join.htm

---
title: "Join the Network - Gridcoin"
---

<section id="section_join_network" class="container">
    <div class="row">
        <div class="col-md-6 align-self-center mb-3">
            <div class="flair-square-dots"></div>
            <h1>Join the <strong>Network</strong></h1>
            <p>The Gridcoin network is comprised of seven types of participants.</p>
            <a href="#section_how_to_join" class="btn btn-outline-primary">View Details</a>
        </div>

        <div class="col-md-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/il-header-join-the-network.svg"
                alt="Illustration of people participating in the Gridcoin network.">
        </div>
    </div>
</section><!-- #section_intro -->

<section id="section_how_to_join" class="container">
    <h2 class="echo-header">
        <span class="echo" aria-hidden="true">How to Participate</span>
        How to Participate
    </h2>

    <ol class="row display-list">
        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-staker.svg"
                alt="Illustration of a series of connected blocks">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">01. Stakers (Block Producers)</h3>
                <p>
                    Stakers maintain a balance of GRC connected to the Gridcoin
                    blockchain. The more balance they maintain, the more likely
                    they are to be chosen as a block producer. Each block they
                    produce earns them GRC.
                </p>
                <p>
                    Stakers are additionally responsible for forming consensus
                    on statistics published by Oracles along with executing the
                    superblock algorithm that calculates and publishes each
                    participant's earned research rewards.
                </p>
                <ol>
                    <li>Install GRC client</li>
                    <li>Get GRC (buy or crunch)</li>
                    <li>Move GRC to wallet</li>
                    <li>Unlock wallet for staking</li>
                    <li>Understand probabilities</li>
                </ol>
            </div><!-- .details -->
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-cruncher.svg"
                alt="Illustration of a face with electronic circuits on one half">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">02. Crunchers</h3>
                <p>
                    Crunchers contribute computation cycles to whitelisted BOINC
                    projects. They earn GRC in relation to the amount of computation
                    they contribute.
                </p>
                <p>
                    Decide if you want to be a solo cruncher or use a pool.
                </p>

                <div class="row">
                    <div class="col-sm-6">
                        <h5 class="h6">Solo Crunching</h5>
                        <ol>
                            <li>Have GRC</li>
                            <li>Install BOINC app</li>
                            <li>Choose projects</li>
                            <li>Sign up for projects</li>
                            <li>Join a team (optional)</li>
                            <li>Install GRC client</li>
                            <li>Move GRC to wallet</li>
                            <li>Send a beacon</li>
                            <li>Troubleshoot</li>
                        </ol>
                    </div>

                    <div class="col-sm-6">
                        <h5 class="h6">Pool Crunching</h5>
                        <ol>
                            <li>Install BOINC app</li>
                            <li>Join a pool</li>
                            <li>Choose projects</li>
                            <li>Install GRC client</li>
                        </ol>
                    </div>
                </div><!-- .row -->
            </div><!-- .details -->
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-oracle.svg"
                alt="Illustration of a robot speaking collected BOINC statistics">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">03. Oracles</h3>
                <p>
                    Oracles are verified nodes that collect, hash, sign, and publish
                    participant contribution statistics from statistic providers.
                </p>
                <p>
                    <small class="text-muted">
                        *Currently, only verifiable and trusted network contributors can
                        become network Oracles. Why not go ahead and start contributing?!
                    </small>
                </p>
            </div>
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-researcher.svg"
                alt="Illustration of a computer processing incoming data">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">04. Statistics Providers / Researchers</h3>
                <p>
                    Statistics providers are third-party entities that track a
                    cruncher's contributions. In other words, they are the BOINC
                    projects or other distributed computing applications that are
                    incentivized by the Gridcoin protocol.
                </p>
                <ul>
                    <li>Whitelist your BOINC project</li>
                    <li>Create a BOINC project</li>
                </ul>
            </div>
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-contributor.svg"
                alt="Illustration of heart-shaped circuit board appearing as a person's brain">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">05. Contributors</h3>
                <p>
                    Contributors are individuals or entities that contribute
                    development time to any aspect of the Gridcoin network&mdash;from
                    software engineering, to marketing and design, to outreach and
                    community management. Remember, anyone can contribute! All you
                    have to do is start.
                </p>
                <ul>
                    <li>Software development</li>
                    <li>Other development</li>
                </ul>
            </div>
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-business.svg"
                alt="Illustration of digital coin paid to a wallet">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">06. Businesses</h3>
                <p>
                    Businesses accept GRC for goods or services. Businesses that
                    accept GRC enable growth and development while simultaneously
                    increasing exposure and adoption of the Gridcoin protocol and
                    the scientific incentives therein.
                </p>
                <ul>
                    <li>Accept GRC at your business</li>
                </ul>
            </div>
        </li>

        <li class="col-lg-6">
            <img class="img-fluid" src="/assets/img/ic-part-adopter.svg"
                alt="Illustration of people standing behind a Gridcoin bank note">
            <div class="details">
                <h3 class="h4">07. Adopters</h3>
                <p>
                    Adopters are participants who simply use GRC as a currency.
                </p>
                <ul>
                    <li>Get GRC (buy or crunch)</li>
                </ul>
            </div>
        </li>
    </ol><!-- .row -->
</section><!-- #section_what_is_gridcoin -->

<section id="section_view_detailed_guides" class="container text-center">
    <a class="btn btn-primary" href="/guides/">View Detailed Guides</a>
</section>