The definitive guide to being a Mysterium Node
If you’re new to Mysterium Network, welcome! You’ve stumbled upon a new era of the internet.
Mysterium is one of the many projects pioneering decentralization. We’re building the world’s largest peer to peer bandwidth marketplace to power the Web 3. Together we are rewiring the internet so it’s faster, safer and more accessible for all.
We’re here to show you how easy it is to do three things:
- Earn cryptocurrency
- Protect your online privacy & security
- Decentralize the internet
First up — rent your unused bandwidth and earn cryptocurrency
If you’re reading this article, then you have an internet connection. But did you know that most of the internet you pay for goes to waste, sitting idle or completely unused? By becoming a Mysterium node you can share your spare internet bandwidth with a global community of other nodes, spreading your connection even further.
What is a node?
In a peer-to-peer network like Mysterium’s, a node represents a single device, such as your computer, which helps power and maintain that network. Through your node, you can voluntarily contribute your internet or computing resources, such as bandwidth or processing power. You share it directly with the entire network without any kind of official host or authority needed. That’s the beauty of blockchain.
Anyone can easily become a node by doing either of these things:
- Buy a Raspberry Pi device preloaded with our node software. Plug it into your router and simply switch it on.
- Download our easy to use node app designed for Mac or Windows.
More detail:
A Raspberry Pi is a small hardware device that functions as your Mysterium node. Your Ethererum wallet address is tied to it, so it’s as simple as plug, play and earn. Read all about them here.
You can run a Raspberry Pi node and earn up to $600 worth of ETH in a year!
And the cherry (or raspberry :p) on top? We’ve just rolled out a node referral program for the UK, so you will be rewarded when you introduce new nodes to our network.
Create your referral code and reach out directly to sharmini@mysterium.network to find out how you can start onboarding nodes and educating your local community about decentralization.
We make it easy to become part of the new token economy. If you want to learn more ways to earn crypto easily, check out our post listing 14 ways to earn cryptocurrency.
Then — enjoy (and power) the world’s first decentralised, free VPN.
As we’ve already discussed, when you become a node, you join and power our network. Our node network is completely run by and for the people. You share your internet resources with a global community and are rewarded with ETH.
But our node network can do lots of other cool things, like power its own global, free VPN!
You can either be in node-mode to power the VPN and earn tokens, or be in VPN-mode to use it. With most VPNs, you have to pay for a subscription to use their service. With Mysterium, you get paid for being the service. The app works across multiple devices, so you can unblock websites and stream content from around the world wherever you are, whenever you need.
Because it’s decentralised, our VPN is far more secure, with no single point of attack or failure. We encrypt your data and use layered protection protocols built to defend both people and organizations. You can browse anonymously, with your identity and IP always hidden, avoiding unethical surveillance and cyberattacks.
We also whitelist everyone who wants to become nodes or access our VPN network. Whitelisting is where we create a list of IP addresses that we trust to use our domains or service. It’s a security feature that allows us to limit and control access to Mysterium, protecting you and the entire network from bad players.
And while other VPNs offer online security, in many cases they still can — and do — maintain logs. Because of our decentralized architecture, it’s impossible for us to store your data or log your traffic. Instead, all your traffic is distributed across the entire network, with no single node having the full picture of who you are or what you’re up to.
Now relax — you’re already decentralising internet.
The best part about being a node is that technically it is YOU fighting online censorship, surveillance and cybercrime.
For many of us, the internet is a place to freely roam. But many online citizens are trapped behind digital walls, stopping the free flow of ideas, voices and truths.
Our founder wrote a great piece about the internet before it was hijacked by governments and selfish corporations, and what we can do to reclaim and protect it now.
As a node, you lend others your digital freedom. You help a global community unblock the internet, safeguarding freedom of speech and anonymous expression online.
Join the fastest growing community decentralising and democratising the web, one node at a time.
