Our mission is to empower the Cardano community by providing a reliable, resilient, and well-maintained stake pool that strengthens decentralization and enhances network security. We are committed to continuous improvement, supporting our delegators, and fostering the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.

DYNO was founded on the belief that decentralization is key to a stronger network. By increasing the number of active stake pools, we contribute to the robustness and security of the Cardano blockchain. Our focus is on cultivating a culture of staking diversity, ensuring the Cardano blockchain remains resilient and secure, free from the risks posed by the centralized accumulation of influence through delegated stake.

The ticker DYNO is inspired by the ancient Greek word 'Dunamis,' which translates to 'power,' 'potential,' and 'ability.' These concepts reflect the spirit of Cardano's diverse community of developers and enthusiasts, making DYNO the perfect choice for our independent stake pool.

DYNO operates on three dedicated bare-metal servers: two configured as Cardano relay nodes and one as a block-producing node. These servers are maintained in a secure location in the US Midwest, powered by reliable, high-speed fiber internet with uninterruptible power.

What does 'bare-metal' mean? A bare-metal server is a physical computer and associated hardware that runs independently of cloud services or remote management. Unlike virtualized or cloud-based environments, our servers are under our direct control, ensuring greater security and reliability.

In the event of outages affecting major cloud providers, DYNO will continue to operate, providing uninterrupted service to the Cardano network.

Staking ADA with DYNO is a simple process, though it involves a few key steps. If you're new to the world of cryptocurrency, there's a lot to learn, but don't worry—this guide will help you get started with the basics.

• Choosing a Wallet: TThe first step in staking your ADA is to choose a compatible Cardano wallet. There are many wallet options available, each with different features and levels of complexity.
  
  For beginners, we recommend starting with a 'light' wallet, which does not require downloading the entire blockchain. This makes it easy to set up and use on most devices. Popular choices include the Eternl mobile wallet, available on both Google Play Store and iOS App Store, as well as Lace Wallet for browser extensions.
  
  If you have more experience or want a wallet with advanced features, you might consider Daedalus—Cardano's 'full-node' wallet. However, keep in mind that it requires downloading the full blockchain (currently 179GB), which can be resource-intensive and is generally not recommended for casual users.
  
  Important Note: When you create a wallet, you’ll be given a 24-word 'seed phrase.' This phrase is the master key to your wallet. Protect it carefully—anyone with this phrase has full access to your funds. Here are some tips to keep it safe:
  • Use the passphrase as few times as possible.
  • Write it down on paper and store it in a safe place.
  • Avoid storing the passphrase on any electronic device.
  
  
  Lastly, your wallet will also require a 'spending password,' which adds an extra layer of security. This password controls access to your funds, so make sure it’s strong, memorable, and secure.
• Acquiring ADA (₳), the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano Blockchain:
  
  To start staking with DYNO, you'll need to acquire ADA. This can be done within some wallets, but more commonly through centralized exchanges (CEXs) such as Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, and others. These exchanges act as intermediaries for buying and trading cryptocurrencies.
  
  Important Considerations: Centralized exchanges require personal information to comply with 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) regulations. You may need to link a bank account for transactions, so choosing an exchange is a personal decision that should be based on your research, needs, and preferences.
  
  Security Note: While it's possible to store and stake your ADA directly on these exchanges, it's important to remember the principle of "not your keys, not your crypto." This means that to fully control your assets and participate in the decentralized Cardano ecosystem, you should transfer your ADA to a self-custody wallet. Storing your ADA in a personal wallet ensures that you maintain ownership and control over your assets, rather than leaving them in the hands of an exchange.
• Delegate to DYNO:
  
  Once you've acquired ADA and transferred it to a self-custody wallet, it's time to delegate (a.k.a. stake) it with DYNO. Simply open your wallet, select DYNO from the list of available stake pools, and follow the prompts. You'll be asked to enter your spending password, after which a transaction will be recorded on the Cardano Blockchain, registering your stake with DYNO.

Congratulations! By staking with DYNO, you're contributing to the decentralization and security of the Cardano network.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page or via the social media links below.

For up-to-date performance metrics of DYNO, please visit [email protected]. This site provides detailed information about our stake pool's performance directly from the Cardano blockchain.

At DYNO, we are committed to fostering a vibrant and decentralized Cardano ecosystem. We proudly align ourselves with several key organizations dedicated to these values:

xSPO Alliance: We actively participate in the xSPO Alliance, engaging in weekly calls and offering support to other independent stake pools. This alliance focuses on collaboration and mutual assistance among single pool operators, reinforcing the strength and resilience of the Cardano network.

Single Pool Alliance (SPA): As a member of the Single Pool Alliance, we support the principle of decentralization by dedicating our efforts to maintaining a single stake pool. This approach contrasts with multi-pool operations, which can concentrate influence and undermine the platform's decentralization goals.

Cardano Bare Metal Alliance: While our involvement with the Cardano Bare Metal Alliance is less routine, we share a commitment to operating bare-metal infrastructure. This alliance supports pools that prioritize independence from cloud-based services, ensuring greater reliability and security.

