ARO Network has outlined a node-based rewards program for early users, rolling out the Lite 2026 Welcome Bounty with a prize pool that includes 20,000 USDT and Jade rewards. The campaign is scheduled to run for 45 days, from January 16 to March 2, 2026. According to the project, referrals and early node operators can receive rewards ahead of the planned Q2 2026 token generation event.
Entry requirements center on node uptime and referrals
Under the published rules, users qualify by keeping a Lite node active for more than 3 days, or by bringing in 1 new user who installs and runs the node. Completing either condition grants an immediate reward of 1,000 Jade and unlocks access to the full set of bounty tasks. The project presents the program as a low-friction way to expand its early network.
Recurring tasks add more Jade. Running a node for at least 8 hours per day earns 100 Jade. Referrals carry a reward of 500 Jade per invited user, with no cap mentioned in the announcement. On the social side, posting on X with the hashtag AROtoEarn yields 100 Jade every 48 hours.
USDT rewards span the main leaderboard, weekly ranking, and lucky draw
The campaign also includes direct USDT payouts. On the main leaderboard, 1st place receives 3,000 USDT; 2nd to 5th receive 1,000 USDT each; 6th to 20th receive 100 USDT each; and 21st to 100th receive 50 USDT each. A separate weekly mini-leaderboard will distribute 1,000 USDT among the top 10 earners.
A lucky draw is also part of the structure. The project says 50 winners will each receive 30 USDT. Taken together, the reward design ties payouts to uptime, user acquisition, and social promotion, all aimed at growing the node network.
TGE is expected in Q2 2026
On the token timeline, the source material says the ARO token TGE is expected in Q2 2026. The project states that users who join during the testnet stage will have priority and rewards before broader market access. It also says early node operators can build reputation and positioning before the mainnet launch.
ARO is described as a decentralized edge cloud platform built to connect centralized cloud systems with AI-driven applications. The project says users can monetize idle internet bandwidth, while developers can tap globally distributed node infrastructure for high-performance computing access.
Project previously announced a $2.1 million pre-seed round
ARO Network previously disclosed a $2.1 million pre-seed funding round backed by No Limit Holdings, Dispersion Capital, and Maelstrom. Alongside the new bounty campaign, the project appears to be focusing its early growth efforts on node expansion and endpoint contributions.