bitsCrunch Network

A Decentralized Enriched NFT Data Network

Author: Gopi Kannappan Contributors: Ashok Varadharajan, Saravanan Jaichandaran

19 April 2023 (v1.1)
Abstract

Blockchain and cryptocurrency has evolved many fold since the famous bitcoin paper
published back in 2008. That paper only talked about the peer-to-peer electronic cash system
but it set the stage for many more innovations to follow it. Ethereum’s launch in 2013 brought
more to blockchain than just crypto currencies, over the course of a few years it set the stage
for decentralized finance, decentralized exchanges, paved way for smart contracts technology,
NFTs etc.

Today we have 1000s of crypto coins, 100s of blockchain platforms, millions of smart
contracts, billions of successful transactions, millions of NFTs, Decentralization of financing,
Decentralized exchanges and many more. All this and more to come, thanks to the strong
communities behind the blockchain ecosystem.

All this accelerated growth also has meant that we have scammers and looters that want to rig
the system to favor them and extract value out of innocent people. These bad actors leverage
their knowledge on the blockchain technology to maliciously increase trading volume or price
of an NFT, token or a crypto currency and lure the consumers to fomo in to eventually scam
them.

While all these malicious practices are public records in blockchain, it is very hard for users to
gain clear insights and identify all the patterns. Our goal is to analyze all NFT transactions, use
AI/ML to automatically detect malicious activities and make it accessible to everyone. Our
initial focus is on the NFT’s but we will eventually increase our scope to tokens and crypto
currencies.

In this paper we present bitsCrunch, a decentralized enriched NFT data network. We describe
the processes on data acquisition, data processing and data delivery in a decentralized and
permissionless network deployed on one of the existing EVM based layer 2 solutions. Initially
this network will include bitsCrunch developed AI/ML models, metrics, insights etc, as the
network matures community developers will be able to contribute to the network with
additional models, metrics and other contributions. This will ensure the longevity of the
network and also provide a collaborative ecosystem.

This paper will clearly provide an insight into the plans, functional architecture and
implementation of the network decentralization including the network security. It will also
explain the motivation for decentralization and why this is important for the NFT ecosystem.

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Introduction 3
Some of the Key challenges 4
Existing NFT data Providers 5
Our Solution 6
Use Cases 7
Centralized / Decentralized NFT DeFi 8
Fraud detection and alerting 8
Compliance and AML 8
NFT Analytics Platform 9
NFT Lending Protocol 9
And more 10
Decentralized Network 10
Layers of decentralization 11
Data Query Layer 11
Network DApp 12
Network DNS 13
Request Router 14
Routing algorithm 14
Query Processor Node 15
Data Processing Layer 15
Data Sync Service 16
Queuing and Logging 16
Runtime 17
Data Acquisition Layer 17
Blockhub 18
Data Manager 18
Data Storage Layer 19
Benefits of Decentralization 19
Network Development Strategy 20
Token Economics 21
Token Utility 24
Purpose 24
Bootstrapping the Network 24
Network Roles 25
Node Operator Roles 25
Query Processor Node 26
Data Enricher Node 27
Delegators 27
Indicators 28
Community Contributor 28
Network User 29
Network Settlement 31
Network Reward Model 32

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 Fee share 32
Query Processor node 32
Data Enricher node 32
Rewards share 33
Query Processor node 33
Data Enricher node 33
Disputes 33
Governance 34
Slashing 34
Operator Expectations 35

Introduction

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique, non-interchangeable digital assets stored on a

blockchain—a decentralized digital ledger. These tokens can represent a wide range of digital
items such as images, audio files, videos, and digital art. Each NFT is stored as a one-of-a-kind
item on the blockchain, allowing for easy verification of ownership. NFTs have numerous
applications and the potential to transform various sectors, including digital art, metaverse,
gaming, decentralized finance, blockchain certification, and more. The trading volume of NFTs
has seen phenomenal growth, soaring from just a few million dollars in 2020 to over $54
billion in 2022. This remarkable surge shows no signs of abating and is expected to keep rising
as blockchain technology permeates various industries.

To illustrate this growth, consider the chart below, which displays the monthly USD volume of
NFTs on the Ethereum chain. The volume peaked in January before stabilizing in recent
months. Furthermore, Q1-2022 was the largest quarter for NFT trading volume, with an
astonishing $33 billion in transactions. These figures highlight the immense potential and vast
opportunities NFTs offer in the digital realm.

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 Figure 1: Ethereum monthly NFT sale volume chart since the beginning of 2020

As the volume and the hype in NFTs continues to increase, it definitely attracts the attention of
some bad actors. These bad actors have engaged in practices like NFT wash trading that harm
the market and the NFT collectors. Below you can see the monthly washtrade volume for 2022,
we noticed more than $32 Billion in wash trading and about 1 out of 20 secondary market NFT
transactions are wash trades.

Figure 2: Ethereum NFT sale volume vs wash trade volume chart since the beginning of 2022

Some of the Key challenges

In recent years, the NFT landscape has witnessed tremendous growth, with millions of dollars
traded daily. However, the surge in NFT popularity has also given rise to NFT fraud. A
significant issue with NFT fraud is how easily scammers can create and sell NFTs. Unlike
traditional art or collectibles, NFTs are wholly digital, making it more convenient for scammers
to create counterfeit NFTs and sell them to unwary buyers.

Another challenge is the absence of regulation in the NFT market. In contrast to the traditional
art market, there is no governing body or regulatory framework to guarantee NFT legitimacy
and safeguard buyers. This environment allows scammers to operate and sell fake NFTs
without the threat of legal repercussions. There have even been instances where NFT
marketplaces themselves have engaged in fraudulent activities, such as permitting the listing
and sale of counterfeit NFTs or allowing fraudulent sellers to operate on their platforms.

Our research shows that 1 in 10 NFTs minted on the largest NFT marketplace are fraudulent,
either as copy mints of popular NFTs or as derivatives. This alarming trend has resulted in a
total loss of over $4 million for retail investors in that marketplace alone. Safeguarding retail
users and projects from NFT scams is vital, but analyzing NFT sales data is a complex task.
The data is intricate and necessitates sophisticated tools for interpretation. Consequently, users
must rely on increasingly less reliable statistics, making the due-diligence process cumbersome

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and often unsatisfactory. Transaction forensics is crucial for analyzing NFT sales data, but it
involves running heuristics on vast amounts of user data. To achieve the most precise results,
data must be collected from the blockchain's genesis, requiring a comprehensive examination
of its entire history.

