brief description is provided. It is worth noting that in addition to the projects listed below, there are other projects within the MegaETH ecosystem that are still in the confidential stage. MegaMafia Projects MegaMafia is the 10x Builder...
Laos, Burdened by Debt and Power Surplus, Turns to Bitcoin Mining?
Laos, facing a power surplus and heavy debt from massive hydropower dam construction, is attempting to convert its excess electricity into economic gains by developing energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining. This move has drawn international attention and sparked domestic controversy. * Power Surplus & Debt Problem: Laos aimed to become the "Battery of Southeast Asia" by building numerous hydropower dams. However, power supply now far exceeds demand, and the dam projects have brought a heavy ...
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One of the most promising narratives in the current cryptocurrency cycle is DePIN—Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks. The core of DePIN is community-driven infrastructure that leverages the power of the masses to improve centralized digital services.
Based on this concept, AR.IO is poised to become an important part of the DePIN space, functioning as a data access protocol. Let's start with a broader perspective.
Since the early days of Helium, the application scenarios of DePIN projects have rapidly expanded, from road mapping (Hivemapper) to data collection for AI (Grass), urban noise monitoring (Silencio), flight tracking (Wingbits), and even space weather analysis (GEODNET). DePIN is entering new domains and disrupting many existing tech companies in the process.
Arweave is considered one of the leading DePIN data storage networks.
AR.IO aims to decentralize, incentivize, and sustain access to the growing volume of permanent data on Arweave. Thus, it provides a key service in the Arweave ecosystem, eliminating access bottlenecks and ensuring permissionless, globally distributed access to permanent data.
Just as Arweave is a DePIN storage protocol, AR.IO is a DePIN data access protocol.
Here's how AR.IO meets the DePIN definition:
Decentralized: There are already hundreds of AR.IO gateways participating in the testnet, and with the development of Arweave's ultra-parallel AO computer, more gateways will join.
Physical Infrastructure: Although the data itself is invisible, the hardware running the gateways occupies physical space. You can run an AR.IO gateway on anything from a simple Raspberry Pi to a home computer or even a server in a Tier 5 data center.
Network: AR.IO is a network where gateways follow a unified protocol and are incentivized through IO token rewards. Observer nodes monitor the network to ensure gateways are always available and accessible.
AR.IO is currently in the testnet phase, and you can explore participating gateway nodes through Viewblock or the gateway browser app. More dashboard metrics for AR.IO gateways are under development.
The complexity of different DePIN projects varies, ranging from the one-click simplicity of UpRock to the complex setup of running a full Arweave node (which requires a 158 TB permaweb backup). Setting up an AR.IO gateway falls somewhere in between, leaning more towards the simple end.
To run an AR.IO gateway, you currently need the following:
Your machine (even a $100 Raspberry Pi 5 will do)
10,000 test ARIO tokens (see below)
Basic programming knowledge
To help you get started, AR.IO provides:
Comprehensive gateway setup documentation
Practical video tutorials
Discord community support
In addition, simpler gateway setup methods are under development.
AR.IO incentivizes by rewarding good actors rather than focusing on punishing malicious ones. Specifically, here are some ways of incentivization:
Running Nodes: AR.IO gateways and observer nodes are currently rewarded with tARIO (testnet ARIO tokens) for their work. These tokens can be re-staked to the gateway or used to purchase ArNS names on the testnet. Joining the network requires 10,000 tARIO, which successful testnet applicants will receive.
Delegated Staking: Gateway operators can delegate their stake to the gateway, thereby leveraging more resources than individual staking. Delegated staking allows everyone to participate and earn rewards on the AR.IO network, with a minimum participation threshold of 100 tARIO tokens. Operators can control the proportion of rewards allocated to delegators. Rewards are automatically staked and can be withdrawn at any time, subject to a withdrawal delay. For more details, refer to section 6.2.2 of the whitepaper.
AR.IO is still in the testnet phase, making now a great time to get involved.
Setting up a gateway takes only 15 - 30 minutes and helps to decentralize the Arweave ecosystem. Advanced users can optimize gateways for their applications, but new users can also easily complete the basic setup.
One of the most promising narratives in the current cryptocurrency cycle is DePIN—Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks. The core of DePIN is community-driven infrastructure that leverages the power of the masses to improve centralized digital services.
Based on this concept, AR.IO is poised to become an important part of the DePIN space, functioning as a data access protocol. Let's start with a broader perspective.
Since the early days of Helium, the application scenarios of DePIN projects have rapidly expanded, from road mapping (Hivemapper) to data collection for AI (Grass), urban noise monitoring (Silencio), flight tracking (Wingbits), and even space weather analysis (GEODNET). DePIN is entering new domains and disrupting many existing tech companies in the process.
Arweave is considered one of the leading DePIN data storage networks.
AR.IO aims to decentralize, incentivize, and sustain access to the growing volume of permanent data on Arweave. Thus, it provides a key service in the Arweave ecosystem, eliminating access bottlenecks and ensuring permissionless, globally distributed access to permanent data.
Just as Arweave is a DePIN storage protocol, AR.IO is a DePIN data access protocol.
Here's how AR.IO meets the DePIN definition:
Decentralized: There are already hundreds of AR.IO gateways participating in the testnet, and with the development of Arweave's ultra-parallel AO computer, more gateways will join.
Physical Infrastructure: Although the data itself is invisible, the hardware running the gateways occupies physical space. You can run an AR.IO gateway on anything from a simple Raspberry Pi to a home computer or even a server in a Tier 5 data center.
Network: AR.IO is a network where gateways follow a unified protocol and are incentivized through IO token rewards. Observer nodes monitor the network to ensure gateways are always available and accessible.
AR.IO is currently in the testnet phase, and you can explore participating gateway nodes through Viewblock or the gateway browser app. More dashboard metrics for AR.IO gateways are under development.
The complexity of different DePIN projects varies, ranging from the one-click simplicity of UpRock to the complex setup of running a full Arweave node (which requires a 158 TB permaweb backup). Setting up an AR.IO gateway falls somewhere in between, leaning more towards the simple end.
To run an AR.IO gateway, you currently need the following:
Your machine (even a $100 Raspberry Pi 5 will do)
10,000 test ARIO tokens (see below)
Basic programming knowledge
To help you get started, AR.IO provides:
Comprehensive gateway setup documentation
Practical video tutorials
Discord community support
In addition, simpler gateway setup methods are under development.
AR.IO incentivizes by rewarding good actors rather than focusing on punishing malicious ones. Specifically, here are some ways of incentivization:
Running Nodes: AR.IO gateways and observer nodes are currently rewarded with tARIO (testnet ARIO tokens) for their work. These tokens can be re-staked to the gateway or used to purchase ArNS names on the testnet. Joining the network requires 10,000 tARIO, which successful testnet applicants will receive.
Delegated Staking: Gateway operators can delegate their stake to the gateway, thereby leveraging more resources than individual staking. Delegated staking allows everyone to participate and earn rewards on the AR.IO network, with a minimum participation threshold of 100 tARIO tokens. Operators can control the proportion of rewards allocated to delegators. Rewards are automatically staked and can be withdrawn at any time, subject to a withdrawal delay. For more details, refer to section 6.2.2 of the whitepaper.
AR.IO is still in the testnet phase, making now a great time to get involved.
Setting up a gateway takes only 15 - 30 minutes and helps to decentralize the Arweave ecosystem. Advanced users can optimize gateways for their applications, but new users can also easily complete the basic setup.
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