# Fiat-Commercial Dashboard with Co-operators & TF Connect Proposal **URL:** \ **Category:** Feedback\ **Tags:** users, farmers, community\ **Created:** [April 25, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/t/fiat-commercial-dashboard-with-co-operators-tf-connect-proposal/4582 "2025-04-25T01:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/user_avatar/staging.forum.threefold.io/mik/32/981_2.png) [@Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/u/Mik)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/t/fiat-commercial-dashboard-with-co-operators-tf-connect-proposal/4582/1 "2025-04-25T01:10:36Z")
# Fiat-Commercial Dashboard with Co-operators & TF Connect Proposal šŸŒ ## Whatā€™s Your Take on This Idea? Iā€™m glad to present a proposal to the community based on **years of feedback** from users and farmers - a **new way** to bring ThreeFoldā€™s decentralized grid to everyone! **How?** Through a **Fiat-Commercial Dashboard** where users pay with simple credit/debit cards, while **co-operators** ā€” Node Operators and Dashboard Operators ā€” collaborate to power and deliver cloud solutions. This creates a powerful **three-layer ecosystem** : - **Node Operators** (Layer 1) provide the infrastructure - **Dashboard Operators** (Layer 2) deliver user-friendly interfaces - **Dashboard Users** (Layer 3) deploy apps effortlessly > Note: For this presentation, we use the term node operators instead of farmers. Just as ThreeFoldā€™s technology is built on three foundational layers (network, compute, and storage), this cooperative model mirrors that triadic approach with its own three-layer system. The beauty of this system is its _flexibility_ - roles can be distinct or combined in co-ops to customize offerings for specific markets and needs. **Ready to explore this game-changing approach?** Share your thoughts! šŸ˜„ ## šŸ’” The Vision: Three Layers of Simplicity and Collaboration ### The Three-Layer Ecosystem Structure The TFGrid operates in three distinct but interconnected layers, each driven by **co-operators** who play specific roles. This structure creates a _seamless flow_ from infrastructure to user experience, bridging **traditional payment methods** with **blockchain technology**. ![pic1](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/e/ed0b94b53d8dac941199dfe16f1408829b74cbac.png) **Diagram Summary:** This flowchart illustrates how the three layers interact with each other. **Node Operators** (Layer 1) provide the infrastructure through TFGrid Nodes, offering compute and storage resources. **Dashboard Operators** (Layer 2) create user-friendly interfaces through Fiat-Commercial Dashboards that manage deployments. **Dashboard Users** (Layer 3) simply deploy and use apps. The financial flow is elegantly handled: users pay with _fiat currency_ to Dashboard Operators, who then convert this to tokens via **TF Connect** to compensate Node Operators, creating a _complete circular economy_. ### 1. Understanding the Roles - **Layer 1: Node Operators (e.g., Hilbert)** - **Layer 2: Dashboard Operators (e.g., Tom)** - **Layer 3: Dashboard Users (e.g., Alice)** ### 2. A Practical Example: The User Journey Letā€™s explore how these roles interact in a _real-world scenario_ to demonstrate the simplicity and power of this system for all participants. **Scenario Introduction:** Alice, a small business owner, wants a Nextcloud instance for $10/month. She logs into Tomā€™s custom Fiat-Commercial Dashboard, pays with her credit card, and deploys Nextcloud. Using the **advanced view** , she filters for nodes in her region and selects the option for a **backup VM** to ensure higher availability according to Tomā€™s SLA. The dashboard **automatically** finds and allocates the best-matching nodes from Hilbertā€™s farm (and other Node Operators) based on her filters - no manual intervention from Tom is needed. Tomā€™s system manages fiat payments and uses **TF Connect** to buy tokens, paying Hilbertā€™s self-healing nodes. For added security, Alice configures her Nextcloud to perform weekly backups to her local NAS storage. This way, even in the rare case that both her primary and backup VMs fail, she still has access to her critical business data. Alice gets a _secure, user-friendly cloud solution_ without touching crypto. ![pic2](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/9/91a612fb417cc869ed0d079314f5179ffc2c7a86.png) **Sequence Diagram Explanation:** This diagram shows the step-by-step process of how Aliceā€™s request flows through the system. First, Alice pays Tom using her credit card and requests a Nextcloud deployment. Tomā€™s dashboard then **automatically** selects the _optimal nodes_ for hosting based on Aliceā€™s filters (or makes the selection automatically if she used the basic view), converts Aliceā€™s payment to tokens using TF Connect, and sends the