# Node Operation

Passport Protocol will operate as a distributed and permissioned network of vetted node operators to ensure performance and reliability. 

The decentralization roadmap focuses on:

* **Node operator decentralization** - Diversifying node operators to ensure integrity
* **Incentive decentralization** - Distributing economic rewards algorithmically based on contributions

### Transparency

Throughout the whole process, 0xPass will maintain transparency by:

* Sharing the roadmap and criteria for node participation
* Disclosing the identities of initial node operators
* Releasing open source code for community review
* Providing public channels for feedback and questions

The community will have insight into Passport's evolution towards decentralization.

### Phases

Decentralization will be phased across 4 stages:

#### Phase 1: Distributed Nodes

This initial phase implements distribution for security:

* **Proactive secret sharing** - Periodic share rotation
* **MPC** - Prevents single node key compromise
* **Secure enclaves** - Hardware-isolated computation

#### Phase 2: Third-Party Node Operators

Onboarding third-party operators with mechanisms like:

* **Reputation systems** - Track node reliability
* **Random sampling** - Prevent collusion
* **Governance** - Community-driven decisions
* **Opensource**

#### Phase 3: Scalability

Scaling the network through optimizations like **Sharding.** The focus of this phase is to allow the network to have more node operators.

#### Phase 4: Incentives

Introducing decentralized incentives:

* **Tokenomics** - Network tokens for compensation
* **Fee mechanisms** - Usage-based distribution

### Onboarding Node Operators

Upon reaching Phase 2, operators can run nodes by installing the software. Incentives will encourage diverse participation.