The RSS3 Foundation Letter - October 2024

Dear RSS3 Community,

This October, while our updates might seem fewer, our efforts behind the scenes are more focused than ever. We are gearing up for something significant, aiming to bring transformative changes not only to our network but to the broader Open Web. Our work this month has been about laying the groundwork for a major development that promises to extend the reach and impact of open information.

Most Important Metric

• Number of Requests: 394,358,427

Dev Progress

• REP-33: Node State Transition has been finalized, providing Node Operators with a more efficient and transparent way to manage Node states, see https://docs.rss3.io/guide/operator/management/node-state-map.
• RSS3 Node released v1.1.1:
  • Expanded coverage, it now includes additional Open Data Protocols.
  • This version reduces node operation costs automatically via data trimming.
  • Various quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes have been implemented.

Marketing and Ecosystem Progress

• Our DevRel, Jeff, was invited as a speaker by PublicAI for an AMA on “Data Sharing and Sovereignty: How Decentralized Networks Shape the Future,” where he shared insights into the role of decentralized networks in data sovereignty.
• Jeff also appeared on Open Initiative's Open Podcast, where he discussed how AI is enhancing the consumer layer in crypto. Together with Michel, VP of Partnerships & Investments at AIOZ Network, they explored infrastructure that bridges traditional businesses with blockchain.
• Jeff provided an in-depth tutorial on how to interact with the RSS3 Node Network, covering both staking and setting up your own node. Watch the tutorial here.
• RSS3 Node v1.1.1 has been released! Read more here.
  • A reminder to node operators: please update to the latest version to continue receiving rewards.
• Our ecosystem project Follow has officially entered BETA, surpassing 81k users with incredible growth momentum! This milestone has attracted highly engaged on-chain users to RSS3 VSL, demonstrating outstanding retention and impressive growth.
• We supported the Encode Club London Research Conference + Hackathon from October 25th to 27th, co-hosted with the Cambridge Blockchain Society and the University of Oxford Blockchain Society. We're excited to collaborate and innovate together.

Get Involved!

• Node Management Rewards Proposal: An REP has been proposed to revamp the rewards structure for Node Management. This proposal suggests calculating rewards based on quantifiable metrics related to node operation costs and establishing a Dedicated Operator Rewards Pool, separate from Staking Rewards. We invite your input and discussion on this important topic to ensure fair and effective compensation for node operators. For more details and to contribute to the discussion, please visit: REP Network Rewards Distribution Adjustment.

Some Comments

As we continue to expand the Open Web, our focus remains on how it can truly serve the masses, rather than being confined within the walls of a few platforms. The journey towards open information and an open web isn't just about one or two breakthroughs; it’s about ongoing, collective efforts that integrate across multiple products and platforms to achieve enduring success.

The Open Web should act as a general umbrella that supports robust open applications in the decentralized era, ushering in a platformless experience. This transformation goes beyond mere technological innovation—it’s about creating a pervasive movement that encourages the development of good applications, engages real users, and fosters positive externalities in the tech ecosystem.

As we progress, we invite you to consider the role you could play in shaping a web that is truly open and accessible to all. Together, we are crafting a future where open information is not a privilege but a norm.

Warmest regards,

Zoe and the RSS3 Foundation