Operators run GPU hardware on the Inference.net network to process AI inference jobs. By creating an operator pool and staking $INT-DEV tokens, you increase your chances of receiving jobs and earning rewards.

The Inference.net Staking Protocol is being tested on Solana Devnet with test tokens. These tokens have no monetary value and should not be used for real-world transactions or bought or sold by anyone.

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Prerequisites

Before setting up your operator pool:

  1. Ensure you have a funded Solana wallet with:
    • Some SOL for transaction fees
    • $INT-DEV tokens from the airdrop or faucet
  2. Link your Solana wallet to your Inference.net account
  3. Have your GPU node running and connected to the network

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Creating Your Operator Pool

An operator pool is your on-chain identity that manages stake, receives job allocations, and distributes rewards.

Important: Before continuing you must ensure your Solana wallet is set to use Solana Devnet. Please see the Wallet Setup guide for more information.

  1. Navigate to the Dashboard Wallets Page
  2. Click Connect Wallet in the top right
  3. Select your Solana wallet provider and approve the connection
  4. Link your wallet to your account

To create an operator pool, you must have a Solana wallet linked to your account. This wallet will be the admin wallet for your operator pool.

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Step 2: Create Operator Pool

  1. Navigate to Dashboard → Staking → Overview

  2. Click Create Operator Pool

  3. Follow the steps to create your operator pool.

    Economic Settings:

    • Commission Rate: Percentage of rewards you keep (0-100%)
    • Allow Delegation: Whether to accept stake from other token holders
    • Auto Stake Fees: Automatically compound commission into your stake

    Payout Settings:

    • USDC Payout Wallet: Where to receive USDC revenue from inference jobs

    Profile Information:

    • Organization Name: Your operator pool’s display name
    • Website URL: Optional link to your website
    • Description: Brief description of your operation

  4. Review your settings and click Create Pool

  5. Approve the transaction in your wallet

Pool creation requires a small amount of SOL for transaction fees. Ensure your wallet has sufficient SOL balance.

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Step 3: Stake Your Pool

As an operator, you must maintain at least 10% of your pool’s total stake. This ensures alignment between your performance and delegator rewards.

  1. On your pool overview page, click Stake
  2. Enter the amount of $INT-DEV to stake
  3. Review the transaction and click Confirm Stake
  4. Approve the transaction in your wallet

The more you stake, the higher your priority for receiving inference jobs. Your effective stake per GPU is normalized by VRAM capacity.

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Managing Your Pool

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Monitoring Performance

Your operator dashboard displays key metrics:

  • Total Pool Stake: Combined operator and delegator stake
  • Operator Stake: Your personal stake (must remain ≥10% of total)
  • Commission Earned: Accumulated fees from rewards
  • USDC Revenue: Earnings from completed inference jobs
  • Total Delegators: Number of external stakers

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Adjusting Settings

You can modify certain pool parameters after creation:

  1. Navigate to Dashboard → Staking → Settings
  2. Update available settings:
    • Commission rate (changes apply next epoch)
    • Allow/disallow delegations
    • Auto-stake preferences
    • Profile information
    • USDC payout destination

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Withdrawing Rewards

Commission Fees:

  • If auto-stake is disabled, commission accumulates separately
  • Click Withdraw Commission to claim accumulated fees
  • Specify a destination wallet or use your connected wallet

Unstaking Process:

  1. Click Unstake on your pool overview
  2. Enter the amount to unstake
  3. Wait for the cooldown period (varies for operators vs delegators)
  4. Click Withdraw once the cooldown expires

Operators have a longer unstaking cooldown than delegators to ensure network stability.

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Advanced Management

Emergency Actions:

  • Change Admin: Transfer pool ownership to a new wallet
  • Change Staking Record: Update the operator stake wallet if compromised
  • Close Pool: Permanently close your operator pool (irreversible)

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Best Practices

  1. Maintain Adequate Stake: Keep your operator stake well above the 10% minimum to accommodate delegator growth
  2. Set Competitive Commission: Balance earning potential with attractiveness to delegators
  3. Monitor Hardware: Ensure your GPUs maintain high uptime for better reputation scores
  4. Engage Delegators: Provide clear communication about your operation and performance

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Troubleshooting

GPU Not Detected:

  • Ensure latest GPU drivers are installed
  • Verify node has proper system permissions
  • Check that your GPU model is supported

Cannot Create Pool:

  • Verify wallet has sufficient SOL for fees
  • Ensure wallet is properly linked to your account
  • Check that pool creation is currently enabled

Stake Transaction Fails:

  • Confirm sufficient $INT-DEV token balance
  • Ensure you’re not violating minimum stake requirements
  • Try refreshing and reconnecting your wallet

For additional support, join our Discord and open a support ticket.