FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Nexus Network
Testnet II is over. Devnet mode is live and activity may not be tracked. View your activities during Testnet II
General
What is Nexus?
Nexus is a company building a Layer 1 blockchain for the AI era – a world supercomputer that gets more powerful with each connected device. We make it easy for anyone to contribute compute power from any device, even a laptop or phone. With just one click, users can connect at app.nexus.xyz to start earning rewards and help scale a verifiable network built for the AI economy.
How does Nexus work?
When you connect to Nexus with our web app app.nexus.xyz or with the Nexus CLI, your device becomes a node, contributing compute power to the network. Unlike other blockchains, the Nexus Layer 1 gets more powerful with each parallel connected device.
Nexus is designed to scale verifiable computation through a unique Layer 1 architecture, where each node runs secure workloads using zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs).
Our servers assign workloads—programs and inputs to be proved—to each connected node. Every node operates a remote Nexus zkVM. A zkVM or zero-knowledge virtual machine uses cryptographic techniques to verify computations on the Internet.
Our servers assign workloads—programs and inputs to be proved—to each connected node. Every node operates a Nexus zkVM. A zkVM or zero-knowledge virtual machine uses cryptographic techniques to verify computations on the Internet.
Can I use multiple devices?
Yes, you can connect as many devices as you want, including desktops, laptops, mobile phones, and virtual machines. You can link and manage all your devices from a single Nexus account. You can also prove computations in multiple browser tabs simultaneously, and each tab will consume approximately 1 CPU core in compute resource.
Why should I contribute compute power?
By participating in the Nexus testnet, you’re helping develop and test a global supercomputer that will help build a world where every action can be proven, every model can be audited, and every interaction can be verified.
If you log in to your Nexus account, you can earn points for your contributions. Learn more about points.
What happens when I connect to the network?
-
Your computer receives a program and its input data from the network.
-
The Nexus zkVM, which is running on your machine or device, executes the program, generating a proof.
-
Your proof is submitted to the network, along with performance metrics.
-
The process repeats as long as your device remains connected.
What do proof speed, cycles proved, and trace length mean?
-
Proof speed is how fast you prove. It measures how much computation is proved per second.
-
Cycles proved is how much you’ve proved. It represents how many units of computation you have proven. A cycle is the fundamental unit of computation within the zkVM, similar to a CPU instruction.
-
Trace length is how complex of a program you have proven. A trace is the step-by-step record of a program’s state transitions during execution in the zkVM.
What’s the difference between the Nexus web app and the CLI prover?
-
The Nexus App enables users to contribute compute to the network effortlessly with a one-click button via their browsers via a high-performance Rust-based WebAssembly (WASM) runtime. There is no setup or technical knowledge required, just click on the main button to start proving. The web app is also the main dashboard for creating, managing, and redeeming all of your compute contributions.
-
The CLI Prover is intended for developers and users running provers on dedicated machines. It supports one-line installation and launch, offering a streamlined way to contribute compute with minimal setup.
What am I proving?
Your device proves computations in the form of software programs assigned by our servers, and each node runs an instance of the Nexus zkVM. These computations verify that each step in a program was executed deterministically and correctly, providing verifiability to each executed program.
Is the Nexus blockchain stable?
The Nexus blockchain is currently undergoing testing, and stability improvements are ongoing. The goal of devnet/testnets are to eliminate bugs, and we appreciate community feedback to help improve and refine the system.
Points
What are points?
Points are the native reward system to reward users and developers on Nexus during testnets. For every 1000 Testnet III points you earn, you can claim 1 Testnet III NEX. This is for testing only and subject to change.
-
Points and NEX accrued from previous testnets or devnets are different from Testnet III points.
-
You can use your original email used in previous phases to view previous points.
How do I earn points?
Users and developers earn points for:
-
Contributing compute through the Nexus web app and Nexus CLI
-
Utilizing dApps on the Nexus blockchain
-
Deploying dApps onto the Nexus blockchain
-
Interacting with the Nexus ecosystem.
-
Actively participating with our community. Our Discord has a vibrant role system where we recognize contribution and development efforts.
How do I create a Nexus account?
Your account is created by connecting your email or wallet. Once it’s created, you can start receiving points and showing up on leaderboards.
Can I contribute compute from multiple devices? Do I need multiple accounts?
Yes. You can link multiple devices to a single account, and receive points there. Multiple accounts are not necessary
Troubleshooting
Where can I report bugs or issues?
Submit bug reports on our GitHub repositories, or ask a question on Discord. Before submitting issues, try clearing the cache for the app and checking relevent documentation.
Privacy & Security
What personal information do you collect, and how is it used?
When you first connect, your device is assigned a random identifier to track proving activity. This identifier ensures continuity in tracking cycles proved. If you prefer unlinked proofs, reset your identifier in the settings. For more details, see our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Is my computer and data safe while participating in the Nexus Network?
Yes. The Nexus CLI and Nexus zkVM code is open-source and available on GitHub. The Nexus App runs in a sandboxed instance of the Nexus zkVM inside your browser.
Getting Involved
How can I join or contribute to the Nexus Ecosystem?
If you are a project interested in partnership or collaboration opportunities, reach out to the Nexus team at growth@nexus.xyz