# How do xNodes Work?

xNodes are the backbone of operational integrity within the Synthelix network — ensuring that every layer of the AI-powered DePIN infrastructure functions smoothly, securely, and transparently.

These validator nodes continuously monitor system availability, capacity performance, and service reliability across all decentralized deployments — from Syn GPT instances to modular AI-Agent executions.

### Functionality of xNodes

Each xNode performs critical verifications to ensure real-time service quality, resource distribution, and network health.

By leveraging automated monitoring tools such as **heartbeat tracking**, **latency benchmarks**, and **agent-based QOS analysis**, xNodes provide assurance that all hosted applications and AI agents are running within the protocol’s performance standards.

Their core responsibility is to validate container uptime, GPU availability, and decentralized service responsiveness — guaranteeing that the Synthelix infrastructure delivers a seamless experience across use cases.

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### xNode Rewards System

To encourage high-performance validation, xNode operators are rewarded through a structured incentive system funded directly by the Synthelix network.

**xNode Rewards:**

* Drawn from a designated on-chain pool over **three years**
* Based on relative task completion (proportional to all active nodes)
* Distributed in **$SYNAI**, with real-time eligibility tracking

Rewards are issued **daily**, ensuring consistent alignment between performance and payout.

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### Core Responsibilities of xNodes

xNodes are assigned dynamic tasks across three core operational layers:

* **Service Uptime Monitoring**\
  Ensures 24/7 availability of deployed services such as Syn GPT sessions, AI-agent modules, or launchpad interfaces — monitored per minute, with failover detection.
* **Quality of Service (QoS) Evaluation**\
  Benchmarks latency, response rate, and success ratio of AI-agent interactions during active usage.\
  Uses adaptive performance scoring to maintain trust in automated systems.
* **Capacity Verification**\
  Verifies GPU, CPU, bandwidth, and memory availability of connected infrastructure on a rolling 24-hour basis.\
  Helps detect oversubscription, hardware failures, or resource drift in real time.

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### Task Reassignment & Consistency

If an xNode becomes unreachable or fails to report task data:

* The task is automatically reassigned to a standby node.
* If the original node submitted partial results, the new node re-verifies the entire task.
* No double-rewards are issued for overlapping tasks.

This system ensures integrity while maintaining decentralized flexibility.

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### Node Performance Penalties

To protect the accuracy of network telemetry, underperforming or unreliable xNodes are subject to penalties:

* **2+ failed tasks in 1 week** → disqualified from rewards for **1 month**
* **5+ failures in 1 month** → blocked from earning rewards for **6 months**
* **10+ cumulative failures** → permanently removed from validator pool

All violations are tracked on-chain and managed through DAO-based governance votes if escalated.

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### xNode Operational States

Each node has a clearly defined status within the validator system:

* **Active** – Currently performing validation duties
* **Standby** – Online and awaiting task assignment
* **Inactive** – Offline or in technical downtime
* **Suspended** – Temporarily disabled due to errors or policy breaches
* **Pending Activation** – NFT staked, awaiting initial validation rights

These states are visible within the Synthelix DApp, allowing users and validators to monitor network health in real time.

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> xNodes don’t just observe the Synthelix infrastructure — they **enforce** it.\
> In a decentralized AI-driven future, trust must be measured and maintained — one task at a time.
