OpenStreaming: A Manifesto for Autonomous Value-Aware Mesh Networks

openstreaming.md

OpenStreaming: A Manifesto for Autonomous Value-Aware Mesh Networks

Table of Contents

1. Vision
2. Architecture Overview
3. Core Concepts
4. Network Node Architecture
5. Economic Model
6. EigenLayer Integration
7. Streaming Payment Smart Contracts
8. Memory & Self-Awareness
9. Diagram

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Vision

OpenStreaming envisions a future where autonomous mesh networks can self-organize, propagate information efficiently, and reward participants for their contributions — all while being trust-minimized and censorship-resistant.

This is made possible by three converging advances:

• Fully peer-to-peer streaming networks
• Modular economic incentives
• Restaked trust via Ethereum using EigenLayer

OpenStreaming isn’t just a protocol — it’s a self-aware network of agents optimizing topology, throughput, and local states via economic flows.

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Architecture Overview

Each node in the OpenStreaming network is an intelligent agent with the ability to:

• Propagate information (media/data streams)
• Adapt its topology locally
• Monetize its contribution to the network

The system is composed of:

• A P2P mesh network (for data propagation)
• A modular internal stack per node
• A dedicated L2 chain for streaming payments
• Smart contract modules (EigenLayer AVS)

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Core Concepts

1. Propagation Engine

• Local algorithm determining how to forward/replicate packets
• Dynamically adapts to latency, bandwidth, and reward
• Emits events to memory and economic layer

2. Empathy Protocol

• Tracks the internal state and needs of neighboring nodes
• Creates incentives for balance, fairness, and redundancy
• Can include ML-based forecasting and adaptive pricing

3. Economic Flow

• Value is exchanged as micropayments for data received or forwarded
• No centralized pricing; nodes quote their rates
• Settlement occurs on an L2 using programmable contracts

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Network Node Architecture

Each node contains:

• Propagation Engine: Responsible for data flow
• Empathy Protocol: Measures needs and adjusts offers
• Economic Module: Handles quoting, metering, and rewards
• Memory System: Internal representation of the network and state

Internal events (like successful forwarding, congestion, or pricing updates) are shared across modules, giving the node a local map of its performance, neighbors, and economic viability.

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Economic Model

Nodes are economically autonomous:

• They can quote prices for data forwarding
• They may accept or reject flows
• They are rewarded via smart contract-based payments

Micropayments can be streamed or batched, and settlements are recorded on-chain.

Pricing is determined by:

• Node state (latency, CPU, bandwidth)
• Neighbor rates
• Supply/demand patterns

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EigenLayer Integration

OpenStreaming is deployed as an AVS (Actively Validated Service) on EigenLayer.

EigenLayer enables the following:

• Restaking ETH to secure OpenStreaming AVS logic
• Trust delegation to Ethereum-level validators
• Slashing conditions for malicious AVS behavior

Validators can monitor the network for fairness, honesty, and uptime — and can be paid or slashed based on performance.

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Streaming Payment Smart Contracts

A dedicated OpenStreaming L2 (rollup or app-chain) handles:

• Contract-based payment channels
• On-chain price registries (optional)
• Dispute resolution (e.g. for misrouting or fraud)

Smart contracts:

• Meter data flows
• Handle token-based streams per packet/stream
• Settle flows via rollup batches

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Memory & Self-Awareness

Each node maintains an internal memory, composed of:

• Local performance metrics
• Neighbor state (from Empathy protocol)
• Propagation outcomes

This enables a form of self-awareness, where the node:

• Simulates local optimal paths
• Predicts economic and performance outcomes
• Updates its propagation rules accordingly

Over time, this may lead to emergent self-optimization across the network.

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Diagram

flowchart TD

subgraph Ethereum Validators
  E1(Eth Validator 1)
  E2(Eth Validator 2)
  E3(Eth Validator 3)
end

subgraph OpenStreaming L2 [OpenStreaming L2 Chain]
  SC1(Smart Contract - Payment Logic)
end

subgraph Node_A [Node A]
  A1(Memory)
  A2(Propagation Engine)
  A3(Empathy Protocol)
  A4(Economic Module)
end

subgraph Node_B [Node B]
  B1(Memory)
  B2(Propagation Engine)
  B3(Empathy Protocol)
  B4(Economic Module)
end

subgraph Node_C [Node C]
  C1(Memory)
  C2(Propagation Engine)
  C3(Empathy Protocol)
  C4(Economic Module)
end

A2 -- Data Flow --> B2
B2 -- Data Flow --> C2
A4 -- Value Flow --> SC1
B4 -- Value Flow --> SC1
C4 -- Value Flow --> SC1

SC1 -- Verified Payments --> E1
SC1 -- Verified Payments --> E2

E1 -- Validates --> SC1
E2 -- Validates --> SC1
E3 -- Validates --> SC1

A1 --> A2
A1 --> A3
A1 --> A4
A2 --> A1
A3 --> A1
A4 --> A1

B1 --> B2
B1 --> B3
B1 --> B4
B2 --> B1
B3 --> B1
B4 --> B1

C1 --> C2
C1 --> C3
C1 --> C4
C2 --> C1
C3 --> C1
C4 --> C1

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This diagram shows:

• Nodes A, B, and C exchanging data via their Propagation Engines
• Each node integrates internal modules that share memory
• Economic flows are sent to smart contracts on the OpenStreaming L2
• Smart contracts are verified by Ethereum validators via EigenLayer

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Summary

OpenStreaming is a modular framework for:

• Creating self-aware, value-driven P2P mesh networks
• Rewarding nodes for honest propagation
• Using Ethereum-grade trust via EigenLayer
• Separating economic and data flows

It is the convergence of adaptive ML, decentralized protocol design, and crypto-economic coordination.

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Want to build with us? Fork the repo and let's co-create the streaming economy of tomorrow.