Merging metadata from off-chain sources like IPFS with on-chain sale/transfer data adds
another layer of complexity. This labor-intensive process requires meticulous attention to
detail. While raw data is useful, calculated metrics present a more holistic perspective,
empowering users to make well-informed decisions. Nevertheless, calculating metrics demands
greater CPU runtime and higher costs.

Marketplaces frequently lack dependable statistics about their platform's growth and reach,
compelling investors to rely on less trustworthy information and complicating due diligence.
This scenario also adversely impacts the community, as wash traders siphon off rewards
intended for honest participants. Additionally, NFT pricing and valuation present further
challenges. Both creators and collectors struggle to determine an NFT's accurate value, leading
to inflated and deflated pricing. Without trustworthy valuations for NFT assets, their potential
in the DeFi space remains constrained.

Existing NFT data Providers

Current NFT data providers can be classified into several categories, each facing its own set of
challenges and limitations:

1. DeFi protocol-specific data providers: These providers primarily focus on delivering

indexed data for DeFi protocols, offering little to no support for NFT-related data.
Consequently, users interested in NFT analytics may find these services inadequate for
their needs.
2. Centralized solutions: Such data providers suffer from a lack of transparency and
limited community collaboration. Centralized control over data aggregation and
dissemination can lead to biased information or potential censorship, which undermines
the trust and reliability that users seek in the rapidly growing NFT market.
3. On-chain data normalization providers: These services mainly concentrate on
normalizing on-chain data but often neglect NFT-specific information. This limitation
can result in an incomplete understanding of the NFT landscape, as crucial details about
individual NFTs or their associated metadata might be missing.
4. NFT forensics oversight: Many existing NFT data providers pay little to no attention to
NFT forensics, an essential aspect of the ecosystem that helps identify fraudulent
activities, such as counterfeit NFTs or wash trading. The absence of robust forensic
analysis can compromise the security and integrity of the NFT market.
5. No advanced NFT metrics: Current NFT data providers may lack sophisticated metrics
and analytics that can provide users with deeper insights into the market dynamics,
trends, and valuation. The absence of advanced metrics makes it difficult for users to
make well-informed decisions and fully understand the potential of NFT investments.

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 6. Limited community contribution opportunities: Many existing NFT data providers do
not offer opportunities for community members to contribute data, insights, or other
relevant information. This lack of community involvement can hinder the growth of a
diverse and dynamic NFT ecosystem, which relies on collective intelligence and
collaboration.

In summary, the NFT data provider landscape is currently fragmented and faces several
challenges, including a lack of focus on NFT-specific data, centralized solutions with limited
transparency, inadequate attention to NFT forensics, absence of advanced metrics, and
restricted opportunities for community contribution. Addressing these issues is critical for
fostering a reliable, secure, and collaborative NFT ecosystem that benefits all participants.

Our Solution

The solution to the challenge of analyzing NFT sales data lies in developing a platform capable
of gathering and enriching data for NFTs, ultimately providing more accurate and reliable
metrics. This platform will employ advanced computations, AI algorithms, and data from both
on-chain and off-chain sources, including IPFS metadata. Decentralization of this platform will
allow community developers to contribute additional algorithms for continuous data refinement
and unlocking new use cases.

The platform offers reliable statistics on the growth and reach of NFT marketplaces, protecting
honest participants from wash traders seeking to steal rewards and value. It also tackles pricing
and valuation challenges by delivering precise valuations for NFT assets through ML
algorithms, promoting their utility within the DeFi space. The platform streamlines NFT sales
data analysis, enhancing accessibility and insights for users. Sophisticated AI models for
transaction forensics will be incorporated, requiring meticulous data extraction from the
blockchain's genesis and demanding higher memory and processing capacity.

This decentralized platform's capabilities extend beyond NFTs, encompassing use cases such as
tracking cryptocurrency prices, monitoring social media sentiment, and predicting market
trends. Its strength lies in its adaptability and the ongoing addition of new algorithms to address
market demands. As more developers contribute, the platform becomes increasingly robust,
versatile, and valuable across various use cases.

A key feature of this platform is its community-driven nature, allowing developers and users
alike to influence its direction and suggest new algorithms, features, and use cases. The
absence of central authority ensures true decentralization and transparency. The platform will
be deployed on an existing EVM-based layer2 solution. As the network expands and
accumulates more data, its value across various use cases, such as NFT valuation, fraud
detection, market trend prediction, and social media sentiment analysis, will continue to grow.
By providing enriched, accurate, and comprehensive data, this decentralized network
establishes a new benchmark for data analysis and empowers the community to make informed
decisions based on reliable information.

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The diagram below illustrates the high-level data flow for extracting, processing, and
delivering valuable insights from blockchain data related to NFTs. By leveraging a series of
steps, the raw data is transformed into curated and enriched information, providing users with a
range of insights such as metrics about NFT collections, estimated NFT prices, or trade alerts.

Figure 3: High-level data flow

Here are some of the classification of data that will be available with the network mainnet.

● NFT Analytics and Metadata: Get the most comprehensive NFT analytics and metadata
across multiple blockchains.
● NFT Wash Trade Analytics: Get in depth wash trading analysis for NFT collections and
tokens across multiple blockchains.
● NFT Price Estimation: Get the most accurate AI based NFT price estimation.
● NFT Portfolio: Get an accurate view of your NFT portfolio.

Use Cases

Accessing accurate and up-to-date data is essential for the success of any project, especially in
the world of blockchain and NFTs. The bitsCrunch network offers a reliable and consistent
source of data that can be used by a variety of projects in different industries.

Centralized / Decentralized NFT DeFi

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The bitsCrunch network offers numerous use cases in the world of DeFi, which is a
fast-growing ecosystem of decentralized financial applications built on blockchain technology.
One of the primary benefits of the bitsCrunch network is that it provides accurate and reliable
NFT data to DeFi projects, which can help users make better investment decisions.

By leveraging the data provided by the bitsCrunch network, DeFi projects can access near
real-time information about market trends, trading volumes, and other relevant metrics. This
information can be used to create advanced trading strategies, predict market movements, and
identify potential investment opportunities.

Moreover, having access to accurate data can also help DeFi projects avoid engaging with
malicious contracts and take necessary precautions to protect their users' funds. In addition to
DeFi projects, the bitsCrunch network can also benefit centralized and decentralized NFT
marketplaces. By providing users with all the necessary information, such as the ownership
history, authenticity, and market value of NFTs, buyers and sellers can make informed
decisions when trading these unique digital assets.

Overall, the bitsCrunch network's data-driven approach can help bridge the information gap
that exists in the world of DeFi and NFTs, enabling users to make more informed decisions and
promoting the growth of these innovative ecosystems.

