TL;DR: delegators are now free to delegate $FML to any wallet address, and free to withdraw 1 day after delegation; training nodes and validators can now decide their own reward share ratio!
GM FLockie fam! We at FLock have some very exciting news to share with you - Delegation Upgrade at our flagship AI Arena!
Since our beta launch in May this year, we have received almost 1.5 million validation submissions, 16,000 training submissions, with more than 875 validators, 500 training nodes, and 70 delegators participating in AI Arena. Thank you for all your support and dedication, without which this wouldn’t have been such a huge success! However, our ambition to decentralize AI does not stop here. We understand that the barriers to becoming a training node or validator remain high - it often requires a certain level of technical know-how or computational resources to participate. To encourage even more participation from the wider community, we hereby introduce the Delegation Upgrade.
What changed?
Previously, delegators were limited to delegate $FML to a specific validator for a given training task. Such delegation ended alongside the lifecycle of a specific task. As such, delegators were not able to withdraw until a task was finished. Also, reward share ratio which determines how much delegators are rewarded was set by FLock in smart contracts.
How does it work now?
Now, the Delegation Upgrade comes with 4 important changes:
- Delegators can now delegate $FML to both training nodes and validators, making the pool of potential candidates for delegation much bigger.
- Delegation is now bound to a wallet address, not to a specific task, meaning delegation is decoupled from the lifecycle of a given task. As such, delegation to a participant will go on even after a task is finished.
- Withdrawal is now simplified - delegators are now free to withdraw 1 day after delegation, even if a task has not been completed.
- Training nodes and validators are now free to choose their own reward share ratio - the higher the ratio, the more reward delegators will receive when wallets delegate $FML to a given participant, thereby attracting more tokens to be delegated to this user.
In other words, delegators can pick and choose any participant in the ecosystem - doesn’t matter whether the participant is a training node or a validator, nor whether the task that participant contributed to has finished.
Mechanisms for joining as a training node and validator remain unchanged. You can read more about it here.
Why is the upgrade a good thing?
The Delegation Upgrade introduces significant improvements that benefit delegators, other participants, and the entire ecosystem.
More Rewards and Flexibility for Delegators
For delegators, this means more flexibility in terms of delegation options and withdrawals. With the pool of candidates expanded to include both training nodes and validators, delegators now have more options to choose from, enabling them to spread their $FML tokens more strategically. By being able to delegate to wallet addresses rather than specific tasks, they can continue supporting the participants they trust, even after individual tasks have concluded. Also, there’s an increase in flexibility when it comes to withdrawal. These all together lead to a more dynamic and continuous delegation process, creating new opportunities to maximize rewards over an extended period.
Moreover, delegators now have a greater chance of earning rewards. Since the potential pool of participants has grown, delegators can choose from a wider range of contributors within the ecosystem. This diversification not only increases the likelihood of successful participation but also allows them to better manage risk. The longer delegation period, bound to wallet addresses, ensures that the funds remain active and profitable for as long as possible, with fewer interruptions between task lifecycles.
Greater Earning Potentials, Control and Influence for Training Nodes & Validators
For training nodes and validators, the upgrade means potentially more $FML flowing into their wallets. Lowering the barrier to entry for delegators leads to increased participation, and this influx of new delegators results in more staked $FML supporting them. The ability to customize reward share ratios is another critical improvement. Training nodes and validators can now compete for delegators by offering more attractive reward ratios. Those who are willing to share a larger portion of their earnings will likely attract more delegators, while others may choose to retain more of the rewards for themselves, depending on their strategy.
Additionally, having more $FML delegated to them provides significant advantages for training nodes and validators. With a larger stake, they stand to earn greater rewards from the daily emission of $FML tokens, as these rewards are distributed somewhat proportionally based on the amount of $FML staked. This not only boosts their potential earnings but also enhances their influence within the ecosystem. A higher staked amount can give them a larger say in determining the winning models amongst AI Arena tasks, thereby strengthening their position and impact on the platform.
A Step Closer to Decentralization
On a broader scale, this upgrade takes the FLock ecosystem one step closer to true decentralization. By handing over control of the reward ratio from FLock to the individual participants, we’re reinforcing the decentralized nature of the platform. Now, participants can decide what’s fair and competitive, removing the top-down control previously set by FLock. The lowered barriers for entry also contribute to a more inclusive environment, allowing anyone holding $FML to participate in the delegation process. This increased participation will help foster a healthy and sustainable AI-driven ecosystem where contributions are both rewarded and valued.
How to join?
Join The Delegator Pioneers Program
To celebrate this milestone, we’re launching the Delegator Pioneers Program to recruit the first wave of delegators as we move towards full decentralization.
To join the program, just follow these simple steps:
Join The Program: Create Your Delegator Character
Head to https://x.com/flock_io/status/1843705010930004290 and create your own Delegator Character using Flock’s custom AI model. Your creation will automatically be shared in our pinned thread on X.
Then head to https://app.galxe.com/quest/flock/GC16jtKuh8 to verify your entry and join the program. The top 5 designs with the most likes by the end of the month will each win $50 USDC and be featured in future FLock graphics!
Delegating $FML To Training Nodes or Validators
Next, new Delegator recruits are required to delegate $FML tokens to training nodes or validators.
How to delegate:
- Visit the ‘Stake to Earn’ tab on train.flock.io
- Verify your profile via X and obtain testnet $FML
- Delegate your tokens.
- You will see participants’ wallet address, hardworking index, estimated Annual Percentage Yield, reward share ratio and total amount of $FML delegated to this address. You will be able to stake to whatever address you deem fit on the same page.
- Track and earn rewards!
- To withdraw, simply go to the same tab and insert the amount of $FML you wish to withdraw. One click to stake, one click to withdraw - as simple as that!
Delegator Program Next Steps
Next steps for new Delegator recruits will be released later this week on X and in our Delegator Discord channel.
For Training Nodes or Validators
To accept delegation as a training node or validator, the process is equally straightforward - again, navigate to https://train.flock.io/ and go to the “Stake to Train” page. There, you are able to customize your own reward share ratio. Optionally, you can also show your profile information and a profile picture. Note that your reward share ratio cannot be modified more than once within a month’s time.
How to learn more?
To learn more about AI Arena, our docs is a great place to start. Also, we have recently published our whitepaper, which delves deeper into FLock’s overall system design, technical components and tokenomics. We also now have a very active and vibrant FLockie community on Discord, come join us there!
Note that the delegation function may not be available in some regions due to local regulations.
