# Vola Nodes Overview

Vola Network is secured & powered by independent node operators like you, who contribute hardware to the network in exchange for $VOLA rewards. All files stored, block produced, every query served happens because someone, somewhere, is running a node.

This section covers everything you need to know about running a node on Vola; from choosing the right node type to understanding staking requirements, rewards, and delegation.

{% hint style="success" icon="dove" %}
You don't need to be a blockchain expert to run a node. If you have reliable hardware and a stable internet connection, this documentation will walk you through the rest.
{% endhint %}

### Node Types

Each node type serves a different function on the network. Choose the one that matches your hardware, technical comfort level, and goals.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Validation Nodes</strong></td><td><em>Secure the chain by producing and finalizing blocks. Requires staking 50,000 $VOLA. Earns block production rewards at 5% APY per era.</em></td><td><a href="/pages/Ytxs5hMW3rWfb938QTg3">/pages/Ytxs5hMW3rWfb938QTg3</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Vola Smart Node</strong></td><td><em>Store user files and earn storage fees plus staking rewards. Requires a public domain, SSL, and stake based on storage capacity committed.</em></td><td><a href="/pages/GsrLAfwWLWaMNhVQ2sph">/pages/GsrLAfwWLWaMNhVQ2sph</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>RPC &#x26; Archive Node</strong></td><td><em>Serve chain queries from wallets, apps, and developers. No staking or rewards but a valuable contribution to network accessibility and decentralization.</em></td><td><a href="/pages/niDejuIHSDA9eUIomyiC">/pages/niDejuIHSDA9eUIomyiC</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Compute Node </strong><em><strong>(Coming Soon)</strong></em></td><td><em>Contribute processing power to execute distributed application workloads on the network. Incentive details will be released in a future update.</em></td><td><a href="/pages/SrbWv5DCblfi95Ri2fQj">/pages/SrbWv5DCblfi95Ri2fQj</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

#### How Nodes Fit Together

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Every time a user uploads a file through a Vola-powered application like Nuvola Drive, VNSs receive the file, store it, and submits cryptographic proofs back to the chain confirming it has done so.
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RPC Nodes sit in between, making the chain readable and queryable for wallets, explorers, and applications without needing to run a full node themselves.
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Every block that records those proofs and every transaction on the network is produced and finalized by Validation Nodes, which run continuously to keep the chain moving.
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As the network grows, Compute Nodes will extend this further, enabling distributed workloads to be executed directly on the infrastructure layer.
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Together, these four node types form a complete, self-sustaining infrastructure layer, each one reinforcing the others.

### Node Comparisons

|                      | Validation Node              | VSN (Storage)                     | Compute Node *(Coming Soon)*     | RPC & Archive Node             |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Rewards**          | :green\_circle: Yes          | :green\_circle: Yes               | :green\_circle: Yes              | :red\_circle: No               |
| **Staking Required** | :green\_circle: 50,000 $VOLA | :green\_circle: Based on capacity | :green\_circle: Yes, details TBA | :red\_circle: No               |
| Delegation Supported | :red\_circle: No             | :green\_circle: Yes               | :green\_circle: TBA              | :red\_circle: No               |
| Minimum Commitment   | 50,000 $VOLA                 | 500 GiB storage                   | TBA                              | None                           |
| **Min RAM**          | 4GB                          | 8GB                               | TBA                              | 4GB (50GB storage for Archive) |
| **Primary Role**     | Block production & finality  | File storage & retrieval          | Distributed workload execution   | Chain queries                  |
| **Good For**         | Validators, SPOs             | Storage providers                 | Compute providers                | Developers, explorers          |
| Reward Period        | Per era ≈ 7 hours            | Per epoch ≈ 5 days                | TBA                              | N/A                            |

### Delegated Staking

**Not Ready to Run a Node?**

You can still participate in the network and earn rewards through Delegated Stakin&#x67;**.**\
Delegate your $VOLA to an existing Vola Smart Node and earn a share of its rewards without running any hardware yourself, learn more:

{% content-ref url="/pages/SrIob2jhz2NibYMEluAH" %}
[Delegated Staking](/docs/vola-node-economy/staking-and-delegation/delegated-staking.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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