Reppo Protocol

Before we dive into how registering a model enables ownership primitives it is helpful to briefly explore the benefits of a model marketplace built on a blockchain.

The core of the Reppo protocol is the Reppo Model Registration contract.

The contract provides an onchain record that is critical for establishing model ownership. That is, the model developer can call the registerModel function of the contract to register their model and assert ownership on the blockchain. The blockchain ensures the record is credible, which means it can only be created by the holder of the signing keys (i.e., your EVM account’s digital signature). There are two primary benefits of using blockchains to assert model ownership.

Firstly, blockchains operate without a central entity controlling access to the system, which means censorship and data mismanagement are not possible. This benefit cannot be understated. A model developer can register their models on a globally available platform that is capable of independently verifying ownership, without fear of being deplatformed or having their private information leaked.

Secondly, the blockchain facilitates secure and trustless payment transactions. The registration contract has a built-in payment mechanism that facilitates payment collection when your model customers make inference requests of your models.

The model developer is only required to set pricing terms and specify the EVM account they would like to receive payment to. The blockchain and the model registration contract handle everything else.