Fraud detection and alerting

NFT fraud detection and alerting is a crucial tool in the digital art world. It is a process of
identifying fraudulent activities related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and notifying relevant
parties about the potential risk. NFT fraud can occur in various ways, such as fake NFTs,
scams, and phishing attacks. It can also involve misleading or incomplete information in the
metadata associated with the NFT.

bitsCrunch network will provide inbuilt fraud detection and alerting. Projects can consume this
data and set up alerts, notifications and react accordingly. Projects can also put in place
preventive measures to help reduce the risk of NFT fraud. These can include educating users
about NFT fraud, implementing strict verification processes, and increasing transparency in
NFT marketplaces.

Compliance and AML

Projects, users, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies can all benefit from the wealth of
data available on the bitsCrunch network to ensure a secure and compliant NFT ecosystem.
This data can be utilized to generate comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and
compliance reports that help maintain transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Banks and other financial institutions can analyze this data to verify the legitimacy of NFT
transactions and wallet activities, ensuring that they have not been involved in any financial

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fraud or illicit activities. Additionally, government agencies can leverage this data to oversee
market compliance, ensuring that participants adhere to established rules and regulations. This
level of oversight is crucial for maintaining a fair and transparent NFT market, fostering trust
and confidence among market participants.

NFT Analytics Platform

One of the most significant challenges faced by NFT analytics is staying abreast of the rapidly
evolving blockchain landscape and the increasing complexity of transactions due to continuous
innovation. As the blockchain and NFT industries are still in their nascent stages, this challenge
is expected to grow more pronounced over time. To effectively address these hurdles, analytics
projects can capitalize on the data available through the bitsCrunch networks.

The bitsCrunch network is continuously enriched through community contributions, ensuring

that it remains up-to-date and reflective of the latest developments in the blockchain and NFT
space. By leveraging this ever-evolving data source, NFT analytics projects can focus their
efforts on delivering valuable insights to their customers while staying current with the
fast-paced changes in the industry.

Utilizing the bitsCrunch network's data enables analytics projects to maintain a competitive
edge and adapt to the dynamic nature of the blockchain and NFT markets. This approach not
only empowers these projects to provide accurate, timely, and relevant insights to their
customers but also fosters a collaborative ecosystem that thrives on shared knowledge and
continuous learning.

NFT Lending Protocol

NFT Lending Protocols face challenges in staying updated with the ever-changing NFT
landscape and accurately evaluating NFTs for loan collateralization. With the rapid growth of
the NFT market and the diverse range of assets, it becomes increasingly difficult for the
protocols to maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of NFT values, trends,
and potential risks.

To overcome these challenges protocols can leverage the data from the bitsCrunch network. By
tapping into this rich data source, the protocol will be able to access real-time, accurate, and
comprehensive information about NFTs, their underlying asset value, and market trends

And more

Artists and creators in the NFT space can also benefit from the data provided by the bitsCrunch
network. By accessing accurate pricing information and market trends, they can make informed
decisions on the value of their creations and optimize their marketing strategies.

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Another use case is in the gaming industry. With the growth of blockchain-based gaming and
NFTs, game developers can leverage the data from the bitsCrunch network to analyze the
market trends, accurately price their assets, and improve user experience. They can get user
specific stats and also understand how users engage with other gaming projects.

Finally, investors in the NFT market can use the data from the bitsCrunch network to perform
due diligence and make informed investment decisions. By accessing accurate transaction data
and metrics, they can identify potential risks and opportunities, and maximize their returns on
investment.

Overall, the bitsCrunch network can provide consistent and quality data to a variety of projects
in different industries, enabling them to execute their ideas effectively and efficiently.

Decentralized Network
Decentralization via blockchain technology is a revolutionary concept that has transformed the
way we think about data storage, transfer, and management. Essentially, blockchain is a
distributed ledger system that enables multiple parties to share and store data in a secure and
tamper-proof manner without the need for intermediaries. The importance of blockchain lies in
its ability to provide a transparent and trustless system that is resistant to fraud, corruption, and
hacking. By decentralizing data management, blockchain can eliminate the need for centralized
control and reduce the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.

The complexity involved in building a blockchain network is significant, requiring a deep

understanding of cryptography, distributed systems, and programming languages. Developers
must design the system to ensure that the data is replicated across multiple nodes, and the
consensus protocol is followed to maintain the integrity of the network. Additionally, the
system must be scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant, with proper governance structures to ensure
that the network operates efficiently and effectively.

This part of the complexity has already been solved by the existing layer 1 and layer 2
solutions, so we are not going to try to reinvent the wheel by creating a new blockchain.
Instead, we will leverage one of the existing proven EVM based layer 2 chains. Our
decentralized network will be more focused on data management and data manipulation using
AI/ML models, heuristics, and other tools. The result will be highly enriched data that is easy
to understand and ready to use.

The journey to create a decentralized bitsCrunch network involves several stages, including
planning, design, development, testing, and deployment. The development process involves
building and testing the network, creating smart contracts, and deploying them on the network.
In this section, you will find detailed information about the components involved in our
decentralized network, including a high-level decentralization roadmap in the section titled
"Development Strategy".

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Layers of decentralization

This layered architecture focuses on the decentralization and on the data flow and data
management, not on the application architecture. Each layer represents the lifecycle of the data
from how it's getting acquired to the final layer exposing the data for consumption. In the
following sections we will go into the details about each section.

Figure 4: Functional layer of the decentralization network

Data Query Layer

The data query layer is a key component of the network that enables users to access the
information they need from the network. This layer provides a way for consumers to securely
and efficiently query the network for data that has been enriched by other participants in the
network.

This Layer is designed to allow participants to transact and interact without the need for a
central authority or intermediary. This means that users should have the freedom to access the
network and use its features without any restrictions or requirements. A permissionless system
ensures that anyone can join and use the network without needing to seek approval from
anyone. It is also made frictionless and easy to use and interact with. This includes a seamless
onboarding process, easy navigation, and simple transaction processing. Users should be able
to use the network without encountering unnecessary barriers or complications.

High scalability and throughput are essential for ensuring that the network can handle a large
volume of queries without slowing down or becoming overwhelmed. A high-throughput
system ensures that data can be processed quickly and efficiently, allowing users to get the
information they need in a timely manner. State-of-the-art security measures are in place
ensuring that the network is safe and secure for users.

