Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system, known as dAIOS, built to power a crossover between AI and blockchain applications. Zero Gravity provides the foundational infrastructure that allows for infinite scalability and decentralization among the core aspects of AI development and use—including storage, computation, data availability, and inferencing. The Zero Gravity platform is uniquely positioned to solve many limitations of centralized AI systems, including high costs, data ownership issues, and lack of transparency.
The upcoming 0G Foundation node sale, scheduled for November 2024, is a pivotal moment in the project’s development. This sale has two purposes: helping to build a truly distributed network environment and opening up the ability to contribute through infrastructure ownership directly to the community.
Together, Zero Gravity hopes to democratize its infrastructure, allowing community members who purchase alignment nodes to validate AI workloads, secure the network, and contribute to the overall health of Zero Gravity’s AI ecosystem.
Background
Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), providing the necessary foundational infrastructure to decentralize and scale the core components of AI—computational, storage, data availability, and inferencing. Zero Gravity’s solution addresses some of the most well-known challenges of centralized AI systems, including the high operational costs resulting in significant barriers to entry, the lack of transparency due to closed-door systems, and centralized control over data leading to privacy concerns.
By using blockchain technology as a backbone, Zero Gravity gives its users a far more equitable AI platform, enabling individual developers, companies, and consumers the ability to build and use AI applications on a fully distributed, scalable, and open system. To accomplish this, the 0G ecosystem is built upon several key components, including the following:
- Decentralized Storage Network
- Data Availability Layer (0G DA)
- Modular architecture for enhanced AI workflows
- Upcoming Decentralized Serving Network for AI inferencing
These components, when combined, give 0G the ability to manage the infrastructure supporting on-chain AI, opening up development opportunities to any and all adopters across a variety of sectors.
Purpose of the Node Sale Report
The 0G AI Alignment node sale is officially scheduled for November 2024, marking the first major milestone for the Zero Gravity platform. As the first decentralized AI operating system, 0G conducting an open node sale helps to drive a shift in control in AI ownership away from centralized mega-corporations and toward a global, decentralized network.
The alignment node sale is designed to empower community members, developers, and operators to become direct participants in the 0G ecosystem by acquiring and operating AI alignment nodes. However, these nodes are more than just basic infrastructure. They unlock the backbone of the 0G platform itself.
0G alignment nodes are responsible for the validation of key operations within the network, such as:
- Checking the status of Storage, DA, validator, and Serving nodes
- Transaction Processing
- Data Availability
- AI Model Computations
In other words, node operators are directly responsible for ensuring the overall security, scalability, and efficiency of the entire 0G system. They will be direct contributors to all AI workflows on 0G and will be compensated for this responsibility through an internal rewards system where node operators will earn native tokens (and other incentives) for their workflow contributions.
The primary objective of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming node sale, highlighting its importance to the platform’s long-term development and sustainability. Specifically, the node sale offers two key advantages:
- Strengthening the decentralization of the 0G ecosystem by increasing the number of participants actively involved in the network’s operation.
- Promoting community-driven infrastructure ownership, ensuring that the platform is governed and maintained by a diverse array of stakeholders rather than centralized actors.
Importance of AI Alignment Nodes
AI alignment nodes are a unique innovation in the decentralized AI space. They are designed to ensure that other existing nodes within the 0G network—i.e., validator nodes, storage nodes, and computation nodes—adhere to the network protocols and operate as intended. Initially, these nodes will focus on validating AI workloads, but as the platform evolves, they will take on more significant roles, including monitoring on-chain AI model drift to ensure that AI systems remain transparent and aligned with the network’s goals.
State of the Web 3 x AI Ecosystem
Current Landscape of Decentralized AI and Blockchain
In 2024, the intersection of cryptocurrency and AI falls into three main areas: infrastructure, resources, and problem-solving. Networks like NEAR, TAO, and Fetch.ai provide platforms for decentralized AI development, offering incentives through tokens. Projects such as Render and Akash offer access to unused GPU resources, while Filecoin and Arweave provide decentralized storage solutions, reducing reliance on centralized systems. Lastly, protocols like Worldcoin, Origin Trail, and Numbers Protocol address AI challenges like deepfakes and misinformation, emphasizing transparency and security in AI-generated content.
Challenges/Risks in Centralized AI Systems (Open vs. Closed AI)
Today's AI infrastructure is centralized, creating problems with data ownership, transparency, and fair monetization. 0G aims to decentralize AI, giving users full control over their data and ensuring transparent decision-making. 0G coordinates distributed resources like storage and computation through blockchain, creating a scalable, auditable AI infrastructure. This modular system integrates with any workflow, bringing the possibilities of decentralized AI fully on-chain.
Centralized AI faces issues with data control, transparency, profit sharing, and governance. 0G's decentralized approach addresses these issues through four mediums:
- Ownership: Unlike centralized systems that can misuse personal data, 0G allows users to retain control of their data on decentralized networks.
- Transparency: Centralized AI lacks transparency, while 0G ensures open, verifiable operations through decentralized data management.
- Monetization: Centralized AI limits profit to a few entities, but 0G promotes fair rewards for all contributors.
- Governance: 0G provides decentralized oversight, ensuring transparent processes and shared incentives for participants.
Need for Decentralized AI Solutions
Decentralized AI, powered by blockchain, distributes ownership, governance, and control, making AI more transparent and accessible. It promotes competition and innovation, reducing big tech dominance.
However, key challenges remain for true decentralization:
- Who builds models?
- Who has the data?
- Who has resources?
- Who creates AI products?
Market Opportunities and Growth Potential
The convergence of blockchain and AI brings powerful synergies that centralized systems can’t achieve. Web3 enables trustless coordination among distributed participants, opening up new ways to tackle AI challenges related to data, computation, and governance.
To build and run AI models, three key components are required:
- Model architecture
- High-quality data
- Computational power (GPUs)
Web3 is transforming these areas with tokenized data systems, decentralized computing, and efforts to prevent monopolization.
State of the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G ecosystem consists of many different projects across several notable industries. These industries include gaming, DeFi, and various forms of blockchain infrastructure. On the supply side, 0G’s infrastructure includes interoperability with projects like Brevis and Axelar for cross-network data integration, restaking solutions like EigenLayer, and decentralized GPU power provided by IoNet and Aethir.
On the demand side, the ecosystem is seeing increased adoption by AI projects, blockchain networks, and gaming platforms. Major players like Polygon and Arbitrum rely on 0G’s data availability solutions, while Web3 infrastructure providers like Caldera and Gelato integrate 0G’s services to enhance their platforms. Game developers like Blade Games use 0G’s decentralized storage to enable trustless on-chain gaming environments with real-time, verifiable game states.
Overview of 0G Technology
Decentralized AI Operating System
Operating systems are essential for managing a computer's hardware and software—think Windows, macOS, and Linux. Before the introduction of operating systems, computers had to be manually operated—a brutally complex process. Systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android are all leading examples of how OS technology can simplify hardware management and utilization, allowing users to run applications, manage memory, and automate processes efficiently.
Historically, early computing systems had to be operated manually, a major barrier to worldwide adoption. This continued until IBM developed the first OS in 1956, which was tasked with scheduling, memory management, and batch processing.
In the same way that traditional operating systems brought order and efficiency to computing, 0G is aiming to bring transformational change to decentralized AI. For decades, AI development has been confined to a few tech giants that could afford the infrastructure and had the knowledge to build out these systems manually. However, the introduction of a decentralized AI OS could redefine the landscape entirely, opening up AI development to be a community-driven, openly accessible playing field.
Why an Operating System for AI?
Operating systems simplify hardware interactions and standardize processes, enabling easier development and innovation. In most AI systems, development happens on proprietary platforms, which limits competition and centralizes control. 0G’s decentralized AI OS (dAIOS) changes this by decentralizing the infrastructure powering AI applications. While many decentralized AI projects claim to solve issues like control and data misuse, they often replicate the same problems, focusing on apps while ignoring the underlying infrastructure. This results in high costs, slow performance, and centralized governance.
What actually sets 0G’s dAIOS apart is that it does more than just apply decentralization on the surface. 0G re-engineers the entire operating system, introducing a fully decentralized, infinitely scalable, and modular OS that transforms how AI can be deployed and managed at every level—from storage and computation to governance and economic incentives.
Core Innovations of 0G
0G Storage
0G Storage forms the backbone of the 0G operating system. It is a decentralized, scalable database designed for both Web2 and Web3 environments. Its storage infrastructure is built to handle large-scale data loads, including extensive datasets, AI models, and assets generated for machine learning workflows. Its design ensures high throughput and dependable performance, making it well-suited for applications with demanding data requirements. It does so by utilizing erasure coding, a technique that splits data into multiple smaller, redundant fragments that are distributed across the storage network, ensuring data accessibility even during failures or network outages.
To verify data integrity and ensure nodes are actively maintaining the network, Proof of Random Access (PoRA) is used. PoRA requires miners to demonstrate that they store specific chunks of data by responding to random queries. Miners are rewarded based on their ability to meet these challenges, ensuring decentralized participation and security. The erasure coding technique allows for fault tolerance and efficient storage, where lost or corrupted data can be quickly reconstructed by accessing only a subset of the data fragments. This design allows 0G to handle high volumes of data for AI models and dApps with minimal latency.
Serving
0G Serving introduces a decentralized framework that transforms how AI services are accessed and delivered. Connecting users seeking AI model inference with GPU owners running these models creates a direct, trustless marketplace without intermediaries. Service providers set their own prices and receive real-time rewards for their contributions, offering a transparent, efficient, and accessible alternative to traditional AI platforms. This open ecosystem allows anyone with the necessary hardware to participate, promoting a global network of service providers and making advanced AI services available to a broader audience at lower costs.
The platform’s design emphasizes both performance and usability. It minimizes on-chain transaction costs by allowing service providers to batch multiple user requests, while ZK-proofs compress data to optimize settlements further. Additionally, off-chain data management through 0G Storage ensures that large datasets are handled efficiently, keeping costs low. The interaction between users and providers is seamless, with smart contracts managing everything from payments to service execution. Users pre-deposit funds to access services, and a built-in refund mechanism ensures they can reclaim unused balances within a specified timeframe. By decentralizing both service delivery and payment processes, 0G Serving offers a scalable and user-friendly alternative to centralized AI solutions, redefining how AI-powered workflows are monetized and deployed.
0G Data Availability (DA)
0G DA ensures consistent data accessibility through a decentralized network by using Verifiable Random Functions (VRF) to randomly select nodes for data validation, preventing collusion and ensuring security. It leverages KZG Polynomial Commitments to efficiently verify data without revealing sensitive details, ensuring data integrity and provenance. With near-infinite scalability, 0G supports growing demands, especially for AI applications and rollups, without bottlenecks. Its two-lane architecture—Data Storage Lane for fast, secure transfers and Data Publishing Lane for continuous availability—enhances efficiency. GPU-accelerated erasure coding further optimizes performance, making 0G more scalable and cost-effective than solutions like Celestia or EigenDA, offering superior throughput for developers.
Security and Scalability Mechanisms
0G Consensus
A defining feature of 0G is its ability to scale horizontally by utilizing multiple independent consensus networks. These consensus networks can be deployed in any number (even as high as 1,000), allowing the system to scale in response to demand. Each network operates in parallel, independently managing data commitments and ensuring the integrity of stored data. This modular approach ensures that no single consensus network becomes a bottleneck, providing near-infinite scalability.
Data in the 0G system is partitioned across multiple networks, allowing each partition to be processed independently and simultaneously. This structure not only improves performance but also enables massive volumes of data, such as those required for real-time AI model training, to be handled efficiently. By distributing data across various partitions and managing them through independent consensus networks, 0G ensures that its infrastructure can grow alongside the increasing needs of decentralized AI platforms.
Shared Staking Mechanism
Another innovative feature of the 0G architecture is its shared staking mechanism, which operates across all consensus networks. Validators stake 0G tokens on the Ethereum mainnet and use these stakes to validate data across the various 0G consensus networks. When validators participate in consensus on any 0G network, they rely on the same staked assets, ensuring a unified level of security across the entire ecosystem.
Furthermore, tokens can be burned on the 0G networks and redeemed on Ethereum, creating a fluid, cross-chain system that enhances both security and liquidity. This shared staking design eliminates the need for separate staking for each consensus network, making the system more efficient while ensuring that validators have consistent incentives to act honestly across all networks.
The Higher Objective: AI Alignment Nodes and the Future of AI
AI Alignment Nodes in the 0G network are designed to ensure that the behavior of AI models deployed within the system remains aligned with established ethical standards and operational guidelines. They monitor the actions of other decentralized nodes—validator, storage, and serving nodes—and ensure compliance with network protocols. These nodes serve as a form of oversight, initially providing light utility, but are expected to evolve significantly. Over time, their role will expand to monitoring on-chain AI model behavior, tracking drifts, and verifying that AI operates as intended.
Preventing AI Misbehavior and Bias
AI Alignment Nodes in a decentralized system help monitor and prevent bias or misbehavior in AI models. They track model behavior in real-time, detect deviations, and raise alerts when necessary, ensuring models stay on track and perform as intended.
In centralized AI systems, issues may go unnoticed until they cause harm. 0G’s decentralized AI system uses Alignment Nodes for real-time monitoring, flagging problems early. This boosts reliability and builds trust among users and developers.
Future Capabilities and Responsibilities
As 0G's network evolves, AI Alignment Nodes will take on more advanced roles:
- Monitoring Drift: Tracking AI models to ensure they stay aligned with their initial training, preventing bias or incorrect outputs.
- Mitigating Risks: Continuously checking model outputs for inaccuracies, ensuring decentralized AI models remain reliable.
- Cross-Chain Governance: Coordinating governance across decentralized chains to maintain ethical standards across the ecosystem.
Features of the 0G Node Sale
The 0G Node Sale is structured with two distinct phases:
- Whitelist Node Sale Launch: November 11th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, exclusive for whitelisted users. This phase lasts for 2 days.
- Public Node Sale Launch: November 13th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, open to all users.
This tiered approach ensures early access for dedicated community members and allows wider participation post-whitelist period.
Node Specs, Pricing, and Distribution
The 0G Node Sale comprises 175,500 total nodes, distributed across 32 tiers, with prices starting at 0.05 ETH. Each tier comes with a fixed number of nodes, with the lowest tiers offering the lowest cost for early operators and communities.
Additionally, 0G nodes are designed with minimal hardware requirements, making it easy for a wide range of participants to operate them. The required specs include:
- 64MB RAM
- 1 x86 CPU core at 2.1GHz
- 10GB Disk Space
- 10Mbps Internet Connection
Supported Payment Methods Across Blockchains
- To ensure inclusivity across various blockchain ecosystems, the 0G Node Sale supports payments using multiple tokens across EVM-compatible chains and Solana through li.fi. Chain options: https://docs.li.fi/list-chains-bridges-dex-aggregators-solvers
Purchase Process and NFT Licensing
How to Purchase:
- Visit node.0gfoundation.ai and connect your wallet.
- Choose your desired chain and token for payment.
- Review the available tiers and select the number of nodes to purchase.
- Optionally, apply a promo code for a discount.
- Approve the transaction via your wallet and complete the purchase.
A few weeks after purchase, buyers receive ERC-721 NFTs representing ownership of their 0G nodes. These NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year but grant lifetime access to the 0G network. The nodes will become active after 0G's mainnet launch, which is projected for Q1 2025, when node operators can start earning rewards.
Value Proposition
The 0G Node Sale presents a unique opportunity for early adopters to secure a position in the early phases of decentralized AI. As the first-ever dAIOS, 0G combines the power of blockchain technology with scalable AI infrastructure, opening up a world of possibilities for operators seeking to provide services and receive long-term value in return. Below are the core advantages that make this sale particularly attractive to early adopters and strategic operators:
Early Adoption Advantage
The 0G network is set to disrupt both decentralized and off-chain AI development. By joining the 0G Node Sale, early operators gain a strategic advantage as the ecosystem grows. Node operators will be key in securing and validating the network, with increasing demand as decentralized AI platforms expand in industries like finance, healthcare, and autonomous systems.
Early adopters of the node sale gain access to lifetime node licenses, providing them with ongoing involvement in the platform’s growth and development. Plus, early access to the network ensures operators can benefit from future upgrades and exclusive features within the 0G ecosystem, such as specialized tools for AI model validation, secure data marketplaces, and enhanced node performance capabilities.
Ecosystem Rewards and Incentives
One of the most attractive aspects of the 0G Node Sale is the long-term reward structure for node operators. Over the next three years, operators will be eligible to receive up to 15% of the total 0G ecosystem token supply.
These rewards are allocated for:
- Ensuring Data Integrity: Alignment nodes will verify the accuracy of AI computations, data storage, and data availability across the 0G network, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of AI workloads. They may also help detect malicious data injection, affecting decentralized LLM models' training.
- Supporting Network Security: Nodes contribute directly to the decentralization and security of the network, ensuring that no single entity can control the platform.
With the token distribution structured over a 3-year period, operators benefit from sustained, long-term rewards, ensuring that node operators are consistently incentivized to maintain the health and security of the ecosystem.
Lifetime Access and Non-Transferable NFTs
Lifetime access to the 0G network is another significant advantage for operators participating in the node sale. Each node purchase is represented by an ERC-721 NFT, symbolizing ownership and providing the operator with lifetime access to the 0G platform.
The NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year after the sale. This ensures that node operators are truly committed to the ecosystem’s growth, fostering a more stable and secure network. As demand for decentralized AI grows and the 0G network scales, the value of holding a node is likely to increase. Given the limited number of nodes available, lifetime access offers a significant competitive edge for long-term operators.
Additionally, NFT-based node licenses provide flexibility for future developments. Operators can potentially use their NFT licenses to access premium features, join governance decisions, or participate in staking mechanisms tied to future upgrades in the network.
Strategic Benefits
For strategic operators, the 0G node sale represents a highly beneficial opportunity, given the unique position of 0G in the AI and blockchain intersection:
- Diversification Across Chains: The node sale accepts payments in multiple tokens across different EVM-compatible and Solana chains, allowing operators to use assets from their preferred ecosystems.
- Scalability and Future-Proofing: The 0G platform is designed for infinite scalability, meaning that as AI models become more data-intensive, 0G’s decentralized infrastructure can support these demands.
- Potential Network Effects: As more operators, developers, and users join the 0G ecosystem, the economic utility of the platform will increase due to network effects.
Community Engagement and Referral Incentives
0G also incentivizes community-driven growth through its referral program, which allows node operators to earn 5-10% cash back for every successful referral.
Purchasers who refer new buyers to the node sale will receive ~5-10% cashback in USDC, with an additional 5% rebate offered to those who use a referral code. This feature not only rewards active community members but also encourages organic growth within the ecosystem.
Rebates and commissions are processed as USDC airdrops, delivered approximately six weeks after the sale. This provides an additional incentive for early operators who actively participate in expanding the 0G community.
Importance of the Node Sale for the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G node sale is the most crucial moment for the project in its ambition of expanding the decentralized AI space and offering a truly innovative development launchpad. By distributing nodes across a wide range of participants, 0G will be a community-driven effort - one that starts and stops with the actual purchasing and distribution of the alignment nodes in question.
Node operators, as explained previously, will be the heart and soul of 0G’s dAIOS. They play fundamental roles in verifying transactions, maintaining data integrity, and providing the processing power needed to support AI computations, making them integral to basically all dAIOS operations.
Risk Analysis
Technological Risks
Operating in a decentralized AI ecosystem like 0G presents some technological risks. For one, as with any emerging technology, usage fluctuations can impact the economic utility of the 0G ecosystem, especially within the nascent phase of decentralized AI.
Likewise, despite 0G’s robust infrastructure, the rapid evolution of AI and blockchain technology could introduce unforeseen challenges and competitors. Competing platforms might develop similar innovations, potentially impacting 0G’s own market share (though first to market certainly helps offset this risk). Additionally, scalability and performance issues may arise as the network grows (as with any novel platform), requiring continuous updates and improvements as time goes on.
Regulatory and Compliance Considerations
Operating in the decentralized AI space means navigating a complex regulatory landscape:
- Regulatory Uncertainty: AI and blockchain are areas under increasing global regulatory scrutiny. Changes in AI governance or blockchain regulation could impact the operation or compliance status of 0G nodes, particularly regarding data privacy, AI, and ethics.
- Compliance with Data Privacy Laws: Since 0G deals with data storage and processing, it may need to adhere to data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in the U.S. Ensuring compliance with these evolving standards is critical to maintaining legal stability.
Mitigation Strategies and Safeguards
0G has painstakingly gone to great lengths to ensure it is mitigating risks appropriately. For one, by distributing decision-making processes across a network of node operators, 0G reduces the risk of central authority-driven failures. Not to mention, decentralized governance and ownership help mitigate compliance issues or failures.
Additionally, 0G’s modular infrastructure can be updated seamlessly in the case of needed upgrades, changes, or advancements. This means that 0G can be a highly dynamic platform that remains competitive and relevant in the AI space.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The 0G platform introduces the world’s first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), delivering scalable, low-cost infrastructure with decentralized governance. By enabling infinite scalability and efficient AI workload processing, 0G positions itself at the forefront of decentralized AI technology. Operators have a timely opportunity to participate in the upcoming Node Sale, launching in November 2024, which offers early access to AI alignment nodes crucial for network operations and governance.
Node operators stand to benefit significantly, with rewards comprising up to 15% of the total 0G token supply over the next three years. These nodes also grant lifetime access to the platform, represented as non-transferable NFTs for the first year, ensuring exclusive participation without initial secondary market speculation. Payments will be accepted from multiple blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum, underscoring the platform’s focus on interoperability and accessibility.
For prospective participants, early engagement is essential to secure nodes at the lowest price points and maximize long-term rewards. Operators will play a pivotal role in validating workloads and securing the network, making sustained involvement key to unlocking the full benefits of the platform’s incentive structure. The combination of attractive rewards, cross-chain accessibility, and a cutting-edge decentralized AI framework makes 0G’s Node Sale an appealing opportunity for those ready to commit to the future of decentralized AI.
How to Participate in the Node Sale
For those interested that reside in appropriate regulatory regions, visit here to secure your spot on the whitelist and prepare your wallet with supported tokens (ETH, USDC, SOL, etc.).
Join the vibrant 0G community discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/0glabs
TG channel https://t.me/web3_0glabs
Follow on twitter: https://x.com/0G_labs
Apply for Whitelist: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZSiIn3WBEdztzCObFBnLa0c6f1YoRwlN_eI8NxGPuG4w-zg/viewform
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by 0G Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.
Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system, known as dAIOS, built to power a crossover between AI and blockchain applications. Zero Gravity provides the foundational infrastructure that allows for infinite scalability and decentralization among the core aspects of AI development and use—including storage, computation, data availability, and inferencing. The Zero Gravity platform is uniquely positioned to solve many limitations of centralized AI systems, including high costs, data ownership issues, and lack of transparency.
The upcoming 0G Foundation node sale, scheduled for November 2024, is a pivotal moment in the project’s development. This sale has two purposes: helping to build a truly distributed network environment and opening up the ability to contribute through infrastructure ownership directly to the community.
Together, Zero Gravity hopes to democratize its infrastructure, allowing community members who purchase alignment nodes to validate AI workloads, secure the network, and contribute to the overall health of Zero Gravity’s AI ecosystem.
Background
Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), providing the necessary foundational infrastructure to decentralize and scale the core components of AI—computational, storage, data availability, and inferencing. Zero Gravity’s solution addresses some of the most well-known challenges of centralized AI systems, including the high operational costs resulting in significant barriers to entry, the lack of transparency due to closed-door systems, and centralized control over data leading to privacy concerns.
By using blockchain technology as a backbone, Zero Gravity gives its users a far more equitable AI platform, enabling individual developers, companies, and consumers the ability to build and use AI applications on a fully distributed, scalable, and open system. To accomplish this, the 0G ecosystem is built upon several key components, including the following:
- Decentralized Storage Network
- Data Availability Layer (0G DA)
- Modular architecture for enhanced AI workflows
- Upcoming Decentralized Serving Network for AI inferencing
These components, when combined, give 0G the ability to manage the infrastructure supporting on-chain AI, opening up development opportunities to any and all adopters across a variety of sectors.
Purpose of the Node Sale Report
The 0G AI Alignment node sale is officially scheduled for November 2024, marking the first major milestone for the Zero Gravity platform. As the first decentralized AI operating system, 0G conducting an open node sale helps to drive a shift in control in AI ownership away from centralized mega-corporations and toward a global, decentralized network.
The alignment node sale is designed to empower community members, developers, and operators to become direct participants in the 0G ecosystem by acquiring and operating AI alignment nodes. However, these nodes are more than just basic infrastructure. They unlock the backbone of the 0G platform itself.
0G alignment nodes are responsible for the validation of key operations within the network, such as:
- Checking the status of Storage, DA, validator, and Serving nodes
- Transaction Processing
- Data Availability
- AI Model Computations
In other words, node operators are directly responsible for ensuring the overall security, scalability, and efficiency of the entire 0G system. They will be direct contributors to all AI workflows on 0G and will be compensated for this responsibility through an internal rewards system where node operators will earn native tokens (and other incentives) for their workflow contributions.
The primary objective of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming node sale, highlighting its importance to the platform’s long-term development and sustainability. Specifically, the node sale offers two key advantages:
- Strengthening the decentralization of the 0G ecosystem by increasing the number of participants actively involved in the network’s operation.
- Promoting community-driven infrastructure ownership, ensuring that the platform is governed and maintained by a diverse array of stakeholders rather than centralized actors.
Importance of AI Alignment Nodes
AI alignment nodes are a unique innovation in the decentralized AI space. They are designed to ensure that other existing nodes within the 0G network—i.e., validator nodes, storage nodes, and computation nodes—adhere to the network protocols and operate as intended. Initially, these nodes will focus on validating AI workloads, but as the platform evolves, they will take on more significant roles, including monitoring on-chain AI model drift to ensure that AI systems remain transparent and aligned with the network’s goals.
State of the Web 3 x AI Ecosystem
Current Landscape of Decentralized AI and Blockchain
In 2024, the intersection of cryptocurrency and AI falls into three main areas: infrastructure, resources, and problem-solving. Networks like NEAR, TAO, and Fetch.ai provide platforms for decentralized AI development, offering incentives through tokens. Projects such as Render and Akash offer access to unused GPU resources, while Filecoin and Arweave provide decentralized storage solutions, reducing reliance on centralized systems. Lastly, protocols like Worldcoin, Origin Trail, and Numbers Protocol address AI challenges like deepfakes and misinformation, emphasizing transparency and security in AI-generated content.
Challenges/Risks in Centralized AI Systems (Open vs. Closed AI)
Today's AI infrastructure is centralized, creating problems with data ownership, transparency, and fair monetization. 0G aims to decentralize AI, giving users full control over their data and ensuring transparent decision-making. 0G coordinates distributed resources like storage and computation through blockchain, creating a scalable, auditable AI infrastructure. This modular system integrates with any workflow, bringing the possibilities of decentralized AI fully on-chain.
Centralized AI faces issues with data control, transparency, profit sharing, and governance. 0G's decentralized approach addresses these issues through four mediums:
- Ownership: Unlike centralized systems that can misuse personal data, 0G allows users to retain control of their data on decentralized networks.
- Transparency: Centralized AI lacks transparency, while 0G ensures open, verifiable operations through decentralized data management.
- Monetization: Centralized AI limits profit to a few entities, but 0G promotes fair rewards for all contributors.
- Governance: 0G provides decentralized oversight, ensuring transparent processes and shared incentives for participants.
Need for Decentralized AI Solutions
Decentralized AI, powered by blockchain, distributes ownership, governance, and control, making AI more transparent and accessible. It promotes competition and innovation, reducing big tech dominance.
However, key challenges remain for true decentralization:
- Who builds models?
- Who has the data?
- Who has resources?
- Who creates AI products?
Market Opportunities and Growth Potential
The convergence of blockchain and AI brings powerful synergies that centralized systems can’t achieve. Web3 enables trustless coordination among distributed participants, opening up new ways to tackle AI challenges related to data, computation, and governance.
To build and run AI models, three key components are required:
- Model architecture
- High-quality data
- Computational power (GPUs)
Web3 is transforming these areas with tokenized data systems, decentralized computing, and efforts to prevent monopolization.
State of the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G ecosystem consists of many different projects across several notable industries. These industries include gaming, DeFi, and various forms of blockchain infrastructure. On the supply side, 0G’s infrastructure includes interoperability with projects like Brevis and Axelar for cross-network data integration, restaking solutions like EigenLayer, and decentralized GPU power provided by IoNet and Aethir.
On the demand side, the ecosystem is seeing increased adoption by AI projects, blockchain networks, and gaming platforms. Major players like Polygon and Arbitrum rely on 0G’s data availability solutions, while Web3 infrastructure providers like Caldera and Gelato integrate 0G’s services to enhance their platforms. Game developers like Blade Games use 0G’s decentralized storage to enable trustless on-chain gaming environments with real-time, verifiable game states.
Overview of 0G Technology
Decentralized AI Operating System
Operating systems are essential for managing a computer's hardware and software—think Windows, macOS, and Linux. Before the introduction of operating systems, computers had to be manually operated—a brutally complex process. Systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android are all leading examples of how OS technology can simplify hardware management and utilization, allowing users to run applications, manage memory, and automate processes efficiently.
Historically, early computing systems had to be operated manually, a major barrier to worldwide adoption. This continued until IBM developed the first OS in 1956, which was tasked with scheduling, memory management, and batch processing.
In the same way that traditional operating systems brought order and efficiency to computing, 0G is aiming to bring transformational change to decentralized AI. For decades, AI development has been confined to a few tech giants that could afford the infrastructure and had the knowledge to build out these systems manually. However, the introduction of a decentralized AI OS could redefine the landscape entirely, opening up AI development to be a community-driven, openly accessible playing field.
Why an Operating System for AI?
Operating systems simplify hardware interactions and standardize processes, enabling easier development and innovation. In most AI systems, development happens on proprietary platforms, which limits competition and centralizes control. 0G’s decentralized AI OS (dAIOS) changes this by decentralizing the infrastructure powering AI applications. While many decentralized AI projects claim to solve issues like control and data misuse, they often replicate the same problems, focusing on apps while ignoring the underlying infrastructure. This results in high costs, slow performance, and centralized governance.
What actually sets 0G’s dAIOS apart is that it does more than just apply decentralization on the surface. 0G re-engineers the entire operating system, introducing a fully decentralized, infinitely scalable, and modular OS that transforms how AI can be deployed and managed at every level—from storage and computation to governance and economic incentives.
Core Innovations of 0G
0G Storage
0G Storage forms the backbone of the 0G operating system. It is a decentralized, scalable database designed for both Web2 and Web3 environments. Its storage infrastructure is built to handle large-scale data loads, including extensive datasets, AI models, and assets generated for machine learning workflows. Its design ensures high throughput and dependable performance, making it well-suited for applications with demanding data requirements. It does so by utilizing erasure coding, a technique that splits data into multiple smaller, redundant fragments that are distributed across the storage network, ensuring data accessibility even during failures or network outages.
To verify data integrity and ensure nodes are actively maintaining the network, Proof of Random Access (PoRA) is used. PoRA requires miners to demonstrate that they store specific chunks of data by responding to random queries. Miners are rewarded based on their ability to meet these challenges, ensuring decentralized participation and security. The erasure coding technique allows for fault tolerance and efficient storage, where lost or corrupted data can be quickly reconstructed by accessing only a subset of the data fragments. This design allows 0G to handle high volumes of data for AI models and dApps with minimal latency.
Serving
0G Serving introduces a decentralized framework that transforms how AI services are accessed and delivered. Connecting users seeking AI model inference with GPU owners running these models creates a direct, trustless marketplace without intermediaries. Service providers set their own prices and receive real-time rewards for their contributions, offering a transparent, efficient, and accessible alternative to traditional AI platforms. This open ecosystem allows anyone with the necessary hardware to participate, promoting a global network of service providers and making advanced AI services available to a broader audience at lower costs.
The platform’s design emphasizes both performance and usability. It minimizes on-chain transaction costs by allowing service providers to batch multiple user requests, while ZK-proofs compress data to optimize settlements further. Additionally, off-chain data management through 0G Storage ensures that large datasets are handled efficiently, keeping costs low. The interaction between users and providers is seamless, with smart contracts managing everything from payments to service execution. Users pre-deposit funds to access services, and a built-in refund mechanism ensures they can reclaim unused balances within a specified timeframe. By decentralizing both service delivery and payment processes, 0G Serving offers a scalable and user-friendly alternative to centralized AI solutions, redefining how AI-powered workflows are monetized and deployed.
0G Data Availability (DA)
0G DA ensures consistent data accessibility through a decentralized network by using Verifiable Random Functions (VRF) to randomly select nodes for data validation, preventing collusion and ensuring security. It leverages KZG Polynomial Commitments to efficiently verify data without revealing sensitive details, ensuring data integrity and provenance. With near-infinite scalability, 0G supports growing demands, especially for AI applications and rollups, without bottlenecks. Its two-lane architecture—Data Storage Lane for fast, secure transfers and Data Publishing Lane for continuous availability—enhances efficiency. GPU-accelerated erasure coding further optimizes performance, making 0G more scalable and cost-effective than solutions like Celestia or EigenDA, offering superior throughput for developers.
Security and Scalability Mechanisms
0G Consensus
A defining feature of 0G is its ability to scale horizontally by utilizing multiple independent consensus networks. These consensus networks can be deployed in any number (even as high as 1,000), allowing the system to scale in response to demand. Each network operates in parallel, independently managing data commitments and ensuring the integrity of stored data. This modular approach ensures that no single consensus network becomes a bottleneck, providing near-infinite scalability.
Data in the 0G system is partitioned across multiple networks, allowing each partition to be processed independently and simultaneously. This structure not only improves performance but also enables massive volumes of data, such as those required for real-time AI model training, to be handled efficiently. By distributing data across various partitions and managing them through independent consensus networks, 0G ensures that its infrastructure can grow alongside the increasing needs of decentralized AI platforms.
Shared Staking Mechanism
Another innovative feature of the 0G architecture is its shared staking mechanism, which operates across all consensus networks. Validators stake 0G tokens on the Ethereum mainnet and use these stakes to validate data across the various 0G consensus networks. When validators participate in consensus on any 0G network, they rely on the same staked assets, ensuring a unified level of security across the entire ecosystem.
Furthermore, tokens can be burned on the 0G networks and redeemed on Ethereum, creating a fluid, cross-chain system that enhances both security and liquidity. This shared staking design eliminates the need for separate staking for each consensus network, making the system more efficient while ensuring that validators have consistent incentives to act honestly across all networks.
The Higher Objective: AI Alignment Nodes and the Future of AI
AI Alignment Nodes in the 0G network are designed to ensure that the behavior of AI models deployed within the system remains aligned with established ethical standards and operational guidelines. They monitor the actions of other decentralized nodes—validator, storage, and serving nodes—and ensure compliance with network protocols. These nodes serve as a form of oversight, initially providing light utility, but are expected to evolve significantly. Over time, their role will expand to monitoring on-chain AI model behavior, tracking drifts, and verifying that AI operates as intended.
Preventing AI Misbehavior and Bias
AI Alignment Nodes in a decentralized system help monitor and prevent bias or misbehavior in AI models. They track model behavior in real-time, detect deviations, and raise alerts when necessary, ensuring models stay on track and perform as intended.
In centralized AI systems, issues may go unnoticed until they cause harm. 0G’s decentralized AI system uses Alignment Nodes for real-time monitoring, flagging problems early. This boosts reliability and builds trust among users and developers.
Future Capabilities and Responsibilities
As 0G's network evolves, AI Alignment Nodes will take on more advanced roles:
- Monitoring Drift: Tracking AI models to ensure they stay aligned with their initial training, preventing bias or incorrect outputs.
- Mitigating Risks: Continuously checking model outputs for inaccuracies, ensuring decentralized AI models remain reliable.
- Cross-Chain Governance: Coordinating governance across decentralized chains to maintain ethical standards across the ecosystem.
Features of the 0G Node Sale
The 0G Node Sale is structured with two distinct phases:
- Whitelist Node Sale Launch: November 11th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, exclusive for whitelisted users. This phase lasts for 2 days.
- Public Node Sale Launch: November 13th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, open to all users.
This tiered approach ensures early access for dedicated community members and allows wider participation post-whitelist period.
Node Specs, Pricing, and Distribution
The 0G Node Sale comprises 175,500 total nodes, distributed across 32 tiers, with prices starting at 0.05 ETH. Each tier comes with a fixed number of nodes, with the lowest tiers offering the lowest cost for early operators and communities.
Additionally, 0G nodes are designed with minimal hardware requirements, making it easy for a wide range of participants to operate them. The required specs include:
- 64MB RAM
- 1 x86 CPU core at 2.1GHz
- 10GB Disk Space
- 10Mbps Internet Connection
Supported Payment Methods Across Blockchains
- To ensure inclusivity across various blockchain ecosystems, the 0G Node Sale supports payments using multiple tokens across EVM-compatible chains and Solana through li.fi. Chain options: https://docs.li.fi/list-chains-bridges-dex-aggregators-solvers
Purchase Process and NFT Licensing
How to Purchase:
- Visit node.0gfoundation.ai and connect your wallet.
- Choose your desired chain and token for payment.
- Review the available tiers and select the number of nodes to purchase.
- Optionally, apply a promo code for a discount.
- Approve the transaction via your wallet and complete the purchase.
A few weeks after purchase, buyers receive ERC-721 NFTs representing ownership of their 0G nodes. These NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year but grant lifetime access to the 0G network. The nodes will become active after 0G's mainnet launch, which is projected for Q1 2025, when node operators can start earning rewards.
Value Proposition
The 0G Node Sale presents a unique opportunity for early adopters to secure a position in the early phases of decentralized AI. As the first-ever dAIOS, 0G combines the power of blockchain technology with scalable AI infrastructure, opening up a world of possibilities for operators seeking to provide services and receive long-term value in return. Below are the core advantages that make this sale particularly attractive to early adopters and strategic operators:
Early Adoption Advantage
The 0G network is set to disrupt both decentralized and off-chain AI development. By joining the 0G Node Sale, early operators gain a strategic advantage as the ecosystem grows. Node operators will be key in securing and validating the network, with increasing demand as decentralized AI platforms expand in industries like finance, healthcare, and autonomous systems.
Early adopters of the node sale gain access to lifetime node licenses, providing them with ongoing involvement in the platform’s growth and development. Plus, early access to the network ensures operators can benefit from future upgrades and exclusive features within the 0G ecosystem, such as specialized tools for AI model validation, secure data marketplaces, and enhanced node performance capabilities.
Ecosystem Rewards and Incentives
One of the most attractive aspects of the 0G Node Sale is the long-term reward structure for node operators. Over the next three years, operators will be eligible to receive up to 15% of the total 0G ecosystem token supply.
These rewards are allocated for:
- Ensuring Data Integrity: Alignment nodes will verify the accuracy of AI computations, data storage, and data availability across the 0G network, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of AI workloads. They may also help detect malicious data injection, affecting decentralized LLM models' training.
- Supporting Network Security: Nodes contribute directly to the decentralization and security of the network, ensuring that no single entity can control the platform.
With the token distribution structured over a 3-year period, operators benefit from sustained, long-term rewards, ensuring that node operators are consistently incentivized to maintain the health and security of the ecosystem.
Lifetime Access and Non-Transferable NFTs
Lifetime access to the 0G network is another significant advantage for operators participating in the node sale. Each node purchase is represented by an ERC-721 NFT, symbolizing ownership and providing the operator with lifetime access to the 0G platform.
The NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year after the sale. This ensures that node operators are truly committed to the ecosystem’s growth, fostering a more stable and secure network. As demand for decentralized AI grows and the 0G network scales, the value of holding a node is likely to increase. Given the limited number of nodes available, lifetime access offers a significant competitive edge for long-term operators.
Additionally, NFT-based node licenses provide flexibility for future developments. Operators can potentially use their NFT licenses to access premium features, join governance decisions, or participate in staking mechanisms tied to future upgrades in the network.
Strategic Benefits
For strategic operators, the 0G node sale represents a highly beneficial opportunity, given the unique position of 0G in the AI and blockchain intersection:
- Diversification Across Chains: The node sale accepts payments in multiple tokens across different EVM-compatible and Solana chains, allowing operators to use assets from their preferred ecosystems.
- Scalability and Future-Proofing: The 0G platform is designed for infinite scalability, meaning that as AI models become more data-intensive, 0G’s decentralized infrastructure can support these demands.
- Potential Network Effects: As more operators, developers, and users join the 0G ecosystem, the economic utility of the platform will increase due to network effects.
Community Engagement and Referral Incentives
0G also incentivizes community-driven growth through its referral program, which allows node operators to earn 5-10% cash back for every successful referral.
Purchasers who refer new buyers to the node sale will receive ~5-10% cashback in USDC, with an additional 5% rebate offered to those who use a referral code. This feature not only rewards active community members but also encourages organic growth within the ecosystem.
Rebates and commissions are processed as USDC airdrops, delivered approximately six weeks after the sale. This provides an additional incentive for early operators who actively participate in expanding the 0G community.
Importance of the Node Sale for the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G node sale is the most crucial moment for the project in its ambition of expanding the decentralized AI space and offering a truly innovative development launchpad. By distributing nodes across a wide range of participants, 0G will be a community-driven effort - one that starts and stops with the actual purchasing and distribution of the alignment nodes in question.
Node operators, as explained previously, will be the heart and soul of 0G’s dAIOS. They play fundamental roles in verifying transactions, maintaining data integrity, and providing the processing power needed to support AI computations, making them integral to basically all dAIOS operations.
Risk Analysis
Technological Risks
Operating in a decentralized AI ecosystem like 0G presents some technological risks. For one, as with any emerging technology, usage fluctuations can impact the economic utility of the 0G ecosystem, especially within the nascent phase of decentralized AI.
Likewise, despite 0G’s robust infrastructure, the rapid evolution of AI and blockchain technology could introduce unforeseen challenges and competitors. Competing platforms might develop similar innovations, potentially impacting 0G’s own market share (though first to market certainly helps offset this risk). Additionally, scalability and performance issues may arise as the network grows (as with any novel platform), requiring continuous updates and improvements as time goes on.
Regulatory and Compliance Considerations
Operating in the decentralized AI space means navigating a complex regulatory landscape:
- Regulatory Uncertainty: AI and blockchain are areas under increasing global regulatory scrutiny. Changes in AI governance or blockchain regulation could impact the operation or compliance status of 0G nodes, particularly regarding data privacy, AI, and ethics.
- Compliance with Data Privacy Laws: Since 0G deals with data storage and processing, it may need to adhere to data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in the U.S. Ensuring compliance with these evolving standards is critical to maintaining legal stability.
Mitigation Strategies and Safeguards
0G has painstakingly gone to great lengths to ensure it is mitigating risks appropriately. For one, by distributing decision-making processes across a network of node operators, 0G reduces the risk of central authority-driven failures. Not to mention, decentralized governance and ownership help mitigate compliance issues or failures.
Additionally, 0G’s modular infrastructure can be updated seamlessly in the case of needed upgrades, changes, or advancements. This means that 0G can be a highly dynamic platform that remains competitive and relevant in the AI space.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The 0G platform introduces the world’s first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), delivering scalable, low-cost infrastructure with decentralized governance. By enabling infinite scalability and efficient AI workload processing, 0G positions itself at the forefront of decentralized AI technology. Operators have a timely opportunity to participate in the upcoming Node Sale, launching in November 2024, which offers early access to AI alignment nodes crucial for network operations and governance.
Node operators stand to benefit significantly, with rewards comprising up to 15% of the total 0G token supply over the next three years. These nodes also grant lifetime access to the platform, represented as non-transferable NFTs for the first year, ensuring exclusive participation without initial secondary market speculation. Payments will be accepted from multiple blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum, underscoring the platform’s focus on interoperability and accessibility.
For prospective participants, early engagement is essential to secure nodes at the lowest price points and maximize long-term rewards. Operators will play a pivotal role in validating workloads and securing the network, making sustained involvement key to unlocking the full benefits of the platform’s incentive structure. The combination of attractive rewards, cross-chain accessibility, and a cutting-edge decentralized AI framework makes 0G’s Node Sale an appealing opportunity for those ready to commit to the future of decentralized AI.
How to Participate in the Node Sale
For those interested that reside in appropriate regulatory regions, visit here to secure your spot on the whitelist and prepare your wallet with supported tokens (ETH, USDC, SOL, etc.).
Join the vibrant 0G community discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/0glabs
TG channel https://t.me/web3_0glabs
Follow on twitter: https://x.com/0G_labs
Apply for Whitelist: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZSiIn3WBEdztzCObFBnLa0c6f1YoRwlN_eI8NxGPuG4w-zg/viewform
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by 0G Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.
Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system, known as dAIOS, built to power a crossover between AI and blockchain applications. Zero Gravity provides the foundational infrastructure that allows for infinite scalability and decentralization among the core aspects of AI development and use—including storage, computation, data availability, and inferencing. The Zero Gravity platform is uniquely positioned to solve many limitations of centralized AI systems, including high costs, data ownership issues, and lack of transparency.
The upcoming 0G Foundation node sale, scheduled for November 2024, is a pivotal moment in the project’s development. This sale has two purposes: helping to build a truly distributed network environment and opening up the ability to contribute through infrastructure ownership directly to the community.
Together, Zero Gravity hopes to democratize its infrastructure, allowing community members who purchase alignment nodes to validate AI workloads, secure the network, and contribute to the overall health of Zero Gravity’s AI ecosystem.
Background
Zero Gravity is the first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), providing the necessary foundational infrastructure to decentralize and scale the core components of AI—computational, storage, data availability, and inferencing. Zero Gravity’s solution addresses some of the most well-known challenges of centralized AI systems, including the high operational costs resulting in significant barriers to entry, the lack of transparency due to closed-door systems, and centralized control over data leading to privacy concerns.
By using blockchain technology as a backbone, Zero Gravity gives its users a far more equitable AI platform, enabling individual developers, companies, and consumers the ability to build and use AI applications on a fully distributed, scalable, and open system. To accomplish this, the 0G ecosystem is built upon several key components, including the following:
- Decentralized Storage Network
- Data Availability Layer (0G DA)
- Modular architecture for enhanced AI workflows
- Upcoming Decentralized Serving Network for AI inferencing
These components, when combined, give 0G the ability to manage the infrastructure supporting on-chain AI, opening up development opportunities to any and all adopters across a variety of sectors.
Purpose of the Node Sale Report
The 0G AI Alignment node sale is officially scheduled for November 2024, marking the first major milestone for the Zero Gravity platform. As the first decentralized AI operating system, 0G conducting an open node sale helps to drive a shift in control in AI ownership away from centralized mega-corporations and toward a global, decentralized network.
The alignment node sale is designed to empower community members, developers, and operators to become direct participants in the 0G ecosystem by acquiring and operating AI alignment nodes. However, these nodes are more than just basic infrastructure. They unlock the backbone of the 0G platform itself.
0G alignment nodes are responsible for the validation of key operations within the network, such as:
- Checking the status of Storage, DA, validator, and Serving nodes
- Transaction Processing
- Data Availability
- AI Model Computations
In other words, node operators are directly responsible for ensuring the overall security, scalability, and efficiency of the entire 0G system. They will be direct contributors to all AI workflows on 0G and will be compensated for this responsibility through an internal rewards system where node operators will earn native tokens (and other incentives) for their workflow contributions.
The primary objective of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the upcoming node sale, highlighting its importance to the platform’s long-term development and sustainability. Specifically, the node sale offers two key advantages:
- Strengthening the decentralization of the 0G ecosystem by increasing the number of participants actively involved in the network’s operation.
- Promoting community-driven infrastructure ownership, ensuring that the platform is governed and maintained by a diverse array of stakeholders rather than centralized actors.
Importance of AI Alignment Nodes
AI alignment nodes are a unique innovation in the decentralized AI space. They are designed to ensure that other existing nodes within the 0G network—i.e., validator nodes, storage nodes, and computation nodes—adhere to the network protocols and operate as intended. Initially, these nodes will focus on validating AI workloads, but as the platform evolves, they will take on more significant roles, including monitoring on-chain AI model drift to ensure that AI systems remain transparent and aligned with the network’s goals.
State of the Web 3 x AI Ecosystem
Current Landscape of Decentralized AI and Blockchain
In 2024, the intersection of cryptocurrency and AI falls into three main areas: infrastructure, resources, and problem-solving. Networks like NEAR, TAO, and Fetch.ai provide platforms for decentralized AI development, offering incentives through tokens. Projects such as Render and Akash offer access to unused GPU resources, while Filecoin and Arweave provide decentralized storage solutions, reducing reliance on centralized systems. Lastly, protocols like Worldcoin, Origin Trail, and Numbers Protocol address AI challenges like deepfakes and misinformation, emphasizing transparency and security in AI-generated content.
Challenges/Risks in Centralized AI Systems (Open vs. Closed AI)
Today's AI infrastructure is centralized, creating problems with data ownership, transparency, and fair monetization. 0G aims to decentralize AI, giving users full control over their data and ensuring transparent decision-making. 0G coordinates distributed resources like storage and computation through blockchain, creating a scalable, auditable AI infrastructure. This modular system integrates with any workflow, bringing the possibilities of decentralized AI fully on-chain.
Centralized AI faces issues with data control, transparency, profit sharing, and governance. 0G's decentralized approach addresses these issues through four mediums:
- Ownership: Unlike centralized systems that can misuse personal data, 0G allows users to retain control of their data on decentralized networks.
- Transparency: Centralized AI lacks transparency, while 0G ensures open, verifiable operations through decentralized data management.
- Monetization: Centralized AI limits profit to a few entities, but 0G promotes fair rewards for all contributors.
- Governance: 0G provides decentralized oversight, ensuring transparent processes and shared incentives for participants.
Need for Decentralized AI Solutions
Decentralized AI, powered by blockchain, distributes ownership, governance, and control, making AI more transparent and accessible. It promotes competition and innovation, reducing big tech dominance.
However, key challenges remain for true decentralization:
- Who builds models?
- Who has the data?
- Who has resources?
- Who creates AI products?
Market Opportunities and Growth Potential
The convergence of blockchain and AI brings powerful synergies that centralized systems can’t achieve. Web3 enables trustless coordination among distributed participants, opening up new ways to tackle AI challenges related to data, computation, and governance.
To build and run AI models, three key components are required:
- Model architecture
- High-quality data
- Computational power (GPUs)
Web3 is transforming these areas with tokenized data systems, decentralized computing, and efforts to prevent monopolization.
State of the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G ecosystem consists of many different projects across several notable industries. These industries include gaming, DeFi, and various forms of blockchain infrastructure. On the supply side, 0G’s infrastructure includes interoperability with projects like Brevis and Axelar for cross-network data integration, restaking solutions like EigenLayer, and decentralized GPU power provided by IoNet and Aethir.
On the demand side, the ecosystem is seeing increased adoption by AI projects, blockchain networks, and gaming platforms. Major players like Polygon and Arbitrum rely on 0G’s data availability solutions, while Web3 infrastructure providers like Caldera and Gelato integrate 0G’s services to enhance their platforms. Game developers like Blade Games use 0G’s decentralized storage to enable trustless on-chain gaming environments with real-time, verifiable game states.
Overview of 0G Technology
Decentralized AI Operating System
Operating systems are essential for managing a computer's hardware and software—think Windows, macOS, and Linux. Before the introduction of operating systems, computers had to be manually operated—a brutally complex process. Systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android are all leading examples of how OS technology can simplify hardware management and utilization, allowing users to run applications, manage memory, and automate processes efficiently.
Historically, early computing systems had to be operated manually, a major barrier to worldwide adoption. This continued until IBM developed the first OS in 1956, which was tasked with scheduling, memory management, and batch processing.
In the same way that traditional operating systems brought order and efficiency to computing, 0G is aiming to bring transformational change to decentralized AI. For decades, AI development has been confined to a few tech giants that could afford the infrastructure and had the knowledge to build out these systems manually. However, the introduction of a decentralized AI OS could redefine the landscape entirely, opening up AI development to be a community-driven, openly accessible playing field.
Why an Operating System for AI?
Operating systems simplify hardware interactions and standardize processes, enabling easier development and innovation. In most AI systems, development happens on proprietary platforms, which limits competition and centralizes control. 0G’s decentralized AI OS (dAIOS) changes this by decentralizing the infrastructure powering AI applications. While many decentralized AI projects claim to solve issues like control and data misuse, they often replicate the same problems, focusing on apps while ignoring the underlying infrastructure. This results in high costs, slow performance, and centralized governance.
What actually sets 0G’s dAIOS apart is that it does more than just apply decentralization on the surface. 0G re-engineers the entire operating system, introducing a fully decentralized, infinitely scalable, and modular OS that transforms how AI can be deployed and managed at every level—from storage and computation to governance and economic incentives.
Core Innovations of 0G
0G Storage
0G Storage forms the backbone of the 0G operating system. It is a decentralized, scalable database designed for both Web2 and Web3 environments. Its storage infrastructure is built to handle large-scale data loads, including extensive datasets, AI models, and assets generated for machine learning workflows. Its design ensures high throughput and dependable performance, making it well-suited for applications with demanding data requirements. It does so by utilizing erasure coding, a technique that splits data into multiple smaller, redundant fragments that are distributed across the storage network, ensuring data accessibility even during failures or network outages.
To verify data integrity and ensure nodes are actively maintaining the network, Proof of Random Access (PoRA) is used. PoRA requires miners to demonstrate that they store specific chunks of data by responding to random queries. Miners are rewarded based on their ability to meet these challenges, ensuring decentralized participation and security. The erasure coding technique allows for fault tolerance and efficient storage, where lost or corrupted data can be quickly reconstructed by accessing only a subset of the data fragments. This design allows 0G to handle high volumes of data for AI models and dApps with minimal latency.
Serving
0G Serving introduces a decentralized framework that transforms how AI services are accessed and delivered. Connecting users seeking AI model inference with GPU owners running these models creates a direct, trustless marketplace without intermediaries. Service providers set their own prices and receive real-time rewards for their contributions, offering a transparent, efficient, and accessible alternative to traditional AI platforms. This open ecosystem allows anyone with the necessary hardware to participate, promoting a global network of service providers and making advanced AI services available to a broader audience at lower costs.
The platform’s design emphasizes both performance and usability. It minimizes on-chain transaction costs by allowing service providers to batch multiple user requests, while ZK-proofs compress data to optimize settlements further. Additionally, off-chain data management through 0G Storage ensures that large datasets are handled efficiently, keeping costs low. The interaction between users and providers is seamless, with smart contracts managing everything from payments to service execution. Users pre-deposit funds to access services, and a built-in refund mechanism ensures they can reclaim unused balances within a specified timeframe. By decentralizing both service delivery and payment processes, 0G Serving offers a scalable and user-friendly alternative to centralized AI solutions, redefining how AI-powered workflows are monetized and deployed.
0G Data Availability (DA)
0G DA ensures consistent data accessibility through a decentralized network by using Verifiable Random Functions (VRF) to randomly select nodes for data validation, preventing collusion and ensuring security. It leverages KZG Polynomial Commitments to efficiently verify data without revealing sensitive details, ensuring data integrity and provenance. With near-infinite scalability, 0G supports growing demands, especially for AI applications and rollups, without bottlenecks. Its two-lane architecture—Data Storage Lane for fast, secure transfers and Data Publishing Lane for continuous availability—enhances efficiency. GPU-accelerated erasure coding further optimizes performance, making 0G more scalable and cost-effective than solutions like Celestia or EigenDA, offering superior throughput for developers.
Security and Scalability Mechanisms
0G Consensus
A defining feature of 0G is its ability to scale horizontally by utilizing multiple independent consensus networks. These consensus networks can be deployed in any number (even as high as 1,000), allowing the system to scale in response to demand. Each network operates in parallel, independently managing data commitments and ensuring the integrity of stored data. This modular approach ensures that no single consensus network becomes a bottleneck, providing near-infinite scalability.
Data in the 0G system is partitioned across multiple networks, allowing each partition to be processed independently and simultaneously. This structure not only improves performance but also enables massive volumes of data, such as those required for real-time AI model training, to be handled efficiently. By distributing data across various partitions and managing them through independent consensus networks, 0G ensures that its infrastructure can grow alongside the increasing needs of decentralized AI platforms.
Shared Staking Mechanism
Another innovative feature of the 0G architecture is its shared staking mechanism, which operates across all consensus networks. Validators stake 0G tokens on the Ethereum mainnet and use these stakes to validate data across the various 0G consensus networks. When validators participate in consensus on any 0G network, they rely on the same staked assets, ensuring a unified level of security across the entire ecosystem.
Furthermore, tokens can be burned on the 0G networks and redeemed on Ethereum, creating a fluid, cross-chain system that enhances both security and liquidity. This shared staking design eliminates the need for separate staking for each consensus network, making the system more efficient while ensuring that validators have consistent incentives to act honestly across all networks.
The Higher Objective: AI Alignment Nodes and the Future of AI
AI Alignment Nodes in the 0G network are designed to ensure that the behavior of AI models deployed within the system remains aligned with established ethical standards and operational guidelines. They monitor the actions of other decentralized nodes—validator, storage, and serving nodes—and ensure compliance with network protocols. These nodes serve as a form of oversight, initially providing light utility, but are expected to evolve significantly. Over time, their role will expand to monitoring on-chain AI model behavior, tracking drifts, and verifying that AI operates as intended.
Preventing AI Misbehavior and Bias
AI Alignment Nodes in a decentralized system help monitor and prevent bias or misbehavior in AI models. They track model behavior in real-time, detect deviations, and raise alerts when necessary, ensuring models stay on track and perform as intended.
In centralized AI systems, issues may go unnoticed until they cause harm. 0G’s decentralized AI system uses Alignment Nodes for real-time monitoring, flagging problems early. This boosts reliability and builds trust among users and developers.
Future Capabilities and Responsibilities
As 0G's network evolves, AI Alignment Nodes will take on more advanced roles:
- Monitoring Drift: Tracking AI models to ensure they stay aligned with their initial training, preventing bias or incorrect outputs.
- Mitigating Risks: Continuously checking model outputs for inaccuracies, ensuring decentralized AI models remain reliable.
- Cross-Chain Governance: Coordinating governance across decentralized chains to maintain ethical standards across the ecosystem.
Features of the 0G Node Sale
The 0G Node Sale is structured with two distinct phases:
- Whitelist Node Sale Launch: November 11th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, exclusive for whitelisted users. This phase lasts for 2 days.
- Public Node Sale Launch: November 13th, 2024, at 12 PM UTC, open to all users.
This tiered approach ensures early access for dedicated community members and allows wider participation post-whitelist period.
Node Specs, Pricing, and Distribution
The 0G Node Sale comprises 175,500 total nodes, distributed across 32 tiers, with prices starting at 0.05 ETH. Each tier comes with a fixed number of nodes, with the lowest tiers offering the lowest cost for early operators and communities.
