State of the Network: March

In the March edition of our "State of the Network" series, we provide an in-depth look at the Swarm network's metrics and the notable changes they have undergone. This month's report captures a dynamic period for the network, characterized by variations in rewards and geographical distribution of nodes. Through this analysis, stakeholders can gain insights into the evolving landscape of the Swarm network.

Network Total Monthly Rewards

This metric shows the total rewards paid out across the entire network for each month.

Month	Total Network Rewards (xBZZ)
October	152,868
November	148,617
December	159,865
January	157,596
February	152,974
March	104,657

In March, total network rewards saw a notable decrease to 104,657 xBZZ, marking the lowest payout in the recent months, underscoring a change in network utilisation.

Monthly Median Win Values

This metric is the median win amount for each win event.

Month	Median Win Values (xBZZ)
October	46.84
November	46.83
December	48.06
January	47.43
February	49.15
March	27.43

The median win values experienced a marked decline to 27.43 xBZZ, reflecting a decrease in the typical reward amount won by nodes in win events.

Monthly Average Win Values

This metric is the average win amount for each win event.

Month	Average Win Values (xBZZ)
October	62.09
November	47.41
December	57.75
January	51.20
February	54.42
March	34.96

Average win values also saw a reduction, settling at 34.96 xBZZ, indicating a lower average reward amount collected per win across the network.

Active Staking Node Monthly Average Earnings

This metric shows the average monthly earnings for an active staking node (defined as a node which has submitted a commit transaction at least once in the month).

Month	Avg Total Earnings per Node (xBZZ)
October	14.73
November	8.12
December	12.40
January	13.89
February	13.21
March	7.71

In line with the trend for other metrics, the average monthly earnings for an active staking node decreased significantly to 7.711 xBZZ in March, reflecting a downturn in earnings across active nodes.

Total Active Staking Nodes by Month

This metric shows the total active staking nodes by month (again, defined as a node which has submitted a commit transaction at least once in the month).

Month	Total Active Staking Nodes
October	10,367
November	20,868
December	12,891
January	11,350
February	11,576
March	13,571

March recorded an increase in the total number of active staking nodes to 13,571, showing a rebound in network participation compared to the previous month.

Total Winning Nodes by Month

This metric shows the total number of unique active staking nodes which have won at least once within the month.

Month	Total Winning Nodes
October	2,462
November	2,787
December	2,308
January	2,474
February	2,814
March	2,413

The total number of unique winning nodes slightly decreased to 2,413, indicating a small shift in the composition of winning participants within the network.

Total Active Staking Nodes by Country

This metric shows the total number of active staking nodes across the top four countries and all other countries aggregated into the "Other" category, as well as the remaining nodes in the "Unknown" category.

	China	Germany	Finland	Unknown	United States	Other
October	6,242	2,042	1,543	175	282	91
November	16,145	2,225	1,961	37	363	137
December	8,333	2,001	1,919	265	312	61
January	6,696	1,937	1,769	701	181	66
February	6,787	1,958	1,952	688	116	75
March	7,785	1,953	2,232	1,408	91	102

The geographic distribution of active staking nodes in March showed notable changes, with increases in nodes from China, Finland, and "Other" countries, while the "Unknown" category saw a substantial increase.

Conclusion

The March report reveals a complex picture of adjustment within the Swarm network, highlighted by a decrease in total rewards but an increase in active staking nodes. This suggests a period of rebalancing and diversification in network participation and reward distribution. The geographical spread of nodes underscores the network's evolving global reach. As we continue to monitor these trends, the evolving dynamics of the Swarm network offer valuable insights into its resilience and adaptability in light of changing conditions.