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 Figure 5: Query processing flow

The distributed network architecture enables each node to have access to the full enriched
dataset, allowing them to operate autonomously and handle all queries independently. This
approach not only ensures high availability and fault tolerance but also promotes scalability
and parallelism by distributing the workload across multiple nodes. Furthermore, the use of
advanced algorithms and data structures enhances the efficiency and reliability of the network's
query processing and data synchronization. As a result, the distributed network can handle a
large volume of queries and adapt to changing demands without compromising performance or
data integrity.

Network DApp

Users will have the ability to connect their crypto wallet, such as Metamask, to the Dapp
network. Once connected, users can register to create secure credentials that will grant them
access to the API. After registration, users will receive a secure downloadable access key that
will be protected through encryption using the user's wallet.

To manage user accounts and hold user-deposited funds, a billing smart contract will be
implemented. Periodically, a portion of the user's funds will be deducted based on query usage
from the billing contract to the network treasury. Users will have the ability to view logs of
their usage and raise a dispute in the event of a conflict.

This DApp serves as a platform for operators and delegators to interact with the network.
Operators have the ability to create an operator account by connecting their crypto wallet and
depositing a minimum amount of network utility tokens. This ensures their participation in the
network, and as part of the onboarding process, they will receive an access key that is similar to
the network users' access key. This key is crucial in securely configuring the node to the
network.

Moreover, this DApp provides a comprehensive suite of operator analytics, enabling operators
to monitor their network performance and evaluate their contributions. These analytics are
available at both an aggregate and individual operator level, offering the ability to drill down

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into specific metrics and identify areas for improvement. By leveraging these insights,
operators can optimize their performance and increase their earning potential within the
network.

Delegators have the option to browse through a comprehensive list of operators, and they have
the ability to evaluate their earning and service records before making a selection. This enables
them to choose the operator that is best suited to their needs. After selecting an operator,
delegators can stake the network utility token and become eligible to receive a portion of the
earnings generated by the operator.

To attract delegators, operators share their fee earnings and network rewards. This staking
process is essential for securing the network. While delegators have the flexibility to withdraw
their stake at any time, they may receive only partial or no rewards if they do so before the
network settlement event. This event occurs once every epoch, which is typically 30 days or on
a fixed day of the month.

This DApp will serve as the primary interface for users and operators to interact with the
network's smart contracts. All of the key interactions that the DApp facilitates will be encoded
directly into the network's contracts. This approach ensures that the interface is not tethered to
any central entity through a hosted UI. By relying on the network's contracts to execute key
interactions, the DApp can function autonomously and without any centralized control. This
allows for greater transparency and decentralization within the network. Users and operators
can trust that their interactions are being executed directly on the network, rather than being
funneled through a third-party intermediary.

Network DNS

The domain name serves as the foundation for accessing various query endpoints and the
Network DApp. By utilizing this domain name, consumers can easily access the necessary
APIs and documentation once they have obtained the proper credentials. These credentials
allow them to navigate through the specifications to locate the specific endpoints they need for
interaction or integration.

As the Network DApp continues to grow and expand, the domain name will evolve into a
decentralized DNS system. With a decentralized DNS, consumers will be able to interact with
the Network DApp in a more efficient and secure manner, as it eliminates the need for a central
authority to manage and govern the domain name.

Overall, the domain name serves as a critical component in facilitating interaction and
integration with the Network DApp. As the system continues to evolve and expand, the domain
name will become an integral part of a decentralized DNS system, providing greater autonomy
and security for all users.

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Request Router

This component is highly scalable, lightweight and boasts an impressive ability to handle more
than 100,000 requests per second. Every query to the network is processed by the request
router. As security is of paramount importance, this component takes on the responsibility of
verifying the requester's credentials before allowing the request to pass through to the node.
Only if the credentials are found to be valid will the request be allowed to proceed.

After verifying the credentials, the router consults the routing queue, which helps identify the
next node in the sequence to which the request should be forwarded. Further information on
this process can be found in the "Routing algorithm" section. As each request is received and
processed, the system meticulously records the relevant details, including the requestor's
identity, the node number, and the receipt of the request, all of which are stored in the logs.

Routing algorithm

All nodes that have registered with the network are recognized by the request router. The router
is responsible for conducting periodic ping tests to each node in order to ascertain their status
and maintain a comprehensive record of it. Along with the uptime record, the router also
maintains the performance statistics of each node. The router is also responsible for managing
multiple queues, it uses these queues to select the node to route the incoming queries. This
enables all nodes in the network to have an equal opportunity to participate in the query
processing.

Queue Name Description

General All live nodes in the network will be placed in this queue.

Best Performer Nodes with the best performance. Performance parameters like
Throughput, Availability etc

Most Accurate Nodes with the least errors

Staking cap Nodes that reach the staking cap will be listed in this queue.

Potentially more queues

Table 1: Request routing queues

Nodes that are included in all queues will have the advantage of receiving more queries to the
server than other nodes only in one or few queues. Below is a simulation of how the router
works under a 4 queue example

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 Figure 6: Example of a queuing

Query Processor Node

This is one of the three types of nodes that a network operator can perform and has the specific
role of serving user queries. The node operates by receiving user queries based on the queue
system, the request router forwards the query to it. Furthermore, a record of each user query is
maintained in a decentralized storage system, which is periodically aggregated, and the hash of
the file is recorded in the blockchain. This file serves as an essential part of the process,
particularly during disputes or validation procedures.

Data Processing Layer

The middle layer of a network plays a critical role in the process of data enrichment and
preparation for user consumption. This layer takes the block data produced by the layer below
and applies various complex algorithms and processes to it. The purpose of these steps is to
enrich the data, meaning to extract more useful information from it and transform it into a more
meaningful representation for the user.

In particular, this middle layer is responsible for executing all of the AI/ML model and metric
calculation logic. This includes running various machine learning algorithms, performing
statistical analyses, and applying other computational techniques to extract insights from the
data. The goal of these calculations is to create a more accurate and robust representation of the
data, which can then be used by the user to make more informed decisions. Overall, the middle
layer is a central component of the network, and its ability to process and enrich data is critical
to the success of the network as a whole.

This layer is responsible for integrating and managing AI/ML models and related algorithms
plays a crucial role in the system, necessitating stringent security measures. To ensure the
highest level of protection, we employ advanced encryption techniques, such as elliptic curve
cryptography, to secure access keys and restrict system entry. Additionally, participants are
required to lock the network's utility tokens as a safeguard.

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In the event of any misconduct or malicious activity, a set of predefined slashing rules will be
enforced, providing a robust mechanism for penalizing bad actors and maintaining overall
system integrity. This combination of encryption, token locking, and slashing rules establishes
a strong security foundation, protecting the layer dedicated to AI/ML models and algorithms
from potential threats.

