View source for Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Revenue-Structure

{{KidsIntro|This page explains where WikiDeal's money comes from and where it goes.}}

{{NotApproved}}

== Revenue Structure ==
WikiDeal's revenue model is structured around '''three distinct income streams''', each with clear governance, transparent allocation, and mechanisms to prevent profit extraction. No stream is designed to generate returns for shareholders — all revenues either cover costs or are redistributed to the community.

Zero profit design: all revenues cover costs or return to community — no shareholder extraction, no growth fund skimming

Revenue Streams

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Stream 1
| '''Commissions'''
1.5% central + ≤5% UG
|-
| Stream 2
| '''Subscriptions'''
10 CHF/year platform
|-
| Stream 3
| '''Targeted Donations'''
Via bonding curve
|-
| Distribution
| 50% common fund
50% credit holders
|-
| Profit margin
| '''Zero by design'''
|}

=== Three Revenue Streams ===
{| class="wikitable comparison-table"
|-
! Stream
! Source
! Rate
! Set by
! Goes to
|-
| '''1. Commissions'''
| Every Transaction
| 1.5% (central) + ≤5% (UG), max 10%
| Foundation / User Group
| Operations + surplus return
|-
| '''2. Subscriptions'''
| Annual/monthly users
| 10 CHF/year (or 12 CHF if monthly)
| Foundation
| Platform development + distribution
|-
| '''3. Targeted Donations'''
| Foundations, institutions
| Donor-defined amount
| Donor + Foundation
| Bonding curve rewards + beneficiary years
|}

=== Stream 1: Commissions ===
Transaction Commissions are the most direct revenue stream — charged on every WikiDeal-powered Transaction. The structure is strictly two-tier:

* '''Central Services Commission (1.5%):''' set by Ynternet.org Foundation, covers platform costs
* '''Specific Services Commission (≤5%):''' set by User Group, covers service-specific costs
* '''Combined ceiling: 10%''' on service-time Transactions
* '''Cap rule:''' e.g. 1% max 50 CHF for Transactions >5,000 CHF

See  for full breakdown.

=== Stream 2: Subscriptions ===
Platform subscriptions are the stable, recurring revenue base that funds ongoing operations and development. Two levels:

* '''Platform subscription:''' 10 CHF/year (all users) — set by Foundation
* '''User Group subscription:''' ~1€/month or 10€/year — set by each User Group independently

See [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|Subscription Model]] and [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Monthly-Subscriptions|Monthly Subscriptions]] for details.

=== Stream 3: Targeted Donations ===
Institutional donors (foundations, governments, NGOs) can fund WikiDeal through targeted Donations that generate subscription years for specific beneficiary groups. This stream is governed by the  model and processed through the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]] mechanism.

=== Revenue Distribution ===
Once operating costs are covered, surplus revenue is distributed using the '''50/50 split''' defined in the Bonding Curve model:

{| class="wikitable comparison-table"
|-
! Share
! Destination
! Mechanism
|-
| '''50%'''
| Common Fund
| Proportional to années held by early funders
|-
| '''50%'''
| Credit Holders
| Sequential distribution (crédit #1 first, then all, then crédit #2, etc.)
|}

ℹ️ Distribution happens only after operating costs are fully covered. There is no guarantee of distribution timing — it depends on revenue growth. Early supporters accept this risk in exchange for the ×100 → ×30 bonding curve reward ratio.

=== Governing Principles ===
* '''No fixed profit margin''' — surplus return is "what remains after audited costs"
* 📢 '''Full transparency''' — every Commission is publicly broken down by category
* ⚖️ '''Natural competition''' — if rates too high, users can fork (structural pressure)
* 🏛️ '''Ynternet.org Foundation''' sets central rates only — User Groups have autonomy on specific rates
* 💡 '''At-cost design''' — WikiDeal charges only what it needs to operate
* 🔄 '''Surplus return''' — structural rule, not discretionary policy

'''See also:'''  [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Payment-Methods|Payment Methods]] [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|Subscription Model]] [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]] [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Financing-Development|Financing Development]]

[[Category:Migration June 2026]]