AO, a new protocol utilizing Arweave’s permanent data storage layer, is set to launch on June 13, according to a May 30 announcement.

Arweave co-founder Sam Williams compared the project to “Bitcoin, but a supercomputer on Arweave.”

**Tokenomics**

AO will introduce a token, also named AO, with a fair launch—no pre-mining, pre-sales, or preferential access. Community members can mint tokens by bridging to AO, holding Arweave’s native AR token, or building on the platform. This ensures full community access. The total supply will be 21 million coins, mirroring Bitcoin’s supply, with a four-year halving cycle. The project will be managed by a non-profit organization focused on community mechanisms. However, individuals in the US and sanctioned areas are restricted from minting tokens.

**AO’s Features**

Developed for scalability, AO’s modular architecture supports high transaction volumes and parallel processing. It includes AOS, an operating system that supports the Lua programming language and various applications. AO’s advanced data storage capabilities are designed to handle large datasets, such as those used in AI modeling and large language models (LLMs). Additionally, AO is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine and other blockchain protocols through WebAssembly for smart contracts.

DeFi researcher Ignas highlighted AO’s goal to combine blockchain’s reliability and security with the performance of high-end commercial servers like Amazon AWS. He noted AO’s parallel processing capability, allowing multiple processes to run simultaneously without interference, likening it to a smartphone that remains fast regardless of how many apps are running.