Figure 7: Data processor components

Data Sync Service

This critical component plays a crucial role in ensuring that the data processing layer and data
query layer are seamlessly connected. It not only synchronizes data between the two layers but
also ensures that the latest information is available to all the query processors registered with
the network. This synchronization mechanism is essential to maintain the accuracy and
reliability of the data.

Moreover, this component's ability to keep the query processors up-to-date with the latest data
helps to enhance the performance and efficiency of the entire system. This ensures that the
network is operating at peak performance and can handle large volumes of data efficiently.

Queuing and Logging

Queuing refers to the process of managing and controlling the flow of work items or tasks in a
network. Queuing is essential in many applications and systems where multiple tasks need to
be executed, and the order of execution is important. Queuing systems typically use a
first-in-first-out (FIFO) approach, where the first task that arrives is the first one to be
executed, which is what is used in the network. The component contains a peer-to-peer and
responsible for queuing the Data Enricher nodes in the network is also responsible for
periodically conducting a ping test to check the health of each node. Multiple queues are
formed using parameters such as uptime, performance, capacity allocation, and staking ratio.
These parameters are based on the data stored in the decentralized storage and are calculated on
a daily basis to update the queuing process.

Logging refers to the process of recording events or data into a log file or database for later
analysis or troubleshooting. Logging is critical for monitoring and diagnosing the behavior of
the network. Logging allows the network participants to understand what is happening inside
the system, track down errors, identify performance issues and use this for reward computation
or to apply penalties to the operator. Effective logging requires careful consideration of what

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data to log, how to log it efficiently, and how to analyze the logs to gain insights into the
network’s behavior. Additionally, this component is used to log the work done by each node to
decentralized storage. The raw file and aggregated data file’s hash are periodically updated to
the blockchain. This allows the participants to review the logs when conflicts arise.

Runtime

The runtime component of the network is the central hub where all the machine learning
algorithms and computational techniques are executed. This component plays a critical role in
the success of the AI system, as it directly affects the performance, accuracy, and scalability of
the system. Machine learning algorithms, which are the backbone of any AI system, require
significant computational resources to execute efficiently. These algorithms typically involve
large amounts of data and complex mathematical calculations that can be computationally
intensive. Therefore, the runtime component must be capable of scaling up and down as needed
to meet the computational demands of the algorithms.

In addition to machine learning algorithms, the runtime component also performs statistical
analyses and applies heuristics to the data. Statistical analyses help to identify patterns and
trends in the data, while heuristics are rules or guidelines that are used to guide the
decision-making process. These techniques are essential for extracting meaningful insights
from the data and making accurate decisions and predictions.

The runtime component may also incorporate other computational techniques such as natural
language processing (NLP), computer vision, and reinforcement learning. NLP enables the AI
system to understand and interpret human language, while computer vision allows the system
to interpret visual data such as images and videos. Reinforcement learning is a type of machine
learning that enables the system to learn by interacting with its environment and receiving
rewards or punishments based on its actions.

Data Acquisition Layer

This is a logical layer in the network that plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the
network. This layer is responsible for retrieving block data from various blockchain and storing
it in the node's distributed database. To ensure efficiency and accuracy, the queuing component
is used to make assertive decisions on which source to pick data from. This allows the node to
retrieve and store block data quickly and accurately.

To support different blockchain types, many chain adopters will be available in the network.
These adopters will enable the node to connect and adapt to various blockchain types, making
it possible to retrieve and store data from different blockchain networks. Each block that is
retrieved and stored in the database will earn rewards for the node operators. These rewards
will be in the form of a network utility token and a share of the revenue earned by the network.

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 Figure 8: Data acquisition flow

Queuing component is used to queue the nodes and the sources, as mentioned above this
factors in many things from availability, performance, capacity allocation, and staking ratio.

Blockhub

This component is for facilitating the retrieval of data from different blockchain nodes via their
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) endpoint or other means. One of the key aspects of this
component is the chain-specific adaptor that is designed specifically to work with a particular
blockchain network. Each blockchain network has its own unique way of managing and storing
transactions, and these adaptors are essential for ensuring that transactions are properly
retrieved and recorded.

In addition to the chain-specific adapter, this component also includes a mechanism for
registering blockchain source endpoints. Once the endpoints are registered, they are shared
across all nodes on the network. This helps to ensure that all nodes have access to the same
information, which is crucial for maintaining consistency across the network.

This component uses a queue to ensure that the correct provider is used for the next block
retrieval. The queue keeps track of which provider should be used next, based on a variety of
factors such as network latency and other performance metrics. The record of the provider used
is logged in a decentralized storage and the hash value of the log file and the aggregated data
files are recorded periodically in the blockchain. This is done to ensure that participants can
review the logs if conflicts arise on payouts. By recording this information in the blockchain, it
becomes a permanent part of the network's history, and cannot be altered or deleted.

Data Manager

This component is responsible for several critical data processing functions in the network.
Let's look at each of these functions in more detail:

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 1. Parsing Block Data: This component parses the block data retrieved by the blockhub
and extracts transactions, logs, traces, and other information. This involves analyzing
the raw block data to identify and extract relevant information, which can then be used
for various purposes such as machine learning, business intelligence, or
decision-making.
2. Retrieving Off-Chain Data: In addition to extracting data from blocks, this component
can also retrieve off-chain data from IPFS or other storage when needed. This means
that the system can access and use data that is not stored on the blockchain, allowing for
more comprehensive data gathering.
3. Onboarding Community Data: Network operators and communities can onboard data
like social media handles or other information that are off-chain but on the web. This
community data can then be integrated into the network and used for analysis, adding
additional insights and perspectives.

This becomes the base data for AI/ML models, heuristics, and metrics calculation. This means
that the accuracy and quality of the data are critical for ensuring the effectiveness of these
actions. Community developers can contribute to additional data cleansing or data
transformation logic via this component. This means that the network can continually improve
and evolve based on the contributions of its community members. Overall, the data
preprocessing and preparation functions performed by this component are essential for
enabling accurate data analysis, effective decision-making, and the development of
sophisticated AI/ML models in a network.

Data Storage Layer

This pivotal component intersects and overlaps with the three previously mentioned layers,
seamlessly integrating their functions. It is the layer for storing all data coming from the data
acquisition and data processing layers. The data acquisition and data processing layers interact
with the data storage layer to perform CRUD operations. As its name implies, the data query
layer focuses predominantly on executing read operations. In order to guarantee
decentralization, a distributed database system will be utilized within this essential cross-layer
component.

