Proof of Utility (PoU)
Pulse AP introduces a new model of consensus and rewards called Proof of Utility (PoU). Instead of wasting energy (Proof of Work) or relying on idle tokens (Proof of Stake), PoU rewards participants for real, verifiable tasks.
How PoU Works
Task Submission A device, user, or app submits a job to the network (e.g., read a sensor, move a robot, resize an image).
Node Execution A node with matching capabilities executes the job in a secure environment.
Proof Generation The node creates a cryptographic receipt (signed data + hash) proving the work was completed.
Verification Receipts can be verified by validators or anchored on Solana for transparency.
Settlement
The node earns tokens once the receipt is validated.
The requester pays only for verified jobs.
PoW vs PoS vs PoU
Proof of Work (PoW) Rewards miners for consuming energy. Useful for securing Bitcoin, but wasteful and inefficient.
Proof of Stake (PoS) Rewards token holders for locking capital. Efficient, but rewards wealth rather than action.
Proof of Utility (PoU) Rewards nodes for completing useful, verifiable jobs. Tokens circulate because work is being done, not because of speculation.
Why It Matters
Transparency → Every action has a cryptographic receipt.
Fairness → Payments flow only when work is verified.
Scalability → Billions of micro-actions from IoT and robotics can be logged.
Adoption → Tokens are tied directly to real-world productivity.
Example
A delivery drone logs each stop with a receipt.
The receipts are verified on Solana.
Tokens reward the drone’s operator.
The customer only pays for verified deliveries.
This is Proof of Utility in action: real work → proof → token reward.
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