How It Works

From deployment
to settlement

LinqProtocol combines the simplicity of modern cloud platforms with the trust guarantees of blockchain. Here's how it all works.

Overview

The big picture

LinqProtocol is a marketplace that connects developers (requestors) with compute providers. Smart contracts handle payments and trust. An orchestration layer handles deployment and management.

The Flow
1Developer chooses what to deploy
2Developer funds an escrow with LNQ
3Orchestrator matches with a provider
4Provider runs the workload
5Provider earns from the escrow
6Remaining funds return to developer
Step 1

Choose what to deploy

Template Marketplace

Browse 50+ production-ready templates - LLM interfaces, databases, monitoring tools. Click to deploy.

Aura Code

Use AI-powered development environments to build and deploy from your browser.

Virtual Machines

Deploy full VMs with SSH access for workloads that need a complete OS.

Custom Containers

Deploy your own Docker images with custom configurations. Coming soon.

Step 2

Configure your deployment

Environment Variables

Set configuration values your application needs - ports, feature flags, external URLs.

Secrets

Provide API keys and database passwords. Encrypted and only injected at runtime.

Resource Plan

Choose CPU, memory, and storage. Plans from Starter to Pro.

YAML Review

Advanced users can review and edit the Kubernetes YAML directly.

Step 3

Fund your escrow

Here's where blockchain comes in. When you're ready to deploy:

  1. 1Connect wallet via WalletConnect (MetaMask, Rainbow)
  2. 2Review cost based on your plan and duration
  3. 3Sign transaction to create and fund the escrow
  4. 4Funds lock in the escrow contract

What the escrow does:

  • Holds your LNQ until work is complete
  • Tracks escrow balance on-chain
  • Ensures provider gets paid only for work delivered
  • Returns unused funds when escrow expires

The escrow is a smart contract. Anyone can verify deposits, assignments, and earnings on-chain.

Step 4

Match with a provider

Once your escrow is funded, the orchestrator finds a provider by querying the on-chain registry, matching requirements, and assigning the best fit.

Provider Registry (On-Chain)
Capacity
CPU, Memory, Storage, GPU
Pricing
Per-unit rates
Metadata
Location, Description
Coming Soon
Reputation, Region Filter
Step 5

Your workload runs

With a provider assigned, the orchestrator sends deployment instructions, and the provider spins up your containers in an isolated namespace.

What you get:

  • Public endpoint to access your app
  • Logs and metrics in the dashboard
  • SSH access (for VMs)

What the provider runs:

  • • Kubernetes cluster with LPStack
  • • Your containers in isolated namespaces
  • • Observability stack (Prometheus, Loki)
  • • Networking stack (Argo Tunnels, Istio)
Step 6

Monitor your deployment

Dashboard

Status, resource usage, endpoints, funding

Logs

Real-time log streaming. Search and filter.

Metrics

CPU, memory, request rates via Prometheus

Issues

Surface problems automatically

Step 7

Earn and settle

Provider Earns

As your deployment runs, the provider accrues earnings in the escrow. They can withdraw at any time.

Balance Decreases

Your escrow balance decreases based on resource consumption over time.

Finalization

When escrow ends, provider withdraws earnings, unused funds return to you automatically.

Architecture

How the layers work together

Dashboard

Web interface where developers browse templates, configure deployments, and monitor apps.

Orchestrator

Control plane that receives requests, matches providers, and manages deployment lifecycles.

Provider Cluster

Kubernetes cluster running the LPStack that executes workloads.

Smart Contracts

On-chain escrow and provider registry that handle payments and identity.

Benefits

Why this matters

Trust-Minimized

You don't have to trust the provider. The escrow enforces payment rules.

Transparent

All provider info and payments are on-chain. Verify everything.

Portable

Standard Kubernetes. Your workloads can move anywhere.

Cost-Effective

Decentralized providers have lower overhead. Savings pass to you.

Ready to deploy?

Experience decentralized compute in action.