Benefits of Decentralization

Figure 9: Benefits of decentralizing the bitsCrunch network

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Network Development Strategy
Development of the network will be a multiphase multi year endeavor. This section only
provides a high level overview on the network development, for more detailed feature level
roadmap refer to the bitsCrunch Litepaper and or to the bitsCrunch network website.

Figure 10: Functional overview with development phase mapping

Figure 11: High-level timeline and network roadmap

The development of the network is currently divided into three phases. The first phase, which
involves the creation of the Data Query layer and Query Processor node, is scheduled to be
completed by Q2-2023 for the testnet, and the mainnet is expected to be achieved around
Q3-2023. During this initial phase, the query processor node will utilize a common shared

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database. In Phase 1.5, which is a subsequent step to Phase 1, each node in the network will be
equipped with its own database, resulting in a decentralized network with no central point of
failure. This is an important feature of the network as it increases the security and resilience of
the overall system.

The second and third phases of development will focus on the creation of the Data Enricher and
Data Harvester layers respectively. More details about these phases will be made available as
the project progresses. Overall, the development of the network is expected to take three years.
Once completed, the network will provide a secure and decentralized platform for querying and
processing data, enabling a wide range of applications and use cases.

Token Economics
Token economies for the bitsCrunch utility token refers to the design and management of the
BCUT token. In this case, the token's value is derived from its utility rather than its speculative
or investment value. The goal is to create a sustainable and effective ecosystem that
incentivizes the use and adoption of the token for its intended purpose. This includes
determining the distribution and circulation of the token, setting the supply and demand
dynamics, and designing governance mechanisms that align the incentives of users and other
stakeholders with the success of the network. Key considerations for token economics are the
utility token functionality, user adoption, network effects, and token governance. Successful
token economics helps to drive adoption and usage of the network, creating a positive feedback
loop that further enhances the value of the token.

Total token supply will be 1 billion, the detailed breakdown of the allocation to different token
sale rounds and to other areas can be found in the picture below.

Figure 12: Token distribution chart

Here is a table explaining the distribution of the tokens as shown above

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 Total Supply 1,000,000,000 Comments

Seed Round Token Sale 100,000,000 Initial seed sale that took place in mid 2021

Private Token Sale 100,000,000 This sale was completed by the beginning of
2022

Strategic Token Sale 25,000,000 Concluded in the first half of 2023

Public Token Sale 75,000,000 Planned

Team Allocation 150,000,000 Tokens reserved for the team members of the
project

Advisor Allocation 20,000,000 Tokens reserved for the advisors of the project

Reserve Allocation 230,000,000 Tokens reserved as part of future development

and other purposes

Ecosystem Allocation 200,000,000 Tokens allocated towards fostering and

growing the bitsCrunch network ecosystem
through grants, rewards and marketing
initiatives

Staking Allocation 100,000,000 Token allocated to reward operators,

delegators, LP miners etc during the network
bootstrapping
Table 2: Token supply classification

Token vesting is strategically designed to ensure that there is a controlled release of tokens over
a specified period of time, which prevents a sudden influx of tokens into the market. This
approach is beneficial in balancing the demand and supply of tokens, as it ensures that there is
a steady flow of tokens over a prolonged period, rather than a large release in a short time
frame. By doing so, token vesting promotes stability in the market and encourages a gradual
increase in demand for the tokens as adoption grows.

Figure 13: Token vesting and release schedule

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Percentages mentioned above are all specific to the allocation within that category and not the
percentage of the overall supply.
Below is a graph showing token circulation over the course of time. All tokens will be
unlocked fully by 49 months from TGE.

Figure 14: Token circulation

Figure 15: Token emission by category

Even though all 1 billion tokens unlock by month 49 it is highly unlikely that all tokens end up
in the market.

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 Figure 16: Token emission milestones

Token Utility

Purpose

The bitsCrunch utility token (BCUT) is a digital token native to the network, providing access
to enriched NFT data within the bitsCrunch ecosystem. Its primary function is to facilitate
smooth operations within the network, and it is intended solely for use as a utility token. The
secure functioning of the bitsCrunch ecosystem relies on a combination of cryptographic
techniques and economic incentives to drive adoption and ensure network security.

Bootstrapping the Network

All of the initial network rewards are provided from the staking allocation of the tokenomics,
which can be referred to in the token economics section for more information. This allocation
is also utilized to reward node operators, LP mining, among other things. The staking
allocation will be utilized to cover network rewards for the bootstrapping duration, after which
rewards will be primarily based on the revenue generated by the network and the rates will be
determined by the network smart contract.

The following chart illustrates the planned token emission for bootstrapping the network over a
period of up to 5 years. This emission schedule has been designed to ensure a steady and
sustainable release of tokens into circulation, with the ultimate goal of supporting the growth
and development of the network over the long term.

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 Figure 17: Staking allocation emission assuming the bootstrapping of network is for 5 years

Network Roles

Figure 18: Different roles envisioned for the operation and self-sustainability of the network

The diagram above presents an overview of the various roles envisioned within the network.
Each role is detailed and elaborated upon in the subsequent sections, providing a
comprehensive understanding of their functions and responsibilities within the network
ecosystem.

Node Operator Roles

In order to ensure smooth operations of a blockchain network, there are typically one or more
roles that enable its functioning. These roles are well-defined and allow operators to choose the
one that best suits their appetite and experience. Similarly, the bitsCrunch network will also
offer multiple roles for operators to choose from. Operators may choose to run a full node with

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all roles or a partial node that satisfies only one role. It is important to note that bitsCrunch is
not a blockchain but rather a decentralized data network that leverages decentralized
blockchain technology to maintain proof of use and contribution.

Network operators play a critical role in the success of bitsCrunch's decentralization effort.
Each role in the network will share the fee earned by the network and will also be rewarded
with network tokens. In the following sections, we will provide more details on the various
roles that operators can choose from in the bitsCrunch network.

Query Processor Node

This node in the network is responsible for making enriched data available to consumers
through a Restful API. Consumers interact solely with this node, which ensures secure access
to data through a cryptographic and secure model. The node comprises components of the
decentralization layer, including data query and data storage. This role within the network
carries weightage, as described below, which means that node operators with this role will
receive fees and rewards based on this weightage. The distribution is calculated using the
Cobb-Douglas Production function, refer to “Network Reward Model” for more details.

Role Weightage

Query Processor Node 30% to 50%

Table 3: Query processor node weightage

The Query Processor node is designed to be less complex than the Data Enricher node, which
makes it an attractive role for more node operators to participate in. However, despite its
relative simplicity, the Query Processor node will still need to be robust and resilient in order to
handle high demand and ensure consistent performance.

