In the context of web3 and blockchain technology, nodes are essentially points within a network where data is processed, stored and communicated. Think of a node as a server that contains a copy of the blockchain and participates in the process of validating and relaying transactions.
Each node in the network ensures that the blockchain remains accurate and secure by cross-checking data and maintaining a shared ledger.
Nowadays you’ll see more and more of the term DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network, which accurately labels the way that nodes contribute physical computing power to a decentralized network in web3.
Nodes are crucial to the functioning of decentralized networks. Unlike traditional centralized systems where a single entity controls data and operations, decentralized networks distribute these tasks across multiple nodes. This distribution enhances security, reduces the risk of data tampering, and increases the network’s robustness against failures.
In simple terms, if you imagine a network as a city, nodes are like independent businesses that all agree on the same rules and work together to keep the city’s economy running smoothly. Without the effectiveness of these companies, the city would not be able to operate smoothly and provide necessary services to its inhabitants. Additionally, the viability of the entire city does not have to rely on the viability of any one business, because all the others agree on the same rules and continue to hold up the city’s infrastructure.
Each business keeps its own records, but they all share and validate information to ensure everything is accurate and consistent. This is how blockchain nodes work together, even as their operators are most likely strangers to one another, spread throughout the world.
Centralized networks are limited by things like land, real estate, energy and human resources. The larger a company gets, the more resources it must consume in an organized manner to maintain effectiveness. Decentralized systems are more scalable because they create the opportunity for remote node operators to shoulder much of this burden.
Gala Founder’s Nodes: A Specialized Role
Gala Founder’s Nodes are a specialized type of node within the Gala ecosystem. While they do not validate blockchain transactions—a task managed by the Hyperledger Fabric protocol on which GalaChain is built—they play several critical roles in supporting the network’s infrastructure.
Functions of Gala Founder’s Nodes
Decentralized Storage and Computing Power: Founder’s Nodes provide much of the necessary storage and computing power for the Gala ecosystem. This ensures that various applications, especially in gaming and entertainment, run efficiently without relying on centralized servers.
IPFS Distributed Hash Table Routing: Founder’s Nodes are instrumental in the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), a protocol designed for decentralized file storage. They account for a large portion of the IPFS routing footprint, making decentralized internet performance significantly more robust throughout the world.
A Huge Piece of The Decentralized Web is Powered by Gala’s Node Network
Gala Founder’s Nodes account for nearly 30% of IPFS servers and Gala is leading the charge in decentralizing the internet.https://t.co/kg4CMUVr9O
Supporting Future Workloads: The scope of responsibilities for Founder’s Nodes is expected to grow. They will soon handle additional tasks such as bridge transactions and chain security, further enhancing the network’s efficiency and capabilities.
Token Distribution and Governance
Founder’s Nodes are also integral to the Gala token ($GALA) distribution process. New $GALA enters circulation by emission to Gala Founder’s Node operators as a reward for powering the network. The total amount of distribution is determined by the difference between the token’s current total supply (in circulation) and its max total supply, allowing dynamic variation of distribution based on how much $GALA is being used and burned throughout the world.
In simpler terms, Gala Founder’s Node operators are essentially licensing their computers as employees of GalaChain, putting them to work in the background and receiving $GALA regularly in exchange for that work. This method of decentralization reduces Gala’s costs for hosting and storing content through centralized providers such as Amazon Web Services.
Moreover, operators of Founder’s Nodes participate in governance decisions through consensus voting. This democratic process allows node operators to influence significant ecosystem decisions, including the distribution of tokens and other critical changes.
Why Gala Founder’s Nodes Matter
Gala Founder’s Nodes are the backbone of the Gala ecosystem, providing decentralized infrastructure support without involving themselves in transaction validation. This specialization allows them to focus on enhancing the network’s overall functionality and security, making GalaChain a more efficient and resilient blockchain solution.
Nodes are fundamental to the web3 world, enabling the decentralized systems that underpin blockchain technology. They ensure data integrity, enhance security, and support the network’s resilience. Gala Founder’s Nodes, in particular, exemplify how specialized nodes can provide critical infrastructure support, contributing to a robust and scalable decentralized network.
Hey hey, rounders! We’re back with some more poker content today, brought to you by Sweep It Poker, Gala’s free-to-play casual poker game where you don’t have to risk anything to win.
