Architecture: Proof-of-Usefulness (PoU) Reward Server
Goal: Reward website operators (e.g., Shopify stores) whose visitors participate in the network as passive Nimiq nodes through their browsing time.
Component Overview
Browser Node Snippet (Client)
Is embedded on the website (similar to Google Analytics)
Starts passive Nimiq browser node
Sends regular “activity pings” to reward servers (every X seconds)
Calculates:
Active browser nodes per page
Total uptime per node/site
Validity of connections (header sync or TX seen?)
Issues PoU points or reward units
Example logic:
1 active browser node for 10 minutes = 1 PoU point
Maximum 100 PoU points per day/site
Automatic exclusion of bots
Reward payout / Dashboard
Admin area for merchants (e.g., “Shopify Store XYZ”)
Display: "Today 43 Visitor Nodes – 12.3 NIM earned
Payouts are made:
Automatically every month
Or manually via a button (via Wallet Connect)
Payouts are based on:
PoU score
Budget pool
(Optional) DAO voting or partner funding
Reward model (example)
Activity PoU points Equivalent value (e.g., in NIM)
1 active node for 10 minutes 1 PoU ~0.01 NIM
100 PoU / day / merchant max. 100 PoU 1 NIM
30 days active 3000 PoU 30 NIM (~decentralized server cost compensation)
The values are customizable – NFTs, badge systems, voting, etc. are also conceivable.
Advantages
Promotes decentralized infrastructure on the web
Rewards sites with high traffic
Simple to integrate
Data protection compliant (no KYC, no accounts required)
No mining, no power consumption, no wallet installation
Conclusion
Proof of Usefulness works 100% with the existing POS.
You only need:
Access to the Nano nodes in the browser (already possible)
A reward server for tracking (decentralized or centralized)
Reward logic (off-chain: API, smart contract optional)
This gives you a rewarding, ecological, web-based participatory network
that extends the existing Nimiq ecosystem – not changes it.