As a critical component of the network, the Query Processor node plays a critical role in
processing queries and facilitating the transfer of data across the network. This requires a high
level of reliability and performance, especially as the network grows and more demands are
placed on the system.

Therefore, the Query Processor node must be designed with scalability and resiliency in mind,
using proven techniques such as load balancing, redundancy, and fault tolerance to ensure that
it can handle even the most demanding workloads. By doing so, the network can maintain a
high level of performance and reliability, while also attracting more node operators to
participate in this important role.

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 Figure 19: Functional components of query processor node

Data Enricher Node

This node is responsible for providing the necessary runtime for all the algorithms including AI
/ ML models and also to collect the block data from the blockchain RPC endpoints. It will be
possible to distribute these tasks into smaller chunks and execute among all the participants of
the network. This node comprises components of the decentralization layer, including data
processor, data acquisition and parts of data storage. This role within the network carries
weightage, as described below, which means that node operators with this role will receive fees
and rewards based on this weightage. The distribution is calculated using the Cobb-Douglas
Production function, refer to “Network Reward Model” for more details.

Figure 20: Functional components of data enricher node

Role Weightage

Data Enricher Node 40% to 70%

Table 4: Data Enricher node weightage

This node will interact with RPC endpoints to get data from different blockchain supported by
the network. Between these two nodes 100% of the query fee and the network rewards are
shared based on the weightage defined within the roles.

Delegators

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Not everyone can be a node operator due to the technical expertise and capital requirements
needed to operate and maintain a node. However, token owners who still want to participate in
securing the network can become node delegators.

Node operators incentivize delegators to delegate their tokens to their node by offering a share
of the fee revenue and rewards earnings earned by the node. The rewards for delegators are
influenced by the node's performance and effort, and tend to have low to no influence as more
tokens are staked in the node.

To maximize their returns, delegators carefully consider a variety of factors when selecting a
node operator. They typically look for operators with a strong work load, favorable sharing
rates, and an optimal staking ratio, which allows them to earn the most rewards from their
staked tokens. By carefully choosing a node operator, delegators can help secure the network
and earn rewards while avoiding the complexity and cost of operating their own node.

Indicators

Essential for the sustained expansion of the decentralized model, the data enrichment process
must continuously evolve and adapt. Signaling mechanisms play a vital role in informing
network participants about which blockchains to index, what data needs grooming, and which
metrics to construct, among other tasks.

Network users can leverage their role as indicators to influence the selection of blockchains or
metrics they wish to consume, ensuring the network remains responsive to their needs.
Indicators are rewarded with a share of the query fees, creating an incentive for active
participation in the network's growth and development.

To ensure indicators prioritize tasks appropriately and make well-considered decisions, staking
rewards are unlocked only after the signaled task has been executed. This mechanism
encourages careful signaling and fosters a sense of responsibility among indicators,
contributing to the overall health and efficiency of the decentralized network.

By promoting active engagement and providing tangible incentives for indicators, the network
fosters a collaborative environment that drives the continuous growth and improvement of its
data enrichment activities. This dynamic ecosystem empowers users to contribute their
expertise and influence the network's direction, ultimately enhancing its utility and value for all
participants.

Community Contributor

Developers and projects have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the network
by introducing innovative AI/ML models and supplementary metrics that can further enhance
the network’s capabilities. Additionally, they can provide cutting-edge fraud detection
algorithms and logic, which can be used by the users of the project.

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Even non-developer contributors can play an important role in the network's success by
contributing off-chain data such as social media handles and other relevant information. To
encourage and reward such contributions, the network offers incentives in the form of its native
utility token. These tokens can be earned by developers and non-developers alike, fostering a
collaborative and dynamic ecosystem where all members are motivated to contribute their
skills and knowledge. By actively engaging a diverse range of participants, the network can
continuously evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape in blockchain.

Figure 21: Community contribution

1) Community developers contribute AI/ML models for analytics and forensics or other
algorithms to the network.
2) All community members can contribute with Off-chain metadata like eg: social media
handle for collections.
3) These contributions are logged securely in a decentralized storage and the same is also
recorded in a decentralized blockchain.
4) User application access data via the query processor node.
5) Network billing contract will draw down from the user deposit based on the query
usage.
6) A portion of the fee and network rewards are distributed to the community contributors
based on the contribution.

Community developers will get additional funding from the ecosystem fund if they continue to
make reliable contributions.

Network User

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Network users are consumers of data from the network, which can be obtained through a
permissionless model. All users can connect a crypto wallet to create an account and obtain the
necessary credentials to query the network. To obtain credentials, users must lock up stablecoin
tokens in the billing smart contract. This contract deducts tokens based on usage and swaps
them to BCUT, which is sent to the query fee pool. Stablecoins are used as the payment token
to maintain a stable price for services, allowing users to plan and budget account top-ups.

When users log in for the first time to the network interface, they will receive a default billing
account. This default billing account includes a predefined test API key with a capped quote to
help users test and integrate network services into their applications. Users can manage
multiple application integrations or potentially resell services to other users outside the network
by having multiple billing accounts.

Figure 22: Network user and interactions

1) Users create a billing account and deposit stablecoin into the billing smart contract.
They can optionally add BCUT to receive a discount on the query fee.
2) Users obtain credentials and apply them to the application integration settings.
3) The application uses the credentials to query the network.
4) The network responds to the query and records the activity to IPFS-backed storage.
5) Data from the IPFS storage is periodically aggregated, and the resulting file's hash is
recorded in the blockchain along with the raw data file's hash. This helps prevent any
manipulation of the data.
6) The network's billing contract looks up the blockchain for the latest aggregated file
details.

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 7) The billing contract then uses this information to retrieve the data from IPFS and, based
on the aggregated data, deducts from the money deposited by the user based on usage.
This step may be manual during the initial phase of the project.

Network Settlement

The network settlement contract ensures that all operators and delegators in the network are
duly compensated for their work. This is made up of one or more smart contracts that leverage
the work log files stored in the decentralized storage. The network settlement process is
entirely conducted using the utility token BCUT, ensuring seamless and secure transactions.