Use the free chips you get each day to win as much as you can in both “cash style” and “sit-n-go” style games, playing either Texas or Omaha Hold’em. The amount of chips you’re able to stack each day from winnings is automatically converted into entries for the Weekly Sweepstakes drawings, giving you a chance to win $GALA. The more you play, the greater your chances to win $GALA, and there’s no purchase necessary to play.
You can play Sweep It Poker directly in your browser with no download required. So why not get started right now?
If you’re unfamiliar with the rules of Texas Hold’em, the game is (like many of the best games) simpler to learn than you might think! Check out the great quick video from PokerNews for a rules refresh.
Once you’ve gotten a taste of the excitement that comes with playing Sweep It Poker on Gala Games, you may want to head out to play a real table game, live and in person (Yep, they still happen).
When you play poker at a table, it’s absolutely the same game, but without the comfortable confines of the gaming interface, it becomes easier to get nervous. Nervous is one of the last things you want to be when playing a game of IRL poker, up there with out of chips. 😉
IRL Poker Tips
Note: The tips discussed below are not financial advice, but general guidance designed to enhance your poker experience.
With the ease and convenience of enjoying quick games online, in-person games may be harder to come by in 2024. Still, there’s something truly special about playing poker in person, sitting at a table. Maybe it’s the sound the chips make when you pick up a stack and let them slide through your fingers, gently clinking together as they fall back to the felt. Maybe it’s the way the cards slide across the table, the comfy chairs or the company of good friends. Whatever your reason for enjoying this classic game, we highly recommend it whenever you get a chance.
When you join a live poker game, you’ll always want to be prepared for the situation. Making an etiquette slip or a faux pas can be very embarrassing, and depending on the type of game you’re involved in, it could cost you dearly. Let’s not forget that almost all live poker games involve money.
Tip 1: Crime Doesn’t Pay
This one may seem obvious, but I’d be lying if I told you there weren’t plenty of opportunities to get involved in shady poker games. You’ll want to avoid those games, not only because of the laws you’ll be breaking by participating in unlicensed gambling, but also because tricksters and hustlers can often be found in those circles, watching and waiting for newbies and their tale-tell signs.
Because poker is a game of skill with elements of chance, truly skilled players thrive on a level playing field. This means that a professional poker player can make the most money in a 100% legitimate game. When a game involves any activity that is… legally questionable, you’re more likely to find players with looser ethics than true professionals. Many of those players might be playing a different game with entirely different rules, whose object is simply to take as much money from unsuspecting players as possible.
Know the Laws – Before setting out to play poker for real money, make sure you’re aware of the gambling and gaming laws where you live. In the United States and most other localities, the safe bet is to play in a licensed casino. There you’ll enjoy the oversight of extensive security personnel and standards of elegance that will elevate the entire experience. Of course, you’ll always pay the house in subtle ways, such as tournament entry fees or per-hand rakes on the pot.
Specific laws in the United States vary state by state, mostly involving the severity of punishment and classification of crimes related to illegal gambling. I won’t get too deep into the specifics of gambling laws, but understanding the ones that apply to you is always a good idea when preparing for a poker experience.
If you ever find yourself in a game with questionable legality, don’t make a scene. Just get out of it without drawing unnecessary attention to yourself and hold out for something recognized by the authorities as a legal activity. Trust me, it’s more fun (and less risky) that way.
When you approach the poker room and see a $1/$2 No Limit Hold ‘Em cash game with a couple seats open, take a few minutes to survey the game before you grab a seat. Chances are you’ll notice a few things:
A few players will have chip stacks much larger than the $200 max buy-in. This means that either they’ve been sitting there and playing for a while, that they’ve been winning a lot, or both.
Short stacks go all in. If you’re short-stacked in a $1/$2 cash game, you’ve only got one hand worth of chips in front of you. You’ll be expected to play tight, then make an all-in run at your first good hand.
Rebuys are common. You’ll probably notice that in total, there are more chips on the table than the $200 max buy-in per player that is initially allowed. This signifies that rebuys are frequent.
If you’re setting out to play a No Limit Hold’em game at the $1/$2 level (typically the lowest casino stakes you’ll find), then I’d recommend being prepared to rebuy two or three times at the max buy-in. That means you’ve walked in with $600-$800 to play with, even though you only start with $200 in chips. Your opponents won’t know how deep your pockets go and you should definitely keep that to yourself. If and when you bust out on a bad break, you’ll always need to make the important decision of whether to continue playing with a rebuy or stand up, admit defeat and walk away.
Let’s take a look at an example of preflop action to explore why it’s so important to max buy-in when you join a cash table.
