What if Algorand sold node devices. all the things they require they could put it in the device. people could just plug it up and connect the device to their internet and just let the node device operate in the background.
maybe put light indicators on it to let people know if the internet connection is strong or weak. maybe set up a tech support to help with trouble shooting. when algorand updates, the node device would as well.
sell participation and relay node devices. basic and advanced versions of each. the basic ones could look something like a basic alexa/google nest device (no screen).
the advanced versions would have display screens where you could showcase your NFT’s, come with a clock/calendar/to do list, stream/play music from napster, have algo explorer built in, get algorand news and governance voting reminders, and have a wallet and a dappstore built in as well.
So you would keep the node device on at all times due to the daily use while the node operates in the background. and for the more advanced versions you could possibly collaborate with planet watch and have their sensors built in to earn planets.
So, Algorand could monetize where they wouldnt have to rely so much on selling ALGO’s, increase decentralization with the hardware Algorand requires to run a node. and staying green with planet watch.
it is usually better to run the node in serverhousing than at home
with running participation node you are not helping the network… running relay node right now requires permission from the foundation (setup by dns records) … running KMD nodes which protect the network is simple, but you still need to sign that that participation node is protecting algorand network on your account’s behalf
algorand is not a hardware company… i doubt they need some small cash they would get from this… they are giving out millions of dollars eg to marketize holding algos for purpose of governance
What happens when there isnt anymore ALGO’s for the foundation to sell off? I know they arent a hardware company, just shooting ideas but they could acquire one though. Just like they acquired Napster. But i guess its pointless, since you said it isnt possible to use a node the way i suggested. Thanks for the informative response.
no, it is possible to run the kmd node on raspberry, however i do not understand why algorand should ship such products if its cheaper and better to run the nodes in cloud … what they need to do is create a competition among the node runners and set clear reward rules so that anybody can do it… the same way as people compete to mine blocks on bitcoin might compete on who provides better node services… it is their decision to make … i have discussed few things what i believe the foundation should do here: Algorand, The Foundation, and the complete lack of adoption - #11 by scholtz
I was basically trying to make a useful node for the people who arent really tech savvy. You may say it isnt that difficult to set up, but for someone else it might be. An IoT device with node running in the background would have been useful for the average person. I was just trying to think of a cool new way to use nodes in everyday living.
participation nodes help the network when online. I don’t know where you’re getting KMD nodes but it sounds a lot like participation nodes. Algorand node types - Algorand Developer Portal these are the official definitions and docs on how to participate in consensus @Domenico
nope… participation nodes does not add blocks to the network…
there are relay nodes which are currently archival nodes which route the traffic (the list is managed by foundation by dns records)
then there are participation nodes which just receive the blocks and keeps few thousand blocks
then there are indexer nodes which require full archival nodes
and then there are kmd nodes which are basically participation nodes but have in addition partkey feature… the ability to sign transaction on behalf of user account when the user generate participation keys and write to the blockchain that the specific participation key will be protecting the blockchain for him…
participation nodes might perhaps route some traffic but without kmd they are basically used only for custom indexers which process the blocks one by one and does not need to have history of more than 10k blocks…
These three properties are mostly orthogonal, except that a relay is necessary archival. And we strongly encourage relays not to be participation nodes.
A participation nodes propose blocks and vote on blocks.
Except if it is a relay (which we strongly encourage not to), it does not relay blocks or transactions (except the transactions sent to it).
A participation node uses kmd necessarily.
If a participation node does not have a participation key, it is just a non-participation node.
Such node can be used to send transactions to the network, check account balances, and used in customized indexer (but not official indexer that requires an archival node in normal process).