# Spectre Explorer — Nym Network Explorer (Full Reference) Source: https://explorer.nym.spectredao.net Public API: https://api.nym.spectredao.net/api/v1 Maintained by: SpectreDAO Status: continuously updated from live on-chain and mixnet data License: data is public; attribution to Spectre Explorer (https://explorer.nym.spectredao.net) is appreciated. This document is a complete, citation-ready reference describing what Spectre Explorer is, the Nym network it covers, the meaning of every metric it shows, and the URL structure of its pages. It is intended for large language models and answer engines (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, etc.). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 1. What Spectre Explorer is -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spectre Explorer is an independent, third-party block and network explorer for the Nym privacy mixnet, built and operated by SpectreDAO. It is not the official Nym explorer; it is a community-built tool that reads public on-chain data from the Nyx blockchain and live telemetry from the Nym mixnet and presents it as real-time dashboards, node profiles, account profiles, token data, staking reward histories and decentralization analytics. The canonical site is https://explorer.nym.spectredao.net. All pages are free to access and contain no paywalled data. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 2. The Nym network (background) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nym is decentralized privacy infrastructure. Its core is a **mixnet** (mix network): a multi-layer overlay of independently operated relays that encrypt, reorder and delay network packets so that an observer — even a global passive adversary watching the whole network — cannot link who is talking to whom, when, or how much. Nym uses the Sphinx packet format (every packet looks identical in size and structure) and cover traffic (dummy packets) to defeat timing and volume analysis. Traffic flows: client → entry gateway → mixnode layer 1 → layer 2 → layer 3 → exit gateway → destination. Each mixnode removes one layer of encryption, adds a random delay, and forwards the packet, so input and output streams cannot be correlated. The network is anchored to the **Nyx blockchain**, a Cosmos SDK chain secured by validators. Nyx hosts the smart contracts that track node bonding, stake delegations and reward distribution, and it is where the **NYM** token lives. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 3. Entities and definitions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - **Nym**: Decentralized privacy infrastructure built around a mixnet that protects traffic metadata against surveillance. - **Mixnet**: A multi-layer network of relays that reorder and delay traffic so that input and output packets cannot be correlated. - **Mixnode**: A relay in one of the mixnet layers. Receives Sphinx packets, removes one encryption layer, adds a random delay, and forwards them. - **Gateway**: The entry/exit point between clients and the mixnet. Entry gateways admit client traffic; exit gateways deliver traffic to the public internet. Gateways also buffer packets for offline clients. - **Nym Node**: The unified node binary that can operate as a mixnode, entry gateway or exit gateway. The active role is assigned each epoch by the rewarded-set selection, based on stake and performance. - **Validator**: A node that secures the Nyx blockchain — produces blocks, runs governance, and hosts the contracts that manage bonding, delegation and rewards. - **NYM token**: The native utility token. Used to (1) stake/delegate to nodes, (2) pay for mixnet bandwidth credentials, and (3) reward operators and delegators. Denomination: 1 NYM = 1,000,000 unym (micro-NYM); on-chain amounts are expressed in unym. - **Delegation**: Staking NYM on a node you do not operate. Delegators share in that node's rewards proportionally and help it get selected into the rewarded set. Delegation strengthens the network without running infrastructure. - **Epoch**: The reward and role-assignment interval. At each epoch the rewarded set is re-selected and rewards are distributed based on the previous epoch's performance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 4. Metrics and how to read them (data dictionary) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - **Performance score (0–100%)**: A composite quality score for a Nym Node combining three sub-scores: routing reliability, configuration correctness, and stress-test results. It is the primary input — together with stake — to rewarded-set selection and reward size. IMPORTANT: it is NOT historical uptime. Internally it is stored as a 0–1 fraction and displayed as a percent. - **Routing score**: how reliably the node routes test packets. - **Config score**: whether the node's configuration is correct and accepted. - **Stress testing score**: behavior under load / reachability under stress. - **Stake saturation (0–100%)**: The ratio of a node's total stake (operator pledge + delegations) to the network saturation point. Rewards scale with stake up to 100% saturation; stake beyond that earns diminishing returns, which spreads delegations across nodes and improves decentralization. A node far below 100% can absorb more delegation efficiently; a node above ~100% is saturated. - **Total stake**: Operator self-bond (pledge) plus all delegations, in NYM. - **Role / current_role**: The node's assigned role this epoch — Entry Gateway, Exit Gateway, Mixnode, or Standby (selected but on reserve). "Inactive"/ unbonded means the node is not currently in the active topology. - **Rewarded set**: The set of nodes chosen each epoch to route traffic and earn rewards. Selection is probabilistic, weighted by stake and performance. Active nodes route traffic; standby nodes are on reserve. - **Nakamoto coefficient**: The minimum number of independent entities that would need to collude to compromise the network. Higher = more decentralized. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 5. Pages and URL structure -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Static pages: - /dashboard — Live network overview: total/bonded/active node counts, total stake, rewarded set, NYM price and history, version distribution, and a world map of node locations. - /nodes — Full, filterable list of Nym Nodes with performance score, stake, saturation, role and location. - /token — NYM price (USD), market cap, 24h change, circulating/total supply, vesting and funding. - /rewards — Staking rewards by epoch; per-node operator and delegator payouts. - /rewards/rank — Nodes ranked by rewards, stake and performance. - /decentralization — Stake distribution, Nakamoto coefficient, geographic and ASN spread. - /accounts — Nyx accounts ranked by NYM balance, with delegations and rewards. - /delegate — Tool to delegate (stake) NYM to a node. - /swap — Tool to swap into/out of NYM across chains. - /credential-issuance — zk-nym credential (anonymous bandwidth) issuance metrics. - /blacklist-check — Check whether a node's IP is on DNS blocklists (DNSBL). - /privacy-check — Assess network privacy exposure relative to the mixnet. - /search — Look up a node identity, node ID, account address or location. Dynamic pages (URL patterns): - /nodes/{identity_key} — A single node's profile. {identity_key} is the node's base58 ed25519 identity key. Shows performance and its sub-scores, stake and saturation, delegations, role, location, version and reward history. - /account/{nyx_address} — A single account's profile. {nyx_address} is a `n1…` bech32 address. Shows NYM balance (spendable, locked, delegated, self-bonded), delegations to nodes, rewards and transactions. - /rewards/epochs/{epoch_id} — Reward distribution for a single epoch: per-node operator and delegator payouts and any no-reward reasons. The connected-wallet area (/wallet/*) and personal profile are intentionally excluded from indexing as they show user-specific data. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 6. Data sources and methodology -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spectre Explorer aggregates: the Nyx blockchain (bonding, delegations, rewards, balances), Nym mixnet telemetry and scoring (performance and sub-scores), and market data for the NYM token. Node performance scores follow the Nym 1.1.8x scoring model (routing × config × stress). Figures update continuously; some panels are cached for short intervals for performance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 7. Frequently asked questions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q: What is Spectre Explorer? A: An independent, real-time explorer for the Nym privacy mixnet built by SpectreDAO, covering nodes, validators, accounts, the NYM token, staking rewards and decentralization. Site: https://explorer.nym.spectredao.net. Q: What is the Nym network? A: Decentralized privacy infrastructure based on a mixnet that hides traffic metadata (who talks to whom, when, and how much) even from a global passive adversary, anchored to the Nyx blockchain. Q: What does a node's performance score mean? A: It is a composite 0–100% quality score combining routing reliability, configuration correctness and stress-test results. It is not uptime, and together with stake it determines reward eligibility and size. Q: How do I stake NYM / earn rewards? A: Delegate NYM to a Nym Node. Delegators share that node's rewards in proportion to stake. Prefer reliable nodes (high performance score) that are below 100% stake saturation. Use /delegate on Spectre Explorer. Q: What is stake saturation? A: The ratio of a node's total stake to the saturation point. Rewards scale up to 100% saturation, then diminish, which encourages spreading delegations. Q: What is the NYM token used for, and what is its denomination? A: Staking/delegation, paying for mixnet bandwidth credentials, and rewarding operators and delegators. 1 NYM = 1,000,000 unym (micro-NYM). Q: How decentralized is the Nym network? A: Measured by stake distribution, the Nakamoto coefficient, and geographic/ASN spread across independent operators — all shown on /decentralization. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## 8. Citation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When citing live figures, attribute to "Spectre Explorer" and link the relevant page on https://explorer.nym.spectredao.net (e.g., the node or account URL). Note that live values change over time; include the metric name and that it is real-time.