Example
Hole Cards – K♣K♦
Position – Button (last to act)
Total players – 8
First, two players immediately following the big blind limp in for $2. The next two players fold and the 5th player to act raises to $10. Then the action is on you and you want to re-raise in an effort to see fewer post-flop players with your awesome hand.
The pot is now $17 and the action is on you. With a pre-flop raise to $10, you’ll need to reraise to at least double that, and to stop there would make you appear weak. So you decide to reraise to $40.
The small blind and big blind both fold to your reraise, but you get a call from the player to the left of the big blind, who previously tried to limp in from early position. The first raiser also calls, and you’re one of three players heading to the flop with $137 in the pot and only $160 still in front of you from your max buy-in of $200.
If you see a decent flop and wager that you still have the winning hand with your Kings, you can probably count on committing most (if not all) of your remaining chips to this hand. If they check around to you on the first round of betting, you’ll need to throw down at least half the pot to knock them off their draws.
If there are no straight or flush draws to threaten your hand, then you could consider checking to slow play, but that will only draw out early position overbets from your opponents after the turn card. At any rate, with three more rounds of betting, you can pretty much assume that more of your chips are going into that pot, unless you’re ready to fold.
They call it “No Limit” for good reason. It’s often about posturing and making bold moves when you know you have the hand clenched at that moment, knowing any card could change the outcome. When you win a pot post-flop, you want to make sure it’s a big one. But you’ve got to throw a lot of chips into the middle of the table to win a big pot. That’s why you should always be prepared to buy in at max and rebuy a few times. If that puts you off, then consider tournament play, where you’ll find fixed single buy-ins, often at a lower cost and risk.
You may have seen movies or TV shows that glorify the naive beginner at the poker table, telling stories about clueless players getting somehow lucky. Let me assure you that this idea is fictional. If you play that part at a real poker table for real money, you’ll get taken for a ride.
Know the Hands. If you forget the hierarchy of poker hands, no amount of luck can save you. To take this even further, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with all the drawing hands. This means you should learn to recognize hands that have not yet been made. In many cases, a good draw is a stronger position than an already made hand or a pocket pair.
Hands that can be drawn to are typically higher tier hands with very long odds of hitting on the flop alone, usually hands that involve all five cards in play. For example, if you have 2 pair on the flop, you’re in a pretty good position to draw up to a Full House, which is usually enough to give you the nuts. If you’re holding the Ace of Diamonds and 3 Diamonds hit the flop, you’ve got a great shot at hitting the nut flush, the highest possible Flush in a hand. That will pay off big if you’re in it against a player who has a lower Flush than you. Straight draws can easily be foiled by a completed Flush.
Know the Odds. There’s no need to become a human calculator working out multitudinous probabilities on the fly while you play, but you’ll want to think logically at every moment about the likelihood that your hand is the best hand. Some hole card combinations (such as suited J/10) are especially effective against multiple players, but if you have a pocket pair, you’re in better odds if you do whatever you can to minimize the number of players in the hand post flop. The game is always simplest when it’s you and a single other player. The more players, the more variables and draws, and the more that can go wrong.
Know the Etiquette. Your mental state at the poker table is incredibly important. If you get flustered, your opponents will pick up on it and take you down. Conventions such as standard gestures and vocalizations are important to keeping a solid facade when you’re involved in a hand, no matter what is going on inside.
Leave your cards on the table. Don’t pick them up and hold them like you would in a game of Uno. And be careful how often you look at them. Two cards are pretty easy to memorize, even on a hand-by-hand basis. Checking your cards too often can reveal valuable information about what you’re holding and how you plan to act.
Talk Less. The actions of poker betting are able to tell the whole story. Knock the felt for a check, or toss your cards face down toward the center to fold. Never ask if the action is on you. You’ll be able to tell by where the dealer is looking.
Even when betting and calling bets, you should primarily do this with your chips rather than your words. A bet, call or raise is simply signified by sliding forward the appropriate number of chips.
Take Breaks. When necessary, get up from the table for a few minutes to stretch or get some fresh air. A fresh hand will be waiting for you when you return and the dealer knows how to deal you out for a few hands.
Hopefully you’ve found some of today’s poker tips helpful, whether or not you plan to play live poker anytime soon.
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But what about when you don’t have the cards you want to build a deck with? 🤔
As you start feeling comfortable at the tables, you’ll notice a lot of cards that your deck needs in it. Sure you can grab your daily packs and wait for the right card… or you can take matters into your own hands and craft excatly what you need!
