Join the Network
Take control of the permanent web by running your own AR.IO Gateway. Join the decentralized network that powers the permaweb and earn rewards for providing infrastructure services.
Prerequisites
Running Gateway Required
You must have a fully functional AR.IO Gateway running with a custom domain and SSL certificates.
Don't have a gateway yet? Follow our Production Setup Guide to get your gateway running with proper DNS configuration.
Requirements:
- Gateway accessible via your custom domain (e.g.,
https://yourdomain.com) - SSL certificates properly configured
- ArNS subdomain resolution working
- Gateway responding to test requests
Minimum Stake Requirement
To join the network as a gateway operator, you need 10,000 ARIO tokens as the minimum stake requirement.
Need to acquire ARIO tokens? Visit our Get the Token guide to learn about all available methods including exchanges, DEXs, and network participation.
Acquisition Options:
- Purchase on centralized exchanges like Gate.io
- Trade on decentralized exchanges (Dexi, Botega, Vento)
- Use Wander wallet for easy exchange and swap functionality
- Earn through network participation and community programs
Join the Network
Choose your preferred method to register your gateway:
Visit the Network Portal
Go to gateways.ar.io to access the AR.IO Network Portal.
The portal shows all active gateways on the network and provides the interface to register your own gateway.
Connect Your Wallet
Click the "Start your own gateway" button to begin the registration process. You'll be prompted to connect your wallet.
Choose your preferred wallet (Wander, Metamask, or Beacon) to connect.
Wallet Address Requirement
Use the same wallet address that you configured in your gateway's AR_IO_WALLET environment variable. This wallet will be the owner of your gateway registration.
Fill Out Gateway Information
Complete the gateway registration form with your gateway details:
Required Fields:
- Label: A display name for your gateway (e.g., "My New Gateway")
- Address: Your gateway's domain with port (e.g.,
https://fastandfurious.io:443) - Observer Wallet: The public address of your observer wallet
- Properties ID: Transaction ID of your gateway properties
- Stake (ARIO): Minimum stake required (typically 10,000 ARIO)
- Delegated Staking: Enable to allow others to delegate stake to your gateway
- Minimum Delegated Stake: Set minimum delegation amount (e.g., 100 ARIO)
- Reward Share Ratio: Percentage of rewards shared with delegators (e.g., 50%)
- Note: Additional information about your gateway (e.g., "AR.IO rules!")
Confirm Registration
Review all information carefully and click "Confirm" to submit your gateway registration to the network.
What happens next:
- Your gateway will be added to the Gateway Address Registry
- Observers will start observing your gateway at the next Epoch (day)
- You will begin to receive rewards based on your gateway performance
- You can monitor your gateway's performance in the portal
Confirm your gateway registration:
Your gateway should now be viewable at gateways.ar.io/#/<ar-io-wallet-address> with the wallet address you used to join.
This dashboard shows your gateway's information, stats, and performance metrics including join date, uptime, operator stake, and delegated stake details.
Install the AR.IO CLI
First, install the AR.IO CLI tool if you haven't already:
npm install -g @ar.io/sdkRun the Join Network Command
Use the ar.io join-network command with your gateway configuration:
ar.io join-network \
--wallet-file ./path/to/wallet.json \
--qty 10000000000 \
--auto-stake true \
--allow-delegated-staking true \
--min-delegated-stake 100000000 \
--delegate-reward-share-ratio 10 \
--label "My Test Gateway" \
--note "Test gateway for development" \
--observer-wallet 0VE0wIhDy90WiQoV3U2PeY44FH1aVetOoulPGqgYukj \
--fqdn my-gateway.example.com \
--port 443 \
--protocol https \
--mainnetWallet File Requirement
The wallet file used in the --wallet-file parameter must be the same wallet configured in your AR.IO Gateway's AR_IO_WALLET environment variable. This ensures your gateway registration is properly linked to your running gateway instance.
Parameter explanations:
--qty 10000000000- 10,000 ARIO in mARIO (multiply by 1,000,000)--min-delegated-stake 100000000- 100 ARIO in mARIO--delegate-reward-share-ratio 10- 10% shared with delegators--observer-wallet- Must match your gateway's OBSERVER_WALLET env var--fqdn- Your gateway's domain name
Verify Registration
After running the command, verify your gateway registration using the CLI:
ar.io get-gateway 0VE0wIhDy90WiQoV3U2PeY44FH1aVetOoulPGqgYukjThe status should show joined when your gateway is successfully registered.
You can also verify by visiting: gateways.ar.io/#/<your-wallet-address>
The CLI will output transaction details and your gateway should appear in the network portal within a few minutes.
What Happens After Registration
After joining the network:
- Your gateway will be monitored by the Observer system
- You'll earn rewards for providing reliable service
- You can monitor your gateway's performance and earnings in the portal
- You may be selected as an Observer to help monitor other gateways
Next Steps
Your gateway is now part of the AR.IO Network! Here are some next steps to maximize your participation:
Delegate to Gateways
Participate in the network by delegating your stake to other gateways and earn rewards
Start Indexing Data
Configure your gateway to index specific data types and optimize performance for your use case
Use Wayfinder SDK
Fetch data from your gateway and the network using the Wayfinder SDK for optimal routing
Join the Community
Connect with other gateway operators and get support from the AR.IO community
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