Operator staking

Contributing is free. Staking is how you turn on rewards and how the network keeps results honest.

Why stake at all

Anyone can run a worker for free. Locking a stake does two things: it makes you eligible for verified rewards, and it gives the network something to take if you submit fabricated results. The stake is the answer to "what stops someone from faking work". Fake it and the coordinator slashes your stake to the treasury, with the evidence hash recorded on-chain.

Delegated starter stake

Requiring a purchase before anyone can try would defeat the point. Sponsors can delegate starter stake to new operators, which counts toward their eligibility without the operator buying in. Delegations are never slashed; only an operator's own stake is at risk. A sponsor can withdraw a delegation at any time.

Unstaking

Your own stake has a seven-day cooldown. Requesting an unstake drops your eligibility immediately but keeps the amount slashable until it is withdrawn, so you cannot dodge a slash by exiting the moment you submit bad work.