Founding Nodes
The first network is not launched. It is founded.
The public Rutli network is still early. That is exactly why the first participants matter. The first nodes will help test not only whether the software works, but whether the rules deserve to become infrastructure.
In March 2020, about 400,000 gamers put their GPUs on Folding@home in a few days, for nothing, and outran the top 500 supercomputers combined. We are asking for less, and offering more.
Your machine could be one of them.
Source: NVIDIA, April 2020; PC Gamer.
PILOT Windows, Linux, macOS planned
Not beta testers. Participants at the beginning.
A Founding Node is an early operator willing to help make the network real. The point is not free QA. The point is to build the first network with people whose machines will actually have to live with the rules.
- installation
- real workloads
- hardware support
- resource controls
- local-priority behaviour
- network visibility
- economics
- power and utilisation
- failure cases
- what should never be compromised
Who we want first.
Gamers and GPU owners
Because they already own the hardware.
Self-hosters
Because they understand private infrastructure.
Office AI users
Because businesses have real local value and predictable spare windows.
Home AI builders
Because always-on local systems are natural edge nodes.
Developers
Because somebody has to break the APIs before strangers do.
Independent owners
Because Rutli has to work across machines that do not all belong to the same person.
What Founding Nodes receive.
- early access
- a direct feedback channel
- visibility into what is being tested
- clear status and change logs
- the ability to opt into acknowledgement as an early participant
- influence through real operational feedback
- priority consideration for later pilot programmes where appropriate
Founding does not mean owning Rutli.
- equity
- securities
- governance rights unless separately and legally created
- guaranteed payment
- guaranteed future access
- a guaranteed value for participation
What it does mean: you were there early enough to help shape the thing. That is the identity.
What should never be compromised.
Founding Nodes help us hold Rutli to several basic rules.
- Your hardware remains yours.
- Your private data remains under your control.
- Contribution is voluntary.
- Your machine serves you first.
- The compute economics are understandable.
- Participation should not depend on unnecessary vendor lock-in.
- The network should make participants more capable without making them less sovereign.
Years from now, every network has an origin story. This one can have your node in it.
One mail to confirm it was you. Then nothing until there is something real to send: the node application for your machine, or the contract for your review.
Confirmed. Thank you. You are on the list, and the next mail is a real one.
A Founding Node is participation in an early technical cohort. It is not an equity interest, an investment product, or a guarantee of payment.