Cardsmithing
In the world of Tolkheim, skilled artisans use powerful magics to create each card. You may not have the years of experience it takes to become a master cardsmith, but you can still leverage some of the leftover magic in your unused cards to craft a new card here and there!
In your card menu, you can see all the cards you own. If you remove the filter on unowned cards, you could see every available card and how your deck stacks up.
Now even the best player has a few cards sitting around that they don’t use, and we can dismantle those cards to harvest their residual magic!
Dismantling Cards
In your Deck Editor, you can click any card and then click “Deconstruct” to gain Parchment, Black Ink, Blue Ink, or Red Ink based on the card you’re destroying.
NOTE: This will permanently destroy the card you select! Use with caution!
Once you’ve accumulated enough of Ink and Parchment, you can take those resources to craft entirely new cards.
Crafting New Cards
There are a ton of options for cards to craft, so don’t hurry into any decision! Choose how to use your resources wisely. Over time, you’ll get more and more cards… you don’t have to have them all right away!
Once you’ve selected the card you want to craft, double check that you know what the Ink cost is. Different rarities of cards have different costs to craft, and you don’t want to run out before you’ve crafted everything you need.
Click the craft button, and you’re ready to go!
Don’t go overboard all at once. When you craft some cards, see how they work in your deck before you craft a bunch more. You never know when you’ll spot a strategy you didn’t see and your deck-crafting plans may change.
Build Out Your Deck!
Even just making a few cards strategically can open up your deck to using entirely new tactics. The right Action Card at the right time can turn the tides of battle, and crafting the right cards to complement your existing deck can enhance your other cards and open up new combos!
You’re bound to make a miscalculation here and there… don’t sweat it! You can always keep grabbing daily packs or packs from the market for fresh crafting fodder. The best decks weren’t made overnight, but crafted diligently and thoughtfully!
Good luck with your crafting – and good fortune at the tables!
Over the past couple decades, music has evolved as rapidly as technology itself, opening the gateway to a new world that musicians must navigate in order to sink or swim, often (and unfortunately) regardless of the outstanding quality of their art.
In this world, widely adopted platforms like Spotify have become the dominating force, offering artists a way to reach global audiences but often at the expense of fair compensation. With current streaming royalties averaging between $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, many musicians find themselves struggling to earn a living even despite millions of plays. Influenced by factors like the low-cost capabilities of AI production tools, the addition of audiobooks to its Premium membership tier and a corporate “bottom line” mentality that inherently undervalues artists, Spotify continues to devalue the artist’s share as 2024 marches on.
Many artists have simply had enough of Spotify. They know that when their heart and soul are poured into something that can inspire countless listeners, that inspiration should be valued accordingly.
Gala Music is pioneering a new era for artists, leveraging blockchain technology and the scalable power of GalChain. But why stop at enhanced artist earnings when you can also empower them to connect more deeply with their fans and jumpstart their careers?
Gala Music clocks in at around $0.01 per stream for artists, more than double what the same artist would receive from the most popular platform in the world.
From well-known published artists looking for a refresh to the numerous independent and emerging artists that fill the platform with life, diversity and individuality, Gala Music is a game changer.
Unlocking $MUSIC Rewards
At the heart of Gala Music’s ecosystem is the $MUSIC token, a utility token that transforms the way artists are rewarded for their work. Unlike traditional platforms, Gala Music ensures that artists are directly compensated in $MUSIC tokens every time their tracks are streamed. The rewards are further amplified when an artist’s NFT track is paired with a Jukebox Node and hosted on Gala Music’s Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN). Once this hosting is activated for a limited NFT track, the track’s owner and the powering Jukebox Node operator are also able to receive regular $MUSIC rewards based on that track’s success.
The community-powered approach to music streaming made possible by web3 creates several distinct ways to participate in the music economy of the future. As a listener, you can discover the latest music and listen for free to directly benefit artists, collectors and the operators who power the network. As a track collector, you can speculate and play a part in the discovery of new artists, then share in their success with tangible rewards. As a Jukebox Node operator, you can provide computing power to the network, hosting multiple tracks and sharing in all their daily rewards.
Artists sit at the forefront of this entire system, benefiting directly from all the incentivized actions that make Gala Music such a revolutionary streaming platform.
Artists, track owners and Jukebox Node operators all share in the distribution of $MUSIC rewards. The most significant beneficiary, however, is the artist. By hosting their music on Gala Music, artists gain access to multiple revenue streams that go beyond simple streaming royalties, including NFT sales, All Access Experience sales, direct tipping and Mystery Box sales.
