# Supply Control The network is secured by the MPC Network and by protocol specifications defined in the Master CRS. However, in the event that the network is compromised and invalid transactions are approved, Ducat Nodes act as decentralised validation mechanisms to preserve protocol integrity. ### Role of Ducat Nodes * **Tracking Valid UNIT**: Ducat Nodes keep track of all valid UNIT. This means tokens that have been minted according to protocol rules set out in the Master CRS. * **Maintaining Consensus**: Ideally, the circulating UNIT supply and the balances recorded by Ducat Nodes should match exactly. If discrepancies arise due to a bug or compromise, nodes act as backstop validators to restore consistency. ### How It Works * **Decentralised Validator**: Ducat Nodes validate transactions against parameters defined through governance by DUCAT token holders. * **Protocol-Specific Focus**: Unlike general-purpose Ordinals or Runes indexers, Ducat Nodes focus solely on validating compliance with Ducat protocol rules. They do not assess market value. ### Why Users Should Run Their Own Ducat Node * **User Control**: We strongly recommend all users run their own Ducat Node and connect to it when managing their vaults. * **Avoiding Manipulation**: Running a personal node ensures users are not misled by compromised infrastructure or faulty data. ### Functions of Ducat Nodes * **Track Valid UNIT and DUCAT**: Verifies that all tokens are compliant with protocol rules. * **Governance Support**: Helps determine valid governance outcomes and tracks the latest Master Contract ID. Although the protocol can operate without them, Ducat Nodes are vital for transparency, security, and decentralised control across the ecosystem. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.ducatprotocol.com/trust-assumptions/supply-control.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.