Xandeum has announced the launch of incentivized pNodes, or Provider Nodes, in its devnet to equip Solana smart contracts with a scalable, random-access storage layer.
In a press release shared with Cryptowisser, Xandeum explained that pNodes are the solution to the current lack of a scalable, efficient storage layer for Solana programs. They integrate seamlessly with smart contracts, forming the backbone of Xandeum's decentralized storage network, which offers participants a unique opportunity to help build the future of data-heavy Web3 apps and reap the associated benefits.
Furthermore, pNodes satisfy demand from a wide range of participants, each uniquely motivated to become part of the Xandeum Network. The scalable storage layer targets sedApp developers and crypto and blockchain enthusiasts eager to stay at the forefront of the Web3 revolution. Individuals seeking passive income, early-stage investment pickers, bloggers, crypto KOLs, and node operators all have a potential interest in pNodes.
According to Xandeum, its storage layer leverages pNodes to store data in a decentralized manner, using configurable redundancy levels and erasure coding to ensure availability and security.
Validator nodes (vNodes) running Xandeum-enabled software cryptographically supervise data management and distribution across multiple pNodes. This hybrid approach eliminates the stress on Solana validators as they don’t need to store every piece of data. Seamless data transfer between Solana accounts and Xandeum's decentralized file system abstraction becomes possible thanks to extended Solana primitives such as "peek" and "poke" that Xandeum is introducing.
Xandeum added that pNodes are the infrastructure similar to a "hard drive" that complements Solana's RAM and CPU.
Solana is perceived as a world computer, maintaining high throughput, low latency, low transaction fees, and a unified global state supporting composable smart contracts. pNodes enable new use cases for data-intensive dApps on Solana by providing scalable storage native to smart contracts.
pNodes will run the "Constance" release, ushering in Xandeum's Deep South Era, the first of six Innovation Eras to transpire in 2025 and the starting point for developing a decentralized storage layer.
XandMiner, the user-friendly pNode management application, will be released in this era. This application will allow users to register pNodes, create key pairs, and build and destroy file systems. These fundamental functions provide everything a user may need to gain a first-mover advantage by running a pNode. Deep South will include a limited sale of 300 incentivized devnet pNodes with a maximum of 3 pNodes per wallet. On the mainnet, all nodes will be fully permissionless.
While commenting on this launch, Bernie Blume, CEO of Xandeum Labs, said,
“A low-cost, decentralized scaling solution will drastically expand the global dApp landscape. It can unlock a new revenue stream for pNode operators as well as Solana validators and stakers. The Xandeum solution will have an enormous impact on the growth of the Solana ecosystem."
Xandeum Labs is a blockchain-focused software development company that aims to build the first scalable Solana storage layer to provide a decentralized file system for smart contracts. The Xandeum DAO and Xandeum Foundation are developing the Xandeum Network to further enhance Solana via the liquid staking platform and storage layer, among other goals.
