docs_tfgrid4/docs/howitworks/participants.md

---
sidebar_position: 2
title: Participants
description: Become an active participant of the grid.
---

## The Users

In our **Web4 enabled Internet**, powered by ThreeFold, **normal users become active participants**. 

By using a **ThreeFold Phone** or apps hosted on the **ThreeFold Grid**, you can create and control your own **digital life**. 

Your data stays private, stored securely on a decentralized infrastructure, while you access personalized apps and services tailored to your needs. With ThreeFold, you’re empowered to own your digital identity. You can interact in peer-to-peer ecosystems and contribute to a more sustainable, user-driven internet.

We collaborate with other projects to make the experience complete:

- **BTC** for payments (Bitcoin)
- **Morpheus AI** for decentralized AI
- **Volla Phone** for secure phone

We are also a first-class host for the following apps:

- **Nostr** for social network app
- **Peertube** for youtube alternative
- **Matrix** as chat protocol
- **Holochain** for Web4 blockchain capabilities (installed on the 3Phone as well)
- And more?
  - Let us know if you want other apps as well!

ThreeFold provides the secure network, cloud and data layer.

## Cloud Providers (Farmers)

![](../img/become_farmer.png)

- Individual and commercial farmers contribute hardware capacity to the ThreeFold Grid and earn rewards for their participation.  
- In the coming years, our goal is to connect millions of nodes to the network.  
- Our network technology delivers an end-to-end encrypted and highly reliable connection layer.  
- Our storage technology ensures data is never lost and privacy is fully protected.  
- For more information on the current grid, [explore the ThreeFold Dashboard](https://dashboard.grid.tf).

## Network Providers (Farmers)

- Buy a [3Router](../components/3router.md) and allow everyone to get access to the ThreeFold Network.
- Earn rewards by doing so.
- ThreeFold will only create the 3Routers once we have sold at least 10,000 of them.

## Cloud Users (Developers, Sysadmins)

![](../howtouse/img/users_all.png)

Our platform supports a lot of use cases:

- Web2 system administrators can deploy any application on the grid with the tools they are used to work with.
- Web3 enthousiasts can run their blockchain workloads on the grid.
- Web4 developers build the apps (experiences) of the future.

![](../howtouse/img/users.png)

Use the [3Bot](../components/3bot.md) to deploy and manage your workloads on the ThreeFold Grid.