Blockcast is a decentralized content delivery network (CDN) built on the Solana blockchain. The project combines broadcast data transmission technologies with blockchain, addressing the issue of the growing load on internet infrastructure.
At the time of writing, the project is in an active Proof of Resources Epoch phase lasting 6 months. As part of it, you need to install a Beacon node — a lightweight client, and operators will receive rewards for its work based on their performance. At the end of the epoch, the top node operators will receive special NFTs, and all participants will receive points that can later be converted into an airdrop at TGE.
The team raised $2.85 million in Seed funding from funds such as Lattice Fund, Protocol Labs, Finality Capital, AllianceDAO, Zee Prime Capital, RW3 Ventures, and Anatoly Yakovenko.
In this guide, we will break down in detail and show step by step the entire process of installing, configuring, and running a Beacon node, and we will also cover the key points to pay attention to for stable operation and earning points.
Guide to installing and running a node
To run a node, you will need:
- a server or computer running Linux (for example, Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 / 24.04); if needed, you can rent a server from our partners at Unihost;
- administrator rights (root access or a user with sudo);
- a stable internet connection;
- minimum hardware requirements — the node runs in a Docker container.
Note: bonus points are awarded for a multicast-compatible IP. You can run the node even on a minimal configuration.
Step 1. Open the console
The console (terminal) is a tool for entering commands.
On Ubuntu Desktop:
- press Ctrl + Alt + T;
- or press Super (the Windows key), type Terminal , and open the app you find.
If you are connecting to a remote server
On your device, open the terminal and run the command:
ssh root@IP_АДРЕС_ВАШЕГО_СЕРВЕРА
Replace IP_АДРЕС_ВАШЕГО_СЕРВЕРА with the real one and enter the password.
Step 2. Update the system
Update the package indexes and install the latest versions, run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 3. Install Docker if it is not installed, and run the command:
Note: to install and set up Docker , you can use our guide.
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | bash
Step 4. Add a swap file
A swap file will help you avoid issues caused by running out of RAM:
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Cretezy/Swap/master/swap.sh -o swap && sh swap 8G /swapfile
Step 5. Download the Docker Compose file and run the node
Download the Docker Compose file from the official Blockcast repository, run:
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Blockcast/beacon-docker-compose/refs/heads/main/docker-compose.yml -o docker-compose.yml
Start the node:
docker compose up -d
Make sure all services are up and running correctly:
docker compose ps
If everything is fine, you will see something like this:
NAME COMMAND SERVICE STATUS
beacond “envdir /var/opt/mag…” beacond running
blockcastd “/usr/bin/blockcastd…” blockcastd running
control_proxy “/usr/bin/control_pr…” control_proxy running
If any service did not start, check the logs:
docker compose logs <service_name>
Step 6. Initialize the node (get the keys)
After all containers are up, go to the compose directory and run the initialization commands:
cd ~/.blockcast/compose/
docker compose exec blockcastd blockcastd init
The command will generate output with your unique data:
Hardware ID:
————
c6ff0e6f-bc4d-4151-47c3-07df0e3cf53f
Challenge Key:
————–
MCowBQYDK2VwAyEAXP49l4pBK1V5qy7vbRJYv3etRdEr7ycsQAvrgS+hQY0=
Register URL:
————-
https://app.blockcast.network/register?hwid=…&challenge-key=…
Important: be sure to back up the private key stored at ~/.blockcast/certs/gw_challenge.key. Save it together with your Hardware ID in a safe place. Without this key, you will lose the ability to prove ownership of the device.
Node registration in the dashboard
- Go to the website and sign up.
- Copy the Registration URL from the console output and paste it into your browser — the Hardware ID and Challenge Key fields will be filled in automatically. Alternatively, go to the Manage Nodes page, click Register Node, and enter the keys manually.
- Allow location access in your browser — this is required for the network to function, as Blockcast routes content through the nearest nodes.
- Connect your Solana wallet, as well as your X (Twitter) and Discord accounts, in your portal profile to start earning points.
Node operation verification
If the node is successfully registered and running correctly, it will be assigned the Healthy status in the table on the /manage-nodes page within a few minutes. By clicking the node entry in the table, you will be taken to a details page where you can see uptime, connection test results, and information about the rewards being accrued.
Note: the first connection test starts after 6 hours of continuous node operation. The first batch of rewards is credited after 24 hours of uninterrupted uptime.
Conclusion
The project is still in its early stages, and the active node-running phase will last only 6 months. The rewards formula takes into account uptime, upload speed, and hardware specs, so it is important to keep your node running stably for as long as possible.
Highlights:
- keep the node running;
- farm points.
If you have any questions while completing the activities, you can ask them in our Telegram chat.
Useful links: Website | X | Discord | Docs | Dashboard
It will be interesting
