Common questions about NCN Network v2.
General Questions
What is NCN Network?
NCN Network v2 is a decentralized AI inference network that connects clients who need AI computation with compute providers who have GPU/CPU resources. It uses blockchain-based payments and validator consensus to ensure fair and secure computation.
How does NCN differ from centralized AI services?
Aspect
Centralized
NCN Network
What AI models are supported?
NCN supports:
TorchScript models (.pt, .pth)
Custom models with executor scripts
Is NCN production-ready?
NCN Network v2 is approximately 85% complete. It's suitable for:
✅ Development and testing
⚠️ Production (with caution)
See Project Status for current completion status.
Technical Questions
What programming languages are supported?
Backend Services : Rust Model Execution : Python (PyTorch, Transformers) Smart Contracts : Solidity Client Libraries : Currently Rust, others planned
What are the hardware requirements?
Gateway Node :
Compute Node :
RAM: 8+ GB (16 GB recommended)
GPU: Optional but recommended for ML workloads
P2P Registry :
How does the sandbox work?
The compute node sandbox uses multiple Linux security features:
seccomp - Filters system calls
Namespaces - Isolates processes, network, filesystem
Landlock - Controls filesystem access
Resource limits - Bounds CPU, memory, time
See Sandbox Securityarrow-up-right for details.
Can I run NCN on macOS or Windows?
Linux : Full support (recommended for production)
macOS : Development support (limited sandbox features)
Windows : Experimental (sandbox not available)
Payment Questions
How do payments work?
Validators sign preprocessing validation
Client pays to smart contract (escrow)
Compute node executes model
Validators sign completion validation
Smart contract distributes payment
See Payment Flow for details.
What cryptocurrencies are supported?
NCN uses ERC20 tokens on Ethereum-compatible chains:
Testnet : NCN Token on Forknet
Future : ETH, stablecoins planned
What happens if a request fails?
Compute failure : Request expires, automatic refund
Validator rejection : Request cannot complete, refund on expiry
Network failure : Request times out, automatic refund
How are fees calculated?
Typical distribution:
Operator Questions
How do I become a Gateway operator?
Create a subnet with models
Attract compute nodes and clients
See Gateway Operator Guidearrow-up-right .
How do I become a Compute provider?
Download/configure models
See Compute Operator Guidearrow-up-right .
How do I become a Validator?
Run P2P Registry node with validator key
Participate in validation consensus
See Validator Operator Guidearrow-up-right .
How much can I earn?
Earnings depend on:
Gateways : Routing fee per request
Compute : Execution fee per request
Validators : Validation reward per request
Typical fees: See Payment Flow .
Development Questions
How do I add a custom model?
Export model to TorchScript/ONNX
Configure subnet with model
See Use Cases - Custom Models .
How do I run tests?
How do I debug issues?
See Debugging Guidearrow-up-right .
Where can I find API documentation?
Security Questions
NCN implements multiple security layers:
✅ Cryptographic signatures
⚠️ External audit (recommended before production)
See Security Overview .
What if a malicious model is uploaded?
The sandbox prevents:
Filesystem access outside allowed paths
Malicious code is contained and cannot affect the host system.
What if validators collude?
The M-of-N consensus requires 3 of 5 validators to agree. Collusion requires:
Compromising multiple validators
Overcoming stake-based selection
Risking slashing penalties
Economic incentives discourage collusion.
How are private keys protected?
Private keys should be:
Kept in secure storage (HSM for production)
Never committed to version control
See Best Practicesarrow-up-right .
Troubleshooting Questions
Why can't I connect to the Gateway?
Common causes:
Why is my inference request failing?
Check:
Model exists on compute node
Payment was submitted (if required)
See Common Issuesarrow-up-right .
Why is the sandbox failing?
Common causes:
Running on non-Linux system
Try SANDBOX_MODE=permissive for debugging.
See Compute Issuesarrow-up-right .
What's on the roadmap?
Model auto-downloader (Phase 11)
Integration testing (Phase 12)
Production deployment (Phase 13)
Monitoring & analytics (Phase 14)
See Implementation Roadmaparrow-up-right .
Will there be official SDKs?
Planned SDKs:
Will NCN support other blockchains?
Currently focused on Ethereum/Arbitrum. Future chains may include:
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