The benefits of Gala Music’s model are already evident in the earnings of artists who have embraced the platform. Here are some real-world examples of how artists are thriving on Gala Music compared to traditional platforms like Spotify.
Anonymous Artist #1
Gross NFT Sales: $126,500
Streams: 232,000
Gala Music Streaming Income: $3,386
Equivalent Spotify Streaming Payout: $696
Total Earnings (excluding All Access and Tipping): $129,886
Highlight: One track alone made $14,000 in NFT sales.
Anonymous Artist #2
Gross NFT Sales: $310,000
Streams: 622,000
Gala Music Streaming Income: $6,791
Equivalent Spotify Streaming Payout: $1,866
Total Earnings (excluding All Access and Tipping): $316,791
Highlight: Two tracks generated $45,000 each in NFT sales.
Anonymous Artist #3
Gross NFT Sales: $48,000
Streams: 25,000
Gala Music Streaming Income: $1,091
Equivalent Spotify Streaming Payout: $75
Total Earnings (excluding All Access and Tipping): $49,091
Highlight: Each track averaged over $16,700 in NFT sales.
These figures illustrate a stark contrast between the earnings potential on Gala Music versus traditional streaming platforms. While Spotify’s payouts are minimal, Gala Music’s model enables artists to monetize their work significantly better, particularly through NFT sales and decentralized streaming.
Imagine what happens to these already impressive numbers once more people discover the benefit of decentralized music streaming.
Listeners Leaving Spotify
Spotify is already disappointing listeners on multiple levels, leading to what many previous Spotify users would call a mass exodus.
Gala Music not only enhances artist earnings but also deepens the connection between artists and their fans. Through offerings like the All Access Experience, artists can sell exclusive experiences, merchandise, and collectibles directly to their fans. Whether it’s a virtual studio session or a limited-edition autographed collectible, these experiences are unique to Gala Music and offer fans unprecedented access to their favorite artists.
A Revolution in Music Distribution
Gala Music is more than just a streaming platform. By utilizing blockchain technology and the $MUSIC token, Gala Music empowers artists to earn what they deserve and engage with their fans in meaningful ways. While the platform is still in its early stages, the success stories of artists already on board are a testament to its potential. As the platform grows and more listeners discover the benefits of web3 music, the future looks bright for artists who choose to join Gala Music.
For artists looking to break free from the constraints of traditional platforms, Gala Music offers a path to not only greater financial rewards but also creative freedom and deeper fan connections. The era of artist empowerment is here, and Gala Music is leading the way.
We hope you’re enjoying the latter half of this Hot Gala Summer, where the hits keep on coming, along with awesome updates, new artists and cool vibes. 😎
Today we’re announcing a new feature that will revolutionize the way you engage with your favorite tracks on the Gala Music platform: Track Chat. Each track now boasts its own dedicated chat interface, allowing fans to dive deep into discussions about the music, share comments and even post GIFs. This interactive feature is available to all Gala Music account holders, turning each and every song into a community of its own.
Exclusive Chat for Track Owners
For those who own specific tracks, we’ve added an “Exclusive Chat” area. Only owners of a track can access this chat, ensuring a unique and intimate space for deeper conversations and insights. What’s more, only track owners can view the chat history in this exclusive section, making it a truly special perk.
Reminders
While you enjoy this new feature, don’t forget these other exciting opportunities!
Collect $MUSIC Rewards: Even if you don’t own NFT music yet, by listening to unique tracks every day, you can collect $MUSIC rewards through our reward point system. For more details, visit our rewards page.
NextUp Community Governance: Every week, you get to vote on the newest tracks and artists to be added to the platform through our NextUp feature. Each user receives a free vote weekly, but you can unlock additional votes by burning $MUSIC. Cast your vote HERE.
Music Miner on Telegram: Start playing Music Miner, our new free-to-play mini-app game on Telegram, to collect $TREZ tokens. These tokens will be essential for the upcoming minting event. Begin your journey here: Music Miner.
The $MUSIC Box: Your newest chance to win awesome prizes is available now in the Gala Music store. In each $4.99 $MUSIC Box you’ll find 3 unique prizes, from piles of $MUSIC to sold out NFT tracks, or even a Gala Music Jukebox Node, valued at $2000! Get yours HERE.
Start chatting about your favorite Gala Music tracks today and we’ll see you soon!
