Sovereign network
The BigFile is powered by a decentralized network of node machines — physical hardware devices operated by independent providers across global data centers.
Traditional cloud relies on a single private entity. The BigFile relies on public utility and autonomous governance.
Decentralized computing
The BigFile blockchain operates on a network of nodes owned and managed by an expanding community of independent providers distributed worldwide. These node providers are carefully selected and vetted by the NNS.
Independent machines
Each node on the BigFile is a dedicated physical server known as a node machine. To ensure true decentralization, each node machine is operated by an independent provider, typically within a data center. This network of nodes is sovereign, free from reliance on corporate cloud services, making it immune to being switched off or tampered with.
Unlike other blockchains, where nodes are simply software instances easily spun up on centralized cloud platforms, BigFile's node machines are technically sovereign. They are built to standardized public hardware specifications, designed to maintain performance under load, and ensure no lag within the same subnet blockchain.
Node Providers
To maintain the network's decentralization, each node provider is vetted and approved by token holders through the NNS, the DAO that governs the BigFile. Becoming a node provider requires submitting a proposal along with a self-declaration document detailing the provision of node machines, intent, and proof of identity. Based on this information, the community votes on the onboarding proposal.
Once accepted into the community and their node machines are operational, node providers receive rewards for their services. These rewards, determined by the NNS DAO, are based on the 30-day average price of BIG and are distributed on the 30th of each month. The NNS DAO calculates rewards based on three primary factors: hardware generation (Gen 1 or Gen 2), geographic location, and the total number of nodes operated.
What you need to know about being a node provider
Where to start
Before making the decision to become a node provider, it is recommended to start by familiarizing yourself with the following:
Onboarding checklist
With a basic understanding of how the BigFile works, you're ready to start the onboarding process using the following resources: