# Why Run a Node

## The Opportunity

Every day, billions of dollars flow to centralized cloud providers for coordination infrastructure. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud capture value whenever systems need to communicate, synchronize, or reach agreement.

As a Lattice node operator, you can redirect a portion of that spend to yourself.

Tashi's DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) replaces centralized cloud coordination with a global network of independent operators. When warehouse robots coordinate picking tasks, when AI agents discover each other's capabilities, when IoT sensors synchronize across boundaries, that coordination can flow through your infrastructure.

## What You're Providing

Node operators provide the infrastructure layer that makes coordination possible:

| Service           | What It Does                                | Why It's Valuable                     |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| **Discovery**     | Helps applications find available peers     | Every meshnet starts with discovery   |
| **NAT Traversal** | Connects devices behind firewalls           | 25-65% of traffic requires tunneling  |
| **Relay/Proxy**   | Routes traffic when direct connections fail | Essential for enterprise environments |
| **Failover**      | Maintains consensus when participants fail  | Ensures reliability                   |
| **Validation**    | Confirms coordination events are legitimate | Builds network trust                  |

These aren't speculative services. They're the same functions that cloud providers charge for today: discovery, routing, proxying, and reliability.

## The Economic Model

Tashi's economics are transparent:

| Revenue Share | Recipient                            |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **60%**       | Resource Node operators (you)        |
| **30%**       | Foundation (development, operations) |
| **10%**       | Orchestrator operators               |

Within your 60% share:

* **30%** based on successful job completions
* **10%** based on availability (staying online)
* **20%** allocated to incentive bonuses

## What Makes This Different

Traditional DePIN projects often rely on token emissions to bootstrap network effects. Tashi's model is demand-driven:

1. **Applications pay in USD** for coordination services
2. **Operators earn Reward Points** backed 100:1 by USD
3. **Reward Points can be spent** on network services or converted to $TASHI

Your income scales with actual network usage by default. Operators who want to participate in token speculation can convert Reward Points to $TASHI, but that's a choice, not a requirement.

## Who Should Run Nodes

Tashi's goal is to decentralize cloud infrastructure and allow anyone to participate, both technically and economically, in whatever capacity they can.

Node operation suits anyone who wants to be part of a decentralized cloud:

| Profile                      | How You Participate                                          |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Home users**               | Run a node on spare hardware; contribute to decentralization |
| **Infrastructure operators** | Leverage existing hardware and connectivity at scale         |
| **Data centers**             | Monetize spare capacity near coordination demand             |
| **Web3 enthusiasts**         | Be part of building the decentralized infrastructure layer   |
| **Geographic specialists**   | Serve underserved regions with premium rates                 |

## The Lattice Layer

As a node operator, you're part of **Lattice**, the second layer in Tashi's three-layer architecture:

* **Vertex** (Layer 1): Where coordination happens, peer-to-peer consensus
* **Lattice** (Layer 2): Where coordination scales, your infrastructure
* **Arc** (Layer 3): Where coordination settles, blockchain bridges

Vertex handles the actual consensus between participants. Your infrastructure makes that consensus possible at global scale.

## Getting Started

To run a node:

1. Review [Node Types](https://docs.tashi.network/node-operators/nodes/node-types) to understand the roles
2. Check [Node Specifications](https://docs.tashi.network/node-operators/nodes/node-specifications) for hardware requirements
3. Follow the [Installation Guide](https://docs.tashi.network/node-operators/nodes/node-installation) to get started
4. Understand the [Reputation System](https://docs.tashi.network/node-operators/nodes/reputation-system) to maximize earnings

## The Bigger Picture

Tashi's mission is to align devices with the interests of their owners. Node operators make this possible by providing infrastructure that serves device owners, not extractive platforms.

As coordination demand grows across robotics, AI agents, and IoT, node operators capture value that would otherwise flow to centralized cloud providers.