Node Application 10546780303, submitted 2019-02-21 16:17:35

Respondent Id 10546780303
Application Date 2019-02-21 16:17:35
Application Language English
Applicant City Chicago
Applicant State/Province Illinois
Applicant Country United States
What languages do you speak? English
What is your occupation? Software Development
How many years experience in your field? 4-7
What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed? Doctorate or other terminal degree (for example, PhD, EdD)
Please describe your experience in the Crypto/Blockchain space, if any? Started in-depth learning in the first half of 2017. Invested in a couple of ICOs, run a couple of nodes for different currencies. Prepared some educational introductory videos for blockchain in general, with some details on bitcoin and ethereum.
Are you an individual or a group? Group
Node City Chicago
Node State Illinois
Node Country United States
For which networks Have you ever operated a node? Bitcoin (BTC, BCH, etc), PivX, ZCoin, DASH
What kind of improvements would you like to see in Elixxir nodes vs. previous the previous nodes you have supported?
What are potential setbacks preventing you from operating an Elixxir node?
What is a reasonable maximum connection speed on which you could operate a BetaNet node in your geographic region? (Where 0 = 10 Megabits/second, and 100 = 10 Gigabits/second) 3
What is a reasonable uptime estimate you can provide for your BetaNet node? (As a percentage) 95
Please estimate the cost of electricity in the geographic area where your BetaNet node will be running. . $100 per month
On a monthly basis, how much time can you publicly commit to dedicating toward governance if you were selected as a BetaNet node operator? (Where 0 = 1 hour/month, and 100 = 20 hours/month) 50
If you were selected to run a BetaNet node, would it run on your own hardware or be deployed to cloud-based servers? Both
In what type of environment would this server be located? Personal Home
Do you have past experience deploying hardware servers in a datacenter? No
Do you already own sufficient hardware to meet the published Elixxir BetaNet node specifications? No
Yes (Please list specs)
Do you have hardware you would like to use but does not meet the stated BetaNet node specs? If so, please provide specs on that hardware below:
Do you have past experience deploying servers to cloud-based services? Yes (please specify)
Yes (please specify) Deployed a couple of nodes over the cloud: PivX, ZCoin, also Republic Protocol (forgot to mention above)
Why do you want to be a node? Would like to help the community, and also learn more.
How did you originally hear about Elixxir? Newsletter
Which current Elixxir communities are you a member of? Telegram
Are you an active member of those communities? No
What specifically, interests you about the Elixxir platform? The consensus mechanism mostly, and of course privacy. If you'll see, I was also interested in running such nodes: PivX, ZCoin, (also ColX but I didn't mention since it may not be as high profile as others) and Republic Protocol.
Outside of Elixxir communities, are you an active participant in other node or developer community groups? If so, which ones? I am currently running several Republic Protocol nodes. I have run the other nodes (specifically PivX, ZCoin, ColX) in the past but not anymore.
Have you ever attended a blockchain conference? If so, which one(s)? Fintank Blockhain Summit (2017 and 2018) --- Chicago, IL XYO Spatial 2018 --- San Diego, CA
As part of growing the Elixxir community, are you willing to create content as part of operating an Elixxir BetaNet node? Examples would be node setup & on-boarding review vlog post, bi-weekly twitter update, medium review of on-going node operational process, etc. Yes (how much content on a monthly basis?)
If yes, how much content on a monthly basis? I can do reviews of on-going node operational processes.
What is the difference between decentralized networks and distributed networks, and where on the decentralization spectrum do you sit? Every decentralized network must be distributed but not the other way around, the main difference I believe is in governance and decision making. I think a project has to evolve in time to become fully decentralized, I don't think it can start as a fully decentralized network since the beginning, but can strive for that. One of the main indicators of decentralization would the distribution of its coins. The coins (which have value) should also be very well distributed otherwise really those owners could very much call most of the shots in terms of pricing at the least.
As best as you can given currently available information, please describe the value proposition of the Elixxir platform and how it differs from other current blockchain solutions. I like that it is similar to proof of work, that there has to be a computation performed and at the same time that the race is not a one-winner at a time race as in pow. I liked Republic Protocol and am running nodes there for very similar reasons that the faster a node is would not help get that node more rewards, hence this is a much more environmentally friendly and at the same time resistant to monopoly (of the fastest chip producer).
Privacy by Default is a goal of the Elixxir Platform. In your opinion, why is Privacy by Default critical for the future of the internet? I believe in two main concepts: that one should not be afraid to reveal and that one should only reveal what is necessary. So, privacy is not important because you may want to hide something bad, it is very important because you do not want everyone else to know, that you want to keep it for yourself. The best way to achieve this is to make everything private and grant access only at the user's exclusive direction, in a way preventing users from unintended disclosures. That's why privacy by default is critical.
Tags Group, United States, English