What is Prometheus Protocol?

Prometheus Protocol is a decentralized production collaboration protocol composed of three complementary sub-protocols: TCDP (Trusted Capability Declaration Protocol) ensures the authenticity of participant identities and capabilities, DTOP (Distributed Task Orchestration Protocol) handles task decomposition, allocation, and monitoring, and PCSP (Production Contribution Settlement Protocol) records and settles every production contribution. Together they form a production collaboration system that operates without a central platform.

What is the difference between credit points and currency?

Credit points are not currency. They measure your contribution level to the ecosystem, not a tradable commodity. Credit points cannot be exchanged for any other form of currency or asset — this is the protocol's fundamental principle. Once credit points become exchangeable, the system slides into speculation and arbitrage, and credit points no longer reflect genuine contribution. Credit points derive their value from reputation: nodes with high credit points are more competitive in task bidding and have greater voice in ecosystem governance.

How to verify device claims?

TCDP ensures the truthfulness of device claims through multi-layer verification. First, devices must register to obtain unique machine identity identifiers. Second, capability declarations must include verifiable proof data — such as historical production records, third-party test results, or real-time capability tests. Finally, declarations undergo cross-verification by other nodes across the network. False declarations are flagged, and declarants lose reputation credit.

How does the protocol prevent monopoly?

Prometheus Protocol prevents monopoly at three levels: At task allocation, DTOP's bidding mechanism ensures no node can monopolize tasks — all qualified nodes bid equally. At governance, the orchestration committee's rotating system ensures no fixed group can long control decision-making. At settlement, PCSP's public ledger ensures value distribution is transparently visible, and any unreasonable extraction is automatically detected. The protocol's design philosophy: dispersed power, transparent information, automatically enforced rules.

How can individual operators join?

Individual operators first register as freelance operator nodes. By declaring their professional skills and available time through TCDP, completing identity verification and capability proof, they can begin participating in network-wide bidding. The protocol has no entry barriers — as long as you can prove your capability, you can participate. You can start with individual sub-tasks, accumulate credit reputation, and progressively take on more complex work.

How is data privacy protected?

The protocol distinguishes between public and private data. Capability declarations and execution records are public — this is the foundation of trust. However, specific production process parameters, client business information, and operator personal data are private, shared only within necessary execution stages and protected by encryption. The protocol follows the minimum disclosure principle: only publish information necessary for building trust, never over-expose privacy.

Is it compatible with existing platforms?

Prometheus Protocol does not require existing platforms to immediately integrate, but designs gateway nodes as transitional bridges. Gateway nodes can convert existing platforms' capabilities and task formats into protocol-compatible formats, enabling gradual interfacing. Long-term, the protocol aims to replace intermediary platform functions — but this process is gradual, not disruptive. Hybrid operation phases are entirely feasible.

How do ethics guardians work?

Ethics guardians are automated check mechanisms encoded in the protocol. Every task must pass guardian review before publication: checking whether the task involves harmful production (e.g., manufacturing dangerous items), violates worker rights (e.g., unreasonable working hours), or breaches fundamental ethical standards (e.g., discriminatory requirements). Guardians do not make human judgments — they automatically execute based on a predefined ethical rule set. The rule set is regularly updated by the orchestration committee through a fully open and transparent process.