Nym Operator Call - March 2026
Hey everyone!
This was a special call dedicated to the network operators - the people who keep Nym running. Serinko hosted this call with warmth and deep gratitude for the community that continues to develop and defend the network, despite the turbulence in the world and the crypto market.
Gratitude to the Community
Serinko expressed deep appreciation for everyone who goes beyond just running nodes:
- Operators who keep the network running, update their nodes, and patiently wait for fixes.
- Those who organize events and educational sessions: @code-zm, @unclelem, Pollux, @DiaNym , @writtenmajority, @rocio.gonzalez.toral and others.
- Everyone who helps in the chat, answers questions, and supports newcomers.
“You are a real-world example that there is an alternative to the system of hegemony. Together, we’re making surveillance capitalism technically impossible, economically undesirable, and socially redundant.”
Tech Updates & Operator Improvements
1. New Troubleshooting Page
The team is working on a complete overhaul of the troubleshooting documentation. A new section on server hygiene and maintenance (including Ansible) is now available, but Serinko warned that the scripts might be too aggressive - use with caution.
2. Dashboards & Metrics
- The team received survey results on which tools (explorers, dashboards) operators actually use.
- This will help make official dashboards (Harbormaster, Explorer) more clear and useful.
- Goal: operators shouldn’t have to guess which metrics actually matter for rewards.
3. Ticket-Based Rewarding
Major work on overhauling the reward system continues. It aims to align real node performance (what actually matters for the network) with incentives. Expected completion in Q2–Q3.
4. Network Tunnel Manager vs UFW
Serinko announced an important security configuration change, proposed by operators themselves (special shout-out to Wunderbar):
- Old logic was confusing.
- New approach:
- Mixnodes- use only UFW (6 ports).
- Gateways & WireGuard - use only Network Tunnel Manager (unified port and exit policy management).
- This will simplify setup and reduce errors.
5. Gateway Probe & Port Scanning
- In development: an extension to Gateway Probe that will scan node ports from the outside and check them against governance requirements (operator voting).
- This will help identify nodes with required ports closed.
- Currently in testing, but may eventually affect performance scores and grant program eligibility.
What Happened With the Last Update?
Serinko explained why some nodes had restart issues during the last update. The problem wasn’t the exit policy - it was that the file was hosted on Vercel, and Vercel changed its DDoS protection settings. Some nodes got a 403 error instead of the file and went into infinite restart loops. It’s fixed now - thanks for your patience.
Grant Programs (Applications Open!)
1. Residential IPs
- Looking for operators willing to run nodes (especially exit nodes) with IPs that show up on
ipinfo.ioas ASN type = ISP (residential, not data center). - This is critical for bypassing blocks and CAPTCHAs (streaming services, social media, etc. trust residential IPs more).
- Grant paid in Bitcoin. Slots available. DM Serinko.
2. New Locations
- Network currently has 67 countries. Goal is to stay above 70.
- 5 slots open for new locations, 10 slots for Residential IP in total.
- Before spinning up a node, check the list and DM @merve or Serinko. Don’t start until confirmed!
Announcements & Plans
- Late March / early April: Operators Town Hall - a big live stream on YouTube with Serinko, @jayapapaya , @claudianym , and likely @sudonym as moderator. They’ll discuss technical details, the protocol, and upcoming changes.
- Serinko reminded everyone to participate in NIP (Nym Improvement Proposal) votes. Quorum is always met - thanks for the engagement.
Celebrations
- Ramadan is ending soon. Serinko wished everyone who observed the fast a happy Eid al-Fitr.
Closing
Serinko thanked everyone for helping each other in the chats, for their patience, and for keeping the community alive and responsive. He urged everyone to stay safe and keep their defenses up.
See you at the Town Hall! 