Figure 23: Network settlement flow

1) Delegators will stake BCUT token on operator(s) to secure the network and to earn a
share of the query fee and rewards.
2) Network billing contract will draw down from the user deposit based on the query
usage, a portion of it is kept in an expenses pool for paying blockchain gas fee and IPFS
storage costs.
3) Rest of the drawdown is periodically swapped to BCUT and kept in the fee pool.
4) Network settlement contract will use node effort calculated using the aggregated data in
the decentralized storage and the staking ratio. Most of the calculation will be
externalized to not complicate the contract code and also keep the cost low.
5) Node operators will be able to claim BCUT from the settlement contract as per the
reward and fee allocation calculated in step 3. Delegators will also be able to claim the
tokens as per the fee and reward share setup by the operators.

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Network Reward Model

Query fees are collected by the billing smart contract and converted to BCUT before being
deposited into the query fee pool. Operators receive their share of the tokens from this pool on
a monthly basis, with the distribution determined by the Cobb-Douglas Production function.
Rewards are calculated and shared daily.

Let’s apply this function for fee sharing and rewards sharing among the network operators and
delegators. Node staking is used in the request routing and for reward calculation.

Fee share

All fees generated from processing queries are converted to BCUT (the native token of the
network) and collected in a common pool. On the settlement day, which occurs on a fixed day
each month, a Cobb-Douglas algorithm is used to determine the distribution of BCUT rewards
among node operators and delegators based on their contributions to the network. Both
operators and delegators are eligible to claim their respective share of the reward from the pool.
Staking ratio is not used in fee share calculation but instead is used as a factor for query
queuing.

Query Processor node

nodeFeeShareqp(i) = totalFeeEarnings * nodeEffortqp(i) * nodeWeightage

Where
● nodeFeeShareqp(i) is the fee share that is allocated to a particular query processor node
● totalFeeEarnings is the total fee earned by the network over the settlement cycle (a
fixed day of the month)
● nodeEffortqp(i) is the contribution of a node towards query processing. nodeEffortqp = (#
of successful queries processed by a node / total successful queries processed by all
nodes)
● nodeWeghtage is derived from the roles played by the node, refer to Network Operator
Roles section for more details

Data Enricher node

nodeFeeSharede(i) = totalFeeEarnings * nodeEffortde(i) * nodeWeightage

Where
● nodeFeeSharede(i) is the fee share that is allocated to a particular data enricher node
● nodeEffortde(i) is the effort contributed by the node. nodeEffort = (# of bCU by the node
/ total bCU by all nodes) + (# of blocks retrieved using the node / total blocks retrieved
by all nodes). bCU is a bitsCrunch compute unit calculated as a combination of the
infrastructure and other components contributed by the node. Since not all blockchain
have the same block size and hence this will also be factored in towards the node effort.

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Rewards share

As previously stated in this chapter, a portion of the BCUT tokens is allocated for
bootstrapping the network and rewarding its operators. At the close of each 24-hour epoch,
reward shares are computed and made available for distribution to both operators and
delegators. Both delegators and operators are eligible to claim their respective share of the
rewards.

Query Processor node

nodeRewardShareqp(i) = totalRewards * (nodeEffortqp(i) + nodeStakeRatio(i))/2 *

nodeWeightage

Where
● nodeRewardShareqp(i) is the rewards share that will be allocated to a particular node
● totalRewards is the total rewards allocated for the epoch.
● nodeEffortqp(i) is the contribution of a particular node towards query processing.
nodeEffortqp(i) = (# of successful queries processed by a node / total successful queries
processed by all nodes)
● nodeWeightageqp is derived from the roles played by the node, refer to Network
Operator Roles section for more details
● nodeStakeRatio(i) is calculated using the individual node's staking average over the
total staking during the epoch

Data Enricher node

nodeRewardSharede(i) = totalRewards * (nodeEffortde(i)+ nodeStakeRatio(i))/2 *

nodeWeightage

Where
● nodeRewardSharede(i) is the rewards share that is allocated to a particular data enricher
node
● nodeEffortde(i) is the effort contributed by the node. nodeEffort = (# of bCU by the node
/ total bCU by all nodes) + (# of blocks retrieved using the node / total blocks retrieved
by all nodes). bCU is a bitsCrunch compute unit calculated as a combination of the
infrastructure and other components contributed by the node. Since not all blockchain
have the same block size and hence this will also be factored in towards the node effort.

Disputes

In order to maintain fairness and transparency within the network, all node operators have the
right to raise disputes if they believe there are discrepancies or issues with fee and rewards
payouts. Disputes are handled through an open and transparent process that involves network
operators and community support, with the goal of resolving disputes within a fixed duration.

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This process includes a detailed review of the dispute, with input from all relevant parties, and
a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the issue. Once the issue is identified, a
resolution is proposed and voted on by the network community.

By allowing node operators to raise disputes and providing a transparent and collaborative
process for resolving them, the network promotes a sense of trust and fairness that is essential
for long-term success.

Governance

Once the network has achieved sufficient decentralization, network governance will be
transitioned to the bitsCrunch network DAO. This decentralized autonomous organization will
facilitate a transparent and democratic decision-making process, allowing stakeholders to
collectively govern and manage the network without the need for centralized control.

The DAO will be responsible for managing various aspects of the network, including protocol
upgrades, fee structures, and incentive mechanisms. By leveraging the collective expertise and
insights of stakeholders, the DAO will ensure that the network is governed in a fair and
transparent manner that aligns with the values of the community.

Using the DAO will allow stakeholders to have a direct say in the rules and regulations that
govern the network, ensuring that decisions are made through a consensus-driven process. This
will promote greater accountability and community-driven innovation, fostering a greater sense
of ownership and participation among stakeholders.

Slashing

Slashing is a mechanism in which a node operator's stake is penalized for violating certain rules
or engaging in malicious behavior that harms the network. Examples of actions that may result
in a slashing penalty include serving inaccurate data, double logging work, censorship, or other
forms of malicious behavior.

The purpose of slashing is to discourage node operators from engaging in harmful behavior and
to ensure that they have a vested interest in maintaining the security and integrity of the
blockchain. While slashing penalizes the node operator, it does not affect delegators. However,
delegators can expect reduced earnings as the node is downgraded from the queues.

It is important to note that community contributors of the network may also be subject to
slashing penalties for providing inaccurate or harmful content. This ensures that everyone who
participates in the network is held accountable for their actions and that the network is operated
in a fair and transparent manner.

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Overall, slashing is an essential mechanism for ensuring the security and integrity of the
blockchain. It incentivizes node operators to behave in a trustworthy and honest manner and
promotes a decentralized and resilient network that is less vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Operator Expectations
● Always run the latest version of the node
● Meet the minimum hardware and software specification requirements
● Meet staking requirements
● High availability and reliable infrastructure
● Participate in regular feedback sessions with the team and community
● Participate in network governance

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