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Terminology: WIL token -> Karma token; WIL = WikiDeal License only (Theo 2026-07-16)
Audit fix: rewrite Reward types on the two-type schema (origin: donation / validated work; allocation: personal share / community share)
 
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{{KidsIntro|Rewards are real money you can earn on the platform for helping out or doing good work. When you contribute something useful, you can get paid back in cash.}}
{{KidsIntro|Rewards are conditional rights to receive a share of future user subscription money. They give back to people who fund or build the platform early, turning their help into cash over time, but only if and when users actually subscribe.}}
{{ExpertIntro|Rewards are conditional claims that are converted into Swiss francs at the pace of the subscriptions taken by users (a subscription, CHF 10 per year, is required to transact on any marketplace). Subscription revenue is redistributed proportionally to Reward holders; whether the whole of each subscription or only a part of it is redistributed is an open question, still to be defined. Rewards can be obtained in two ways: through a donation (the amount is set by the combination of the bonding curve and the need-driven stabilizer) or through an attribution by the Ynternet.org Foundation (open calls, mandates, founder attributions), with three corresponding reward funds. Cash-out speed depends on the number of subscribed users: many users, fast cash-out; few users, slow cash-out; and there is no guarantee that there will be many users.}}
{{ExpertIntro|Rewards are proposed as conditional rights, automatically converted into Swiss francs at the pace of user subscriptions and redistributed proportionally. They can come from a donation (via the bonding curve) or from work. Cash-out occurs in tranches and depends on adoption; reaching the optimal threshold could take years or never happen. No guarantee.}}
 
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Wiki Core · Concept
== Rewards at a Glance ==
 
== Rewards ==
 
Rewards at a Glance
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| Symbol
| '''Definition'''
| 💰
| Conditional right to a share of future subscription revenue
|-
|-
| Currency
| '''Nominal Unit'''
| CHF (conditional)
| 1 Reward = 