Intersect MBO: We are also a member of Intersect MBO, an organization that places the Cardano community at the heart of its mission. Intersect MBO empowers a distributed network of builders and contributors, driving the development and success of the Cardano ecosystem.

IOG's Technical Community: DYNO's operator actively participates in IOG's Technical Community Discord, engaging with other members to share knowledge, discuss technical developments, and contribute to the ongoing advancement of Cardano.

If DYNO isn’t the right fit for you, we encourage you to explore other independent stake pools from our affiliate organizations:

• xSPO Alliance
• Single Pool Alliance (SPA)
• Bare Metal Alliance

Each of these alliances and organizations is dedicated to supporting decentralization and the growth of the Cardano network.

Doing your own research (DYOR) is crucial when engaging with any cryptocurrency project, even Cardano, and there are numerous resources available to assist you:

• PoolTool.io and Cardanoscan.io: These platforms provide valuable metrics and information about stake pools and the Cardano blockchain. They help you monitor pool performance and make informed decisions.
• Pool.pm: This tool offers a detailed visualization of wallet contents, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). It’s an excellent resource for exploring and understanding your assets.
• eUTXO.org: The Visual Blockchain Explorer provides a visually appealing way to view freshly minted Cardano blocks, research past blocks, and examine block transactions in detail.

In summary, the Cardano community has developed a wealth of tools to help you research and stay informed about the Cardano blockchain. These resources are continually evolving to meet the needs of the community and enhance your understanding of the network.

Please Support Independent Cardano Stake Pools

Supporting independent Cardano stake pools is essential for maintaining the decentralization and security of the network. If the majority of ADA is concentrated in a few large stake pools, it could lead to centralization, where a small number of entities hold significant influence over the network. This centralization can introduce vulnerabilities and compromise the robustness of Cardano.

Consider a hypothetical situation where a few dominant multi-pool operators, empowered by more than 50% of the total staked ADA, consolidate their influence. While we are not currently facing this level of centralization, significant partnerships are forming within the multi-pool arena. Although these operators do not directly control ADA, they gain influence through the consolidation of stake in their pools. By supporting independent pools, you help ensure a diverse and resilient network, preventing any single group from wielding disproportionate control and supporting the principle of decentralization.

By choosing to delegate your ADA to independent stake pools, you contribute to a more decentralized, secure, and robust Cardano blockchain, supporting the long-term health and integrity of the ecosystem.

For comparison, we define a small pool as one with less than 1.5 million ADA delegated and a large pool as one with 1.5 million ADA or more.

Small pools may experience irregular block production, and there may be epochs where no rewards are produced. In contrast, large pools typically produce blocks more consistently, providing a steadier stream of rewards.

The challenge for small pools is to achieve a self-sustaining state where they can consistently produce blocks and build "trust of return" within the Cardano community. This trust means delegators can have confidence in the pool's ability to generate rewards over time.

A crucial point to understand is that while a small pool might not mint blocks consistently, when it does, the rewards for that epoch are shared among fewer delegators. This often results in higher rewards per ADA staked for that specific epoch compared to a larger pool. Although large pools generally offer a higher average return over time due to their steady block production, small pools can still deliver meaningful returns despite their irregular block production.

Supporting small pools requires patience, as the irregularity in rewards does not diminish their overall potential and contribution to the decentralization of the Cardano network.

Explore the fundamentals and advanced details of Cardano through these valuable resources:

• Cardano Docs: Dive into comprehensive documentation on Cardano, including its platform architecture, consensus protocol, and transaction tutorials. This resource is essential for understanding the technical aspects of Cardano's decentralized blockchain and its proof-of-stake mechanism. Visit Cardano Docs.
• Cardano.org: Discover more about Cardano's origins, goals, and features on its official website. Learn about Cardano’s governance model, roadmap for development, and ongoing research. Cardano.org provides insights into the platform's efforts to enhance security, transparency, and sustainability in blockchain technology. Visit Cardano.org

These resources will help you deepen your understanding of Cardano and its ecosystem.

DYNO Pool has been a dedicated part of the Cardano ecosystem for over 2 years and will celebrate its 3-year anniversary this December. Despite having a relatively low stake compared to larger pools, DYNO has achieved significant milestones:

• Blocks Produced: 49
• Lifetime ROS: 2.7%
• Rewards Generated for Delegators: 3,700 ₳

Please review our Terms and Conditions for more detailed information.

DYNO is an independent stake pool, and as with all Cardano stake pools, there are no guarantees of routine staking rewards. The Cardano Ouroboros protocol selects slot leaders based on the amount of stake each pool maintains within its Proof-of-Stake framework. This protocol is governed by parameters set by both technical design and community governance, over which stake pools have no independent control.

Cardano users retain full control of their ADA and may stake or withdraw their funds from any stake pool at any time. As such, DYNO cannot guarantee specific outcomes or rewards. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the staking process and the Cardano network.