An Arweave wallet is your identity on the permaweb. It holds your $AR tokens, signs transactions, and lets you interact with permanent applications. You don't need to be a developer. If you can install a browser extension, you can use Arweave.
What Is $AR?
$AR is the native token of the Arweave network. You use it to pay for permanent storage. When you upload a file, you pay a one-time fee in $AR and that data is stored forever, with no monthly bills and no renewals.
$AR is also used to pay for ArNS names (human-readable names for your data, like yourname.ar.io) and to interact with AO processes (decentralized compute on Arweave).
Where to Buy $AR
You can buy $AR on several exchanges. The most accessible option for US-based users is Kraken, which supports both buying and selling $AR.
| Exchange | $AR Trading | US Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | Yes | Yes | Supports buy and sell. Fiat on-ramp. |
| Bybit | Yes | No | Large exchange with $AR pairs. |
| Gate.io | Yes | No | Multiple $AR trading pairs. |
| HTX | Yes | No | Formerly Huobi. |
| MEXC | Yes | No | $AR/USDT pair. |
Once you've purchased $AR, you can withdraw it to your Arweave wallet address.
This is not investment advice. Do your own research before purchasing any cryptocurrency.
Recommended Wallets
Wander (Browser Extension)
Wander is the most widely used wallet in the Arweave and AO ecosystem. It's a browser extension that works like MetaMask does for Ethereum, but for Arweave.
What you can do with Wander:
- Store and send $AR
- Sign transactions to upload data permanently
- Connect to permaweb apps (like ArDrive, Bazar, and others)
- Manage ArNS names
- Interact with AO processes
Install: Available for Chrome, Brave, and other Chromium-based browsers from wander.app.
When you create a Wander wallet, you'll get a seed phrase (12 or 24 words). Write this down and store it somewhere safe. It's the only way to recover your wallet.
Beacon (Mobile)
Beacon is a mobile wallet with support for Arweave and AO. If you want to interact with the ecosystem from your phone, Beacon is the way to go.
What you can do with Beacon:
- Manage $AR and AO tokens on mobile
- Connect to AO-powered applications
- Sign transactions on the go
Arweave.app (Web Wallet)
Arweave.app is a web-based wallet that runs entirely in your browser. No extension required; just visit the site. It's useful for quick access or as a backup option.
What you can do with Arweave.app:
- Generate a new wallet or import an existing keyfile
- Send and receive $AR
- Sign transactions through browser-based permaweb apps
Your Wallet Address
Every Arweave wallet has a unique address, a 43-character string like Fof_-BNkZN_nQp0VsD.... This is your public identity on the network. You can share it freely. Anyone can send $AR to it or look up your transaction history.
Your wallet address is derived from your private key (the keyfile or seed phrase). Never share your keyfile or seed phrase.
Interacting with the Permaweb
Once you have a wallet with some $AR, you can start using the permaweb. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Uploading files permanently: Visit ArDrive, connect your Wander wallet, and drag in any file. Pay a small $AR fee and it's stored forever. You'll get a permanent URL you can share with anyone.
Browsing permanent apps:
Websites and apps deployed on Arweave are accessible through gateways like arweave.net or ar.io. These apps look and feel like normal websites, but the difference is they can't be taken down or modified after deployment.
Registering a name:
Visit ArNS to register a human-readable name for your data. Instead of sharing a 43-character transaction ID, you can share something like yourname.ar.io.
How Much Does Storage Cost?
Arweave storage is cheap. As of writing, uploading 1 MB costs a fraction of a cent. Small files (under 105 KiB) can be uploaded for free through ArDrive Turbo.
The price is determined by the network based on available storage capacity. You pay once and the network's endowment mechanism funds storage for 200+ years.
Getting Started
- Install Wander in your browser
- Create a wallet and save your seed phrase
- Get some $AR from Kraken or another exchange
- Visit ArDrive to upload your first permanent file
- Explore the permaweb ecosystem