Verifier Nodes

Glacier infrastructure includes a foundational Data Availability (DA) layer, an Indexer (Vector Database) layer, and a privacy-preserving layer for model training and inference computation using Trusted Execution Environments (TEE). The results and proofs of work from these components are distributed across multiple blockchains, verified to ensure fair value distribution within the incentive ecosystem.

To ensure the integrity, security, and privacy of the entire workflow, it is crucial to include community-operated verifier nodes. These nodes critically assess the outcomes at each layer, verifying compliance with established standards.

Currently, the verifier nodes focus on results from the data processing and AI model training stages. Computations occur within TEE clusters, enhancing data privacy. The outcomes are recorded on the blockchain, complete with TEE attestations to confirm that the processes were conducted securely and privately, promoting fair data value redistribution among stakeholders.

To prevent system manipulation and guarantee equitable data value distribution, third-party verification of TEE attestations is imperative. This requirement underscores the importance of community engagement in maintaining and operating verifier nodes. A single honest node can identify fraudulent activity, but to effectively enforce rules against misbehaving TEE nodes and protect user data, a majority of the nodes must operate with integrity. Therefore, creating a decentralized network of community nodes is essential not only for securing the protocol but also for its scalability.

The verifier nodes will take on additional responsibilities, making it essential to expand our network of community nodes. This growth is crucial not only to support these new duties but also to ensure the continued strength and resilience of the Glacier ecosystem.

Verifier Node License

To operate a verifier node within the Glacier Network, one must possess a Glacier Node NFT License linked to their wallet address. Only wallets holding this license are authorized to run a node and are eligible to earn token rewards.

Delegation

License holders who prefer not to operate a verifier node personally have the option to delegate their node license to another active verifier node. This arrangement allows them to earn rewards from the operations of the delegated node. The rewards from verifications are distributed between the Node License NFT holder and the verifier according to a set commission rate.

Node ID

Each verifier node must be registered with the service contract upon its initial activation to receive a unique uint16 node ID. The node must notify the service contract each time it goes online to be able to publish a verification.

Chainlink VRF

Chainlink's Verifiable Random Function (VRF) plays a crucial role in selecting verifier nodes for each verification round. After an attestation is published, the VRF determines which nodes from the currently online list will perform the verification. The selected node IDs are then stored in the service contract. If a verifier submits a verification, the contract checks if it belongs to the approved list for the current round.

Rewards and Penalties

Nodes must be online for at least six hours daily to qualify for rewards. Details on the distribution of these rewards can be found in the "Rewards rules" section. Delegators to these nodes are also eligible to receive rewards.

If a node fails to submit a verification, it is subject to a penalty initiated by any network participant (the slasher), who will then receive a reward. A node that repeatedly fails to submit verifications, as initially set at two missed submissions and adjustable through governance decisions, will be forced offline.

When submitting a verification, a verifier can delegate the submission process to the Glacier backend. This procedure is gasless, requiring only a signature from the verifier. The Glacier backend consolidates multiple verifications and submits them in batches, thereby significantly reducing the network's overall gas costs.