appropriate payment to Hilbertā€™s nodes. Finally, Hilbertā€™s self-healing infrastructure hosts the Nextcloud instance that Alice can access and use **without ever needing to understand** the underlying blockchain technology. The entire process is _streamlined_, with each party handling their specialized role in the ecosystem. ## 3. Combining Roles Through Co-ops ### Flexible Collaboration Models Co-operators can **blend roles** and form co-ops to create _tailored solutions_, allowing for maximum flexibility and innovation in the ecosystem: - **Flexibility:** Anyone (Alice, Tom, Hilbert) can become a Dashboard Operator, host a custom dashboard, and market _branded products_ (e.g., Aliceā€™s Nextcloud for businesses, Tomā€™s Kubernetes for devs). - **Node Operators as Dashboard Operators:** Hilbert, a Node Operator, can also run a dashboard, deploying apps on his own nodes. He pays TFChainā€™s base cost plus any dashboard margin but can apply a _discount code_ to waive the extra for himself or partners. - **Co-op Collaboration:** Multiple Node Operators (e.g., Hilbert and others) can team up with one or more Dashboard Operators to host a single dashboard instance, _pooling nodes_ for reliability and scale. For example, Tomā€™s dashboard could use nodes from Hilbertā€™s farm and other farmers to ensure **high availability** for Aliceā€™s apps. - **Custom Co-ops:** Alice could become a Dashboard Operator, form a co-op with Tom and Hilbert, and launch a _branded dashboard_ using Hilbertā€™s nodes, marketing it to her industry. - **Dashboard Investors:** Individuals or organizations can **stake significant amounts** of tokens for co-ops to enable the 60% discount without being directly involved in operations. These investors participate in the co-opā€™s success while enabling the dashboard to operate _more competitively_. ### Visualizing Co-op Relationships The following diagram illustrates how different participants can interact within co-ops, creating a _dynamic and adaptable ecosystem_: ![pic3](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2196c6675b7308e068daa0bcf979f5e7ce876ee3.png) **Co-op Diagram Breakdown:** This diagram shows the _flexible relationships_ possible within the ecosystem. In the central ā€œCo-op Example,ā€ we see how Hilbert provides nodes to Tom while also contributing infrastructure to Aliceā€™s Dashboard. Tom brings **technical expertise** to Aliceā€™s Dashboard, while Alice herself contributes **industry knowledge**. An external Token Investor stakes tokens to enable discounts. Aliceā€™s Dashboard then delivers _branded solutions_ to clients. Outside the co-op, we can see that Hilbert can also operate his own dashboard, as can Tom, demonstrating the _versatility of roles_ within the system. ### Co-op Scenario Example Hilbert, a Node Operator, joins Tomā€™s co-op to allocate nodes to Tomā€™s dashboard. Hilbert also runs his **own dashboard** for developers, deploying Kubernetes clusters on his nodes and using a discount code to reduce costs. Meanwhile, Alice, inspired by her experience, becomes a Dashboard Operator, teams up with Tom and Hilbert in a co-op, and launches ā€œ_Aliceā€™s Secure Storage_ā€ using nodes from Hilbert and other farmers. Their co-op also brings in an **investor who stakes tokens** to enable the 60% discount on deployments, making them more competitive. The co-op _collectively decides_ on revenue sharing, with Alice focusing on marketing, Tom on technical operations, and Hilbert providing infrastructure, each compensated based on their _agreed contribution model_. ## 4. Economic Incentives & Co-op Autonomy ### Financial Benefits for All Participants The ecosystem creates **compelling economic incentives** for all participants: - Dashboard Operators can achieve up to **60% discount** on deployments by holding tokens in their wallet, significantly improving their _competitiveness_ and _profit margins_. - Node Operators receive **50% of deployment costs** paid by users (specifically the TFChain portion, not any additional markup from Dashboard Operators). - Node Operators who also hold tokens can enjoy _discounts when deploying solutions_ themselves, creating a dual benefit. - Co-ops have **complete autonomy** and responsibility to decide how they distribute payments, profits, and responsibilities among members. This allows for _flexible arrangements_: - Revenue sharing based on contribution - Flat-fee models for certain participants - Performance-based incentives - Specialized roles with differentiated compensation - Custom governance models for decision-making ### Governance and Autonomy Co-ops operate with **full autonomy** and responsibility to determine their internal structures, decision-making processes, and economic models. This _self-governance approach_ aligns with ThreeFoldā€™s core philosophy of **decentralization** and **community