In the YOM ecosystem, nodes are the backbone of a decentralized GPU edge network. Each node is an operator-owned GPU contributing to the substrate that streams live 3D game sessions today and is built to serve enterprise interactive 3D and low-latency AI inference next. Unlike traditional crypto “nodes” that often sit idle or rely on speculative token emissions, our nodes perform real work and get paid based on actual usage.
What is a Node?
A node is essentially a secure container inside a gaming computer or server dedicated to running a single session for a player. When a player launches a game on the network, the game is rendered on a node operator’s hardware and streamed to the player’s device in real time. Each node in the network streams a session to a single concurrent player.
In simpler terms, running a YOM node is akin to hosting a small game server that one player connects to for a session, except the player only sees the video feed. Because YOM is decentralized, these nodes can be run by everyday operators on their own hardware. Every time content is streamed or rendered by your node, you get paid for that session.
Anyone can run a node, provided they obtain a node license and/or have access to suitable hardware or cloud infrastructure. A Node License is essentially an access token that gives you the right to stream more nodes from your host pc or the right to delegate it to other host. Every NANO Node Runner comes with a free embedded license by default. Subsequent licenses are digital NFTs. Once you have such a license, you can choose how to deploy your node: either assign it to your own PC/rig or delegate it to a verified Node-as-a-Service provider who runs the node on your behalf.
Restrictions on the emission of devices and NFTs allow the protocol to scale with the demand of the ecosystem. In practice that means we emit new Node Runners and Node Licenses to the market as we scale beyond the 60% utilization threshold.
How Many Nodes per Host?
Notably, one physical machine can run multiple nodes (consuming multiple licenses) in parallel if it has enough resources and bandwidth available. A single host can run up to 8 nodes by stacking 1 NANO Node Runner + 7 Node Licenses simultaneously on the same rig.
Nodes run on bare metal, no virtual machines. YOM does not slice the GPU into VMs; each node runs as a secure, isolated container with the GPU pushed to 100% for the game, which is what eliminates the context-switching latency spikes that a hypervisor would introduce. An operator with a high-end system multiplies their earnings by serving several players at once from a single machine.
Operator Earnings
A single node earns ~$58/month at moderate utilization. Stacking up to 8 nodes on one host earns up to ~$466/month fully loaded. A NANO Node Runner is $349 with one license included; each additional Node License is $249, putting payback at roughly 6 months.
| Configuration | Monthly Earnings | Investment | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 node | ~$58/month | $349 | ~6 months |
| 8 nodes (full host) | ~$466/month | $349 + 7x $249 | ~6 months |
Earnings scale with actual usage and node reputation. Node licenses are NFTs, so they are transferable on secondary markets and delegatable to a Node-as-a-Service provider who runs the hardware on your behalf.
Node Reputation
The reputation of a node is defined by various factors and is represented by a soul-bound (non-tradeable) metric called XP. The more XP a node operator acquired, the higher their position on the operator leaderboard. The higher your position on the leaderboard the more workload gets assigned to your node, meaning the higher your node utilization rate. Additionally high XP can also translate into winning prizes, badges, perks or bonus multipliers for node earnings. Core earning avenues are:
- Network Operation. Node owners who run stable, high-uptime machines accumulate XP in proportion to the reliability and performance of their nodes. This ensures that those contributing critical infrastructure earn corresponding reputation points. And as a bonus simply by holding your rewards in your wallet, your nodes can accrue more XP.
- Community Participation. Active Discord or forum participation, creation of high-quality guides or tutorials, and social media advocacy all generate XP. This mechanism rewards both the technical and cultural contributors who help grow and educate the community. The Web App and Discord facilitate easy access for members to participate in activities where they can earn XP.
- Community Jobs. Periodic events hosted by the YOM Foundation or community-driven committees can offer bonus XP for tasks like stress-testing new features or helping onboard new members. Certain XP awards are distributed through peer recognition, where outstanding contributions or helpful community moderation receive upvotes or endorsements from other members.