Additionally, 0G nodes are designed with minimal hardware requirements, making it easy for a wide range of participants to operate them. The required specs include:
- 64MB RAM
- 1 x86 CPU core at 2.1GHz
- 10GB Disk Space
- 10Mbps Internet Connection
Supported Payment Methods Across Blockchains
- To ensure inclusivity across various blockchain ecosystems, the 0G Node Sale supports payments using multiple tokens across EVM-compatible chains and Solana through li.fi. Chain options: https://docs.li.fi/list-chains-bridges-dex-aggregators-solvers
Purchase Process and NFT Licensing
How to Purchase:
- Visit node.0gfoundation.ai and connect your wallet.
- Choose your desired chain and token for payment.
- Review the available tiers and select the number of nodes to purchase.
- Optionally, apply a promo code for a discount.
- Approve the transaction via your wallet and complete the purchase.
A few weeks after purchase, buyers receive ERC-721 NFTs representing ownership of their 0G nodes. These NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year but grant lifetime access to the 0G network. The nodes will become active after 0G's mainnet launch, which is projected for Q1 2025, when node operators can start earning rewards.
Value Proposition
The 0G Node Sale presents a unique opportunity for early adopters to secure a position in the early phases of decentralized AI. As the first-ever dAIOS, 0G combines the power of blockchain technology with scalable AI infrastructure, opening up a world of possibilities for operators seeking to provide services and receive long-term value in return. Below are the core advantages that make this sale particularly attractive to early adopters and strategic operators:
Early Adoption Advantage
The 0G network is set to disrupt both decentralized and off-chain AI development. By joining the 0G Node Sale, early operators gain a strategic advantage as the ecosystem grows. Node operators will be key in securing and validating the network, with increasing demand as decentralized AI platforms expand in industries like finance, healthcare, and autonomous systems.
Early adopters of the node sale gain access to lifetime node licenses, providing them with ongoing involvement in the platform’s growth and development. Plus, early access to the network ensures operators can benefit from future upgrades and exclusive features within the 0G ecosystem, such as specialized tools for AI model validation, secure data marketplaces, and enhanced node performance capabilities.
Ecosystem Rewards and Incentives
One of the most attractive aspects of the 0G Node Sale is the long-term reward structure for node operators. Over the next three years, operators will be eligible to receive up to 15% of the total 0G ecosystem token supply.
These rewards are allocated for:
- Ensuring Data Integrity: Alignment nodes will verify the accuracy of AI computations, data storage, and data availability across the 0G network, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of AI workloads. They may also help detect malicious data injection, affecting decentralized LLM models' training.
- Supporting Network Security: Nodes contribute directly to the decentralization and security of the network, ensuring that no single entity can control the platform.
With the token distribution structured over a 3-year period, operators benefit from sustained, long-term rewards, ensuring that node operators are consistently incentivized to maintain the health and security of the ecosystem.
Lifetime Access and Non-Transferable NFTs
Lifetime access to the 0G network is another significant advantage for operators participating in the node sale. Each node purchase is represented by an ERC-721 NFT, symbolizing ownership and providing the operator with lifetime access to the 0G platform.
The NFTs will be non-transferable for the first year after the sale. This ensures that node operators are truly committed to the ecosystem’s growth, fostering a more stable and secure network. As demand for decentralized AI grows and the 0G network scales, the value of holding a node is likely to increase. Given the limited number of nodes available, lifetime access offers a significant competitive edge for long-term operators.
Additionally, NFT-based node licenses provide flexibility for future developments. Operators can potentially use their NFT licenses to access premium features, join governance decisions, or participate in staking mechanisms tied to future upgrades in the network.
Strategic Benefits
For strategic operators, the 0G node sale represents a highly beneficial opportunity, given the unique position of 0G in the AI and blockchain intersection:
- Diversification Across Chains: The node sale accepts payments in multiple tokens across different EVM-compatible and Solana chains, allowing operators to use assets from their preferred ecosystems.
- Scalability and Future-Proofing: The 0G platform is designed for infinite scalability, meaning that as AI models become more data-intensive, 0G’s decentralized infrastructure can support these demands.
- Potential Network Effects: As more operators, developers, and users join the 0G ecosystem, the economic utility of the platform will increase due to network effects.
Community Engagement and Referral Incentives
0G also incentivizes community-driven growth through its referral program, which allows node operators to earn 5-10% cash back for every successful referral.
Purchasers who refer new buyers to the node sale will receive ~5-10% cashback in USDC, with an additional 5% rebate offered to those who use a referral code. This feature not only rewards active community members but also encourages organic growth within the ecosystem.
Rebates and commissions are processed as USDC airdrops, delivered approximately six weeks after the sale. This provides an additional incentive for early operators who actively participate in expanding the 0G community.
Importance of the Node Sale for the 0G Ecosystem
The 0G node sale is the most crucial moment for the project in its ambition of expanding the decentralized AI space and offering a truly innovative development launchpad. By distributing nodes across a wide range of participants, 0G will be a community-driven effort - one that starts and stops with the actual purchasing and distribution of the alignment nodes in question.
Node operators, as explained previously, will be the heart and soul of 0G’s dAIOS. They play fundamental roles in verifying transactions, maintaining data integrity, and providing the processing power needed to support AI computations, making them integral to basically all dAIOS operations.
Risk Analysis
Technological Risks
Operating in a decentralized AI ecosystem like 0G presents some technological risks. For one, as with any emerging technology, usage fluctuations can impact the economic utility of the 0G ecosystem, especially within the nascent phase of decentralized AI.
Likewise, despite 0G’s robust infrastructure, the rapid evolution of AI and blockchain technology could introduce unforeseen challenges and competitors. Competing platforms might develop similar innovations, potentially impacting 0G’s own market share (though first to market certainly helps offset this risk). Additionally, scalability and performance issues may arise as the network grows (as with any novel platform), requiring continuous updates and improvements as time goes on.
Regulatory and Compliance Considerations
Operating in the decentralized AI space means navigating a complex regulatory landscape:
- Regulatory Uncertainty: AI and blockchain are areas under increasing global regulatory scrutiny. Changes in AI governance or blockchain regulation could impact the operation or compliance status of 0G nodes, particularly regarding data privacy, AI, and ethics.
- Compliance with Data Privacy Laws: Since 0G deals with data storage and processing, it may need to adhere to data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in the U.S. Ensuring compliance with these evolving standards is critical to maintaining legal stability.
Mitigation Strategies and Safeguards
0G has painstakingly gone to great lengths to ensure it is mitigating risks appropriately. For one, by distributing decision-making processes across a network of node operators, 0G reduces the risk of central authority-driven failures. Not to mention, decentralized governance and ownership help mitigate compliance issues or failures.
Additionally, 0G’s modular infrastructure can be updated seamlessly in the case of needed upgrades, changes, or advancements. This means that 0G can be a highly dynamic platform that remains competitive and relevant in the AI space.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The 0G platform introduces the world’s first decentralized AI operating system (dAIOS), delivering scalable, low-cost infrastructure with decentralized governance. By enabling infinite scalability and efficient AI workload processing, 0G positions itself at the forefront of decentralized AI technology. Operators have a timely opportunity to participate in the upcoming Node Sale, launching in November 2024, which offers early access to AI alignment nodes crucial for network operations and governance.
Node operators stand to benefit significantly, with rewards comprising up to 15% of the total 0G token supply over the next three years. These nodes also grant lifetime access to the platform, represented as non-transferable NFTs for the first year, ensuring exclusive participation without initial secondary market speculation. Payments will be accepted from multiple blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum, underscoring the platform’s focus on interoperability and accessibility.
For prospective participants, early engagement is essential to secure nodes at the lowest price points and maximize long-term rewards. Operators will play a pivotal role in validating workloads and securing the network, making sustained involvement key to unlocking the full benefits of the platform’s incentive structure. The combination of attractive rewards, cross-chain accessibility, and a cutting-edge decentralized AI framework makes 0G’s Node Sale an appealing opportunity for those ready to commit to the future of decentralized AI.
How to Participate in the Node Sale
For those interested that reside in appropriate regulatory regions, visit here to secure your spot on the whitelist and prepare your wallet with supported tokens (ETH, USDC, SOL, etc.).
Join the vibrant 0G community discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/0glabs
TG channel https://t.me/web3_0glabs
Follow on twitter: https://x.com/0G_labs
Apply for Whitelist: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZSiIn3WBEdztzCObFBnLa0c6f1YoRwlN_eI8NxGPuG4w-zg/viewform
Disclaimer: This report was commissioned by 0G Labs. This research report is exactly that — a research report. It is not intended to serve as financial advice, nor should you blindly assume that any of the information is accurate without confirming through your own research. Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets are incredibly risky and nothing in this report should be considered an endorsement to buy or sell any asset. Never invest more than you are willing to lose and understand the risk that you are taking. Do your own research. All information in this report is for educational purposes only and should not be the basis for any investment decisions that you make.