empowerment**. Co-ops can establish their own: - Voting mechanisms for key decisions - _Profit-sharing formulas_ - Entry and exit procedures for members - Specialization of roles within the co-op - _Marketing and branding strategies_ ## šŸš€ Join Us in Shaping the Future of ThreeFold We believe the Fiat-Commercial Dashboard with Co-operators model represents a **significant step forward** in making decentralized cloud infrastructure accessible to everyone. By **bridging the gap** between traditional payment methods and blockchain technology, weā€™re _removing barriers to entry_ while preserving the core values of ThreeFoldā€™s decentralized vision. ### Benefits for Different Stakeholders This ecosystem **empowers individuals and organizations** at all levels: - **For Users** : Simplified access to _secure, private cloud services_ without crypto knowledge - **For Node Operators** : _Expanded market reach_ and increased utilization of infrastructure - **For Dashboard Operators** : Ability to create _customized cloud solutions_ and build businesses on top of the ThreeFold Grid without managing physical infrastructure - **For Entrepreneurs** : _New business opportunities_ through dashboard operations and co-op formations - **For Investors** : Ways to participate in the ThreeFold ecosystem by _staking tokens_ to support co-ops ### We Want Your Feedback We want to know if you think this is a good idea for ThreeFold. Your feedback is **crucial at this stage** as we assess the viability of this approach. If we receive _positive feedback_ from the community, we will evaluate how to implement this within our upcoming roadmap based on our current resources and effectiveness. **šŸ‘ Like this post** if you support this direction for ThreeFold. **šŸ’¬ Share your detailed feedback** in the comments below. What do you like about this proposal? What concerns do you have? How would you improve it? **šŸ”„ Help spread the word** by sharing this post with others who might be interested in ThreeFoldā€™s evolution. Your input will _directly influence_ whether and how we move forward with this concept. This is your opportunity to **shape the future** of the ThreeFold ecosystem in a meaningful way. ---
**Author:** ![LieveVereycken](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/user_avatar/staging.forum.threefold.io/lievevereycken/32/589_2.png) [@LieveVereycken](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/u/LieveVereycken)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/t/fiat-commercial-dashboard-with-co-operators-tf-connect-proposal/4582/2 "2025-04-25T14:11:00Z")
Dear @mik, I let you know that I am involved in a community that is looking forward to such a solution. ---
**Author:** ![Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/user_avatar/staging.forum.threefold.io/mik/32/981_2.png) [@Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/u/Mik)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/t/fiat-commercial-dashboard-with-co-operators-tf-connect-proposal/4582/3 "2025-04-28T01:18:27Z")
Thanks everyone for the feedback and show of support on the idea. Here is the first proof of concept UI: - URL: [https://threefold.store](https://threefold.store) - Format: Desktop and mobile Browser - Repo: [GitHub - mik-tf/tfcloud-marketplace: An Open Source Cloud Marketplace Platform for the ThreeFold Grid Ā· GitHub](https://github.com/mik-tf/tfcloud-marketplace) - License ThreeFold 2025 Apache 2.0 - Use case: can be forked and updated with own credentials for commercial dashboard on the TFGrid. > Note: This is still a work in progress (WIP). The backend is not done. It is to show the workflow that would be with this concept. # Preview of Frontend We have the basic UI/UX with the frontend features, e.g. the buttons and tables. - Login ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/a/a134e103ee6405c4319bfdad2eebb7fe1c43b90b.png) - Sign Up ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9769509af9ab0b441a307a5b2f20402f973209af.png) - Home ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/3/31d4da54d0d92b29fd5c874370a50cf86487907a.png) - Deploy apps as dashboard user ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/a/a157ad9052ba535930fc43a7eb54f2873f9cc033.png) - New deployment page ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/9/929bd718ac24540810179642a95a1946a92a1f2e.png) - You can deploy specific apps with basic and advanced modes - You can select basic or quantum safe storage backup ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/3/354bfd060145f9bdee7e77c87b74c611696ecc96.png) - Host your own dashboard instance and form co-ops as a dashboard operator ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2238775391e7f7517762c9a4758f89dd3adf9aa5.png) - Host a node as a node operator and join co-ops to provide specialized node resources ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/4/4313d010745c9b5206613a78cb89184e78214d7c.png) - Consult the docs ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/8/8d31d07cc2f35830aacd807e71a7c478bcd917de.png) - Light/dark mode ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5b8b04ea7492c14a9cd2d1f644b2f1bf3a8620c9.png) # Next Steps - TODO: Backend - Stripe integration for dashboard users - TFChain integration for dashboard operators - TF Connect app Auto-Swap synchronization for dashboard operators - Communication channel and request process database for dashboard operators and users # Feedback Please go over the pages and let me know what you think. The docs shows what the user experience would be for dashboard users, dashboard operators, and node operators. ---
**Author:** ![Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/user_avatar/staging.forum.threefold.io/mik/32/981_2.png) [@Mik](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/u/Mik)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/t/fiat-commercial-dashboard-with-co-operators-tf-connect-proposal/4582/4 "2025-05-02T14:33:01Z")
# UX Update: Frontend V1 Done - Feedback Wanted Hi everyone and thanks for the continuous support and feedback. Talking about feedback, we have new features, e.g. starting to have the real flow and presentation with login. You can test it and give feedback! ## 3 Clear Types of UX - We have now 3 clear different UX: - Cloud Users - Cloud Operators - Cloud Providers - The Docs and UX reflect this now ## 3 Layer Cloud Ecosystem: The workflow of the three-layer cloud ecosystem is as follows: - Cloud Operator: Anyone can fork the FOSS repo and have their own Cloud Marketplace running on the ThreeFold Grid - Cloud User and Provider: - Basic account starts as Cloud User - Then users can demand the Cloud Provider access. You can test all this in the current implementation at [https://threefold.store](https://threefold.store). See below for visual steps. ## In View - Now before you log in, the Dashboard displays a welcome page: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/b/bb348f27e507078acfba0ad6eae87291274c411d.png) - Log In: [https://threefold.store/login](https://threefold.store/login) - Then use the examples below to access all the 3 types of UX - Cheat: If you want, just go with Cloud Operator to access at once all pages. ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/0/067faa7cdafee6169ba13615b4649d42608d6c59.png) - You can then access the Dashboard: - The Default view is the Deployment page ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/9/927c6bed388d6d61725a5d8a231634794cc09310.png) - The Operator page: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/9/95fac2b8723ba5bf9a71e2415cd23ec047016c88.png) - The Provider page: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/a/aa7b20efeb37ccad81f72445ddac779805ba4e78.png) - The Settings page: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e705533643026ee37bc9a747dcc722a9323ad630.png) - Note that you can now as a user asks for cloud provider access, see below (start with User credential on threefold.store to test yourself) - When you click on enable cloud provider access, you need to accept a clear SLA: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d634cbfb5f10092b7d7cac26c9acdecb4dfce2ef.png) - Then you can click on ask access ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/8/87dc5a59452ce3a016ad7c300f1abe840969baa7.png) - For now the API does it automatically, but the Cloud Operator can adjust this (e.g. manual acceptation, automatic, etc.) - Once the demand is accepted, you can see the Provider option in the sidebar menu ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/6/61d351606992de5de42e3552039d2953867307c6.png) - There is now clear privacy and terms and conditions template, that the Cloud Operator can adjust: ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2168a9a43bf722903d18a25025278db094bde04f.png) ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2527a3308713b9e70cb5b7cd8c7a9f9e20a75b62.png) - All important links can be found in the footer ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f4d3a1813b8cef69ea871f17f115792c08579c47.png) - For new deployment, we have a clear SLA ![image](https://staging.forum.threefold.io/uploads/default/original/2X/2/260456b0b9a6182b933a360c78cb6ab16f15fc42.png) ## Feedback Wanted Please have a look at the [https://threefold.store](https://threefold.store), and let me know if this would be a good experience for Cloud Users, Providers (aka Farmers) and Operators! If you want to contribute to the FOSS code, itā€™s here: [GitHub - mik-tf/tfcloud-marketplace: An Open Source Cloud Marketplace Platform for the ThreeFold Grid Ā· GitHub](https://github.com/mik-tf/tfcloud-marketplace) The work is licensed under Apache 2.0 with a ThreeFold 2025 copyright.