📚 Glossary of terms
General information
A brief reference of key concepts and network terms Gonka. Suitable for both newcomers and experienced network participants.
👉 Author (Telegram): https://t.me/prog256
👉 Original article on Telegram: https://t.me/gonka_doc/198
👉 Additional resources used: https://gonkaai.space/ru/knowledge/terms
🌐 Core concepts
Gonka (Gonka)
A decentralized AI infrastructure designed for training and inference of artificial intelligence models. It serves as an alternative to centralized cloud providers, emphasizing efficient and practical use of computing resources.
Inference (Inference)
The process of running an AI model to produce a response to a user's request. Also the name of the container responsible for balancing inference requests across ML nodes.
AI Model (AI model)
A machine learning model designed to process data and generate outputs (text, images, audio, video, etc.).
Example of an AI model:
LLM / Large Language Model (Large language model)
Type of AI model, designed to work with text and language. It uses tokens and sequence prediction to generate, analyze, and process text. In the Gonka network it’s used for inference and training and requires substantial computational resources.
Examples of LLMs: Qwen, LLaMA, DeepSeek, Mistral, Falcon.
GNK
The native coin of the Gonka network. Used for:
paying for AI services (inference, training),
rewards to hosts for compute,
participation in network governance.
Proof of Work 2.0 (PoW 2.0)
A next-generation consensus mechanism where almost 100% of computing resources are directed to performing real AI tasks (inference, training, PoC) rather than pointless hash-mining.
Mining
The process of earning rewards by contributing compute to the network. In Gonka mining is not based on hashing but on performing real AI tasks and generating Proof of Compute.
Pool
When a physical node is single but several people mine on it together. Rewards are distributed among participants proportional to their contribution. You need to trust the pool creator.
Decentralized network
A network that operates without a single central authority, where all participants are equal and can influence the network’s development and changes.
👥 Participant roles
Host
A network participant who provides computational resources (GPU, CPU, memory, network). Receives rewards for performing AI tasks and participating in consensus.
Developer
A network user who runs inference or trains AI models using Gonka’s distributed compute resources.
Participant
A general term for any network participant — both hosts and developers.
Validator
A host participating in blockchain consensus:
signs blocks,
validates transactions,
confirms other participants’ computational results.
🏗️ Node architecture
Network Node
A server responsible for interacting with the blockchain and coordinating the network. Typically includes:
Chain Node
API Node
TMKMS
Proxy
Bridge
Explorer
"ML Node" / ML node
A server with a GPU that performs AI computations:
inference,
model training,
generation of Proof of Compute,
processing validation batches.
Consists of:
MLNode container
Inference container
Chain Node
A blockchain node based on Cosmos SDK + Tendermint. Stores the network state, processes transactions, and participates in consensus.
API Node
The coordination layer between the blockchain and ML nodes. Responsible for:
request routing,
task orchestration,
managing computation validation.
Inference (Inference)
The process of running an AI model to produce a response to a user's request. Also the name of the container responsible for balancing inference requests across ML nodes.
⚙️ Consensus and computation mechanisms
Sprint
A short-term compute cycle during which participants perform AI tasks within a limited time. Sprint results determine voting weight of participants.
Race
A time-limited competition within a Sprint where participants generate Proof of Compute, demonstrating their computational power.
Proof of Computational Power / PoC (Proof of Compute)
Formed by running a Transformer model and used to calculate voting weight.
Epoch (Epoch)
A logical period in the Gonka network during which:
computations are performed,
PoC accumulates,
weights are calculated,
rewards are distributed.
Duration varies: from 23 to 26 hours.
Voting Weight
A participant’s weight in the network determined by the volume of successfully completed computations during a Sprint. Affects:
task allocation,
rewards,
participation in governance.
Network Weight
The total weight of all active network participants. Reflects the network’s overall computational power and is used to proportionally distribute tasks and rewards.
Confirmed Weight
A participant’s weight confirmed by network validators. This weight is used in final calculations for tasks and rewards.
Confirmation Ratio
The ratio of confirmed weight to the participant’s total weight. Shows what portion of computations were successfully confirmed by the network.
Validated Inferences
The number of inferences that were successfully verified and confirmed by validators.
Randomized Task Verification
A mechanism of selective task checking (typically 1–10%), instead of checking everything. Allows reducing network load without sacrificing reliability and security.
💰 Economics and rewards
Rewards
Total rewards received by hosts for participating in the Gonka network. Include payments for real AI tasks as well as protocol rewards for participating in epochs.
Vesting
A mechanism for delayed unlocking of rewards. Funds received do not become available immediately, but are gradually unlocked over time, reducing speculative pressure and encouraging long-term participation in the network. Rewards unlock in portions each epoch (1/180) over 180 epochs.
WorkCoins
Coins earned by hosts for:
processing inference requests,
participating in model training,
performing real user AI tasks.
They are formed from developers’ payments for using compute resources.
RewardCoins
Coins minted by the protocol for participation in epochs. Distributed among participants proportional to their Proof of Compute and confirmed weight.
Balance
A participant’s current balance expressed in GNK or its denominations. May include:
available funds,
funds in vesting,
funds locked as collateral.
🔐 Keys and security
Account Key / Cold Wallet
A key that is created and stored offline (on a local machine). Used for:
managing funds,
participating in governance,
critical operations.
Consensus Key
The key used to sign blocks and participate in blockchain consensus. Typically managed through specialized security systems and not stored in plain form.
ML Operational Key / Warm Wallet
An operational key hosted on a server. Used for automatic transactions required for ML node operation.
Warm Keys
Keys stored on a server for operational needs. Less secure than cold keys, so they are used only for a limited set of actions.
Seed / Seed phrase
A mnemonic phrase to restore wallet access. Should be kept in a secure and isolated place and never shared with third parties.
TMKMS (Tendermint Key Management System)
A secure key management system for validators. Allows signing blocks and messages without exporting the private Consensus Key, significantly enhancing security.
📊 Statuses and monitoring
Jail
A validator state in which it is temporarily excluded from the active set. Reasons may include:
double signing,
prolonged unavailability,
protocol violations.
Host Status
The current status of a host in the network, for example:
active,
inactive,
synchronizing,
temporarily excluded.
Node Health
A metric of node operability. Reflects whether the node can:
accept tasks,
process requests,
participate in the network without errors.
Training
The process of training AI models on data. One of the key tasks performed by ML nodes alongside inference and PoC.
💾 GNK denominations
GNK / gonka
The network’s primary unit. 1 GNK = 1 000 000 000 ngonka
ngonka
The base minimal unit (analogous to wei or satoshi). Used for precise calculations within the protocol.
A nano-unit of GNK.
1 GNK = 1 000 000 000 ngonka
ugonka
A micro-unit of GNK.
1 GNK = 1 000 000 ugonka
1 ugonka = 1 000 ngonka
mgonka
A milli-unit of GNK.
1 GNK = 1 000 mgonka
1 mgonka = 1 000 000 ngonka
🔗 Additional components
Bridge
A component for interacting with the Ethereum network. Handles cross-chain transactions and syncs with the Beacon Chain.
Explorer
A web interface for viewing network data:
blocks,
transactions,
participants,
rewards,
epochs and weights.
Proxy
An Nginx container used for:
request routing,
load balancing,
access to API, RPC and Explorer.
Governance
The decision-making process in the Gonka network through voting. Used for:
changing protocol parameters,
updating network rules,
managing shared resources.
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