Nexus 101: Quests and the Many Ways to Prove

Most people meet Nexus through the browser. With just a few clicks at app.nexus.xyz, anyone can start contributing compute to help build the Verifiable Internet. But under the hood, there’s a more powerful, flexible way to connect: the Nexus CLI.

This guide is your starting point. Whether you’re a developer looking to contribute compute efficiently, or just curious about how the CLI fits into the Nexus ecosystem, you’ll find everything you need here — along with links to deeper guides for bookmarking and reference.

Relatedly, we just launched Proving Quests allowing you to earn points in multiple ways (including using the Nexus CLI) while contributing compute.

Why use the Nexus CLI?

The Nexus CLI (Command Line Interface) is the fastest, most configurable way to participate in the network — especially for contributors who want to:

Run multiple nodes
Automate workflows on servers or cloud machines
See real-time output and telemetry
Earn higher rewards per task

If you’re comfortable in the terminal (or eager to learn), the CLI turns your machine into a node on the world’s first decentralized proof network. It’s built for power users — but remains approachable, fast, and self-updating.

What happens when you prove?

When you run the CLI, your device connects to the Nexus network and begins generating zero-knowledge proofs. This is what it means to “prove” — your computer completes a verified computation that the network can trust, without revealing any private data.

Each proving task moves through five stages:

Waiting — Your device is ready for a task.
Loading — The network sends code and data to your machine.
Computing — Your device runs the zkVM and generates a proof.
Submitting — The proof is uploaded to the network.
Submitted — Your proof is verified, and points are earned.

This cycle repeats automatically, maximizing your machine’s contribution and efficiency.

How to install and run the Nexus CLI

Ready to contribute compute? Once you've open a terminal, here’s how to install the CLI and start generating proofs in just a few steps.

Step 1: Install

On macOS, Linux, or WSL, just run:

curl https://cli.nexus.xyz/ | sh

You’ll be prompted to accept the Terms of Use, and the binary will install automatically.

Step 2: Register and Start

You can also visit app.nexus.xyz/nodes to easily create and manage nodes.

Or, if you already have a node ID:

nexus-cli start --node-id <your-node-id>

If you don’t yet have a node ID:

nexus-cli register-user --wallet-address <your-wallet-address>
nexus-cli register-node
nexus-cli start

That’s it. You’re proving.

Real rewards, real impact

When you prove with the CLI, you’re not just earning points — you’re participating in the future of computing.

Higher rewards per task
CLI contributors now receive significantly more NEX Testnet Points per proof — up to 10x higher than browser contributors in many cases.
Fewer idle cycles
The CLI streams jobs with minimal overhead, using your hardware more effectively.
Full transparency
Real-time output shows you exactly what’s happening, from task assignment to proof submission.
Scalable infrastructure
Many power users run the CLI on headless cloud servers, CI pipelines, or bare metal clusters.

Questing with Snag to prove, earn, repeat

Want to earn even more for your contributions? The new Snag questing engine helps you do exactly that.

With Snag, each day you contribute — including CLI proving — becomes part of a transparent, rewarding experience. Complete quests, collect badges, and climb the leaderboard.