A blockchain-based decentralized storage network that provides permanent storage of any data as well as complete websites. Arweave websites are accessed like any other via a Web browser, and entities storing data pay fees in AR tokens.
Websites on Arweave cannot be removed, and this "permaweb" feature is touted as a major benefit because any element on the regular Web can be removed by the Web administrator.
Proof-of-Access on Blockweave
Built on the "blockweave" blockchain, anyone with extra hard drive or SSD space can become an Arweave miner/validator and be rewarded with AR tokens for processing transactions (storing and retrieving data). Miners can select the type of data they wish to store; however, to ensure long-term storage, the proof-of-access (PoA) consensus mechanism gives greater rewards to miners who have access to older blocks that are not widely replicated. See
decentralized storage network.