Bye Soft Node Program, Hello IntegrationNet

Constellation Network
Constellation Network
6 min readJun 21, 2023

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Constellation Network (DAG) has prioritized a sustainable, decentralized, and community-oriented ecosystem. In our work to improve this dynamic ecosystem, we are excited to announce significant transformations that will help steer the network toward a more inclusive and rewarding environment for all.

Deprecating the Soft Node Program

The Soft Node Program has been a cornerstone of our early stages, incentivizing users to stake their tokens and receive rewards. It played a vital role in attracting community members and securing the network during its early stages.

However, as the network evolves, we believe it’s time for a strategic shift. We aim to reward contributors who actively provide resources and maintain the network’s health, integrity, and security while also incentivizing exploration and innovation.

To align with our current and future ecosystem’s goals and requirements, we have made adjustments to the rewards structure:

One notable change is the reduction of reward allocation for Soft Nodes from 20% to 0% as of July 1st. This decision reflects our shift away from the Soft Node program and towards rewarding more active contributors.

To further enhance incentives for key network contributors, we have significantly increased the rewards for Validators and Testnet operators. Validators, who play a crucial role in validating transactions, maintaining network integrity, and safeguarding against potential threats, will now receive a higher reward allocation of 17% starting from July 10th. Similarly, Testnet operators responsible for hosting experimental network features that pave the way for future releases will see their reward allocation rise from 1% to 3%.

In conclusion, these reward distribution changes reflect our commitment to rewarding those who actively contribute to the Constellation Network. By placing greater emphasis on Validators and Testnet operators, we aim to drive ongoing innovation, foster exploration of new use cases, and create a secure, scalable, and robust distributed network.

The Emergence of IntegrationNet

The introduction of our additional testnet plays a vital role in solidifying our metagraph support, allowing us to continually innovate and improve our network’s functionality and stability.

IntegrationNet is designed to accommodate up to 300 nodes. Currently, 200 spots are reserved for the lottery process, and the remaining 100 positions are allocated to metagraph project nodes and special contributors, guaranteeing a diverse ecosystem of participants and promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.

As a testing ground for stable protocol versions, both the latest iterations and prerelease versions find their place on IntegrationsNet. The nodes operating within this network play a pivotal role in hosting a reliable and optimized testing environment.

Our primary goal with IntegrationNet is to strengthen our metagraph support and to test new use cases within a stable environment. We believe that this network will help us in staying at the forefront of technological advancement and meet the needs of our growing user base.

In terms of rewards, nodes operating on IntegrationNet will be eligible for incentives from the IntegrationNet reward pool. These incentives will be distributed through Lattice, ensuring a transparent and efficient allocation process. Uptime on the network will be a key factor in determining the allocation of incentives, incentivizing node operators to maintain a reliable and active presence.

Additionally, participation in IntegrationNet serves as a prerequisite for selection for Mainnet node operators. This selection process ensures that only the most committed and reliable node operators join the ranks of our core network, enhancing its resilience and overall performance.

Introducing the IntegrationNet Node Operator Program

The new IntegrationNet Node Operator Program allows DAG holders to actively participate in network development by becoming node operators on IntegrationNet. Here’s how it works:

What is an IntegrationNet Node Operator?

A node operator on IntegrationNet is essential to Constellation Network, directly contributing to its evolution and maintenance.

As a node operator, you will have several responsibilities and duties:

  1. Network Maintenance: Ensure the stability and reliability of the network by monitoring node performance, managing potential issues, and resolving possible technical difficulties.
  2. Transaction Verification: Contribute to the network’s security, maintaining the nodes that verify and validate new transactions.
  3. Upgrading and Updating: Keep nodes up to date with the latest software upgrades provided by the Constellation team for network health, security, and efficiency.
  4. Security: Follow best security practices and guidelines to protect the node from potential threats.

To become a node operator, having a foundational understanding of blockchain technology, familiarity with Constellation Network, and technical proficiency to effectively manage and troubleshoot potential challenges is advantageous. However, rest assured that even if you’re not an expert in these fields, the team at Constellation is committed to providing comprehensive resources and support to assist you throughout your journey as a node operator.

How can you become an IntegrationNet Node Operator?

Users must opt-in to become a node operator and provide their Discord handle (if you still have the old four digit “username#XXXX” it would be this one, otherwise we need your new unique Discord username, not display nickname) on Lattice through the new IntegrationNet Node Operator Program. The deadline to opt into the lottery is June 28th, when the draw will happen.

We will be using a ticketing system to represent participation in the Soft Node programs. The tickets are an important part of the selection process for becoming a node operator on the new IntegrationNet. Let’s break it down:

Ticket Allocation

A ticket is allocated to you for each Soft Node program you’ve participated in, where you held at least one full shard (250k DAG). This means your involvement in each distinct program translates to a ticket for the lottery draw.

Lottery Draw

Your number of tickets corresponds to your chances in the lottery draw. Each ticket serves as an entry — the more tickets you have, the higher your chances of being drawn.

Here’s an example of how this process will work:

The ticketing system aims to reward active participation in the Constellation Network, providing those who have already committed time and resources into the Soft Node programs with greater chances to continue their involvement by becoming a node operator on the new IntegrationNet.

To ensure transparency and our commitment to decentralization, our community will be able to verify the lottery draw process for selecting node operators. The winning ticket numbers will be publicly accessible, allowing everyone to confirm the selection of new node operators on IntegrationNet. Furthermore, the code used to conduct the lottery draw will be shared on a public GitHub repository, enabling anyone to examine the code, understand the process, and independently verify its fairness.

This initiative fosters trust within our community, aligning with the decentralized ethos of the Constellation Network.

Those selected will be guided through the node setup process on Discord. They will be required to submit additional information about their node and wallet with the necessary collateral of 250k DAG on Lattice by July 7th to ensure we’re all set for the official launch of IntegrationNet on July 10th.

What if you don’t get selected?

Don’t worry! Participants who are not chosen will be placed in a queue for future opportunities as new spots become available. Additionally, newcomers who did not participate in the initial draw can apply after July 10th, joining the queue on a first-come, first-served basis.

All participants must maintain a DAG balance of at least 250k to maintain their position in the queue, meeting the collateral requirements for running a node. Failure to do so will result in the participant losing their spot in the queue.

Key Dates:

The IntegrationNet Node Operator Program and the introduction of IntegrationNet represent significant milestones in our commitment to providing a more decentralized and rewarding network for our community. We’re excited about the future and look forward to your participation in making DAG stronger and more robust.

Stay tuned for more updates, and remember to opt-in on Lattice for the lottery before June 28th.

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Constellation Network is actively seeking developers who want to build with us, join our ecosystem, and launch their projects on the Hypergraph.

We look forward to working with you!

For Developers:

For Entrepreneurs: https://web3launchkit.com

Interested in learning more about Constellation Network and connecting with the community?

Website: https://constellationnetwork.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/conste11ation

Telegram: https://t.me/constellationcommunity

Discord: https://discord.gg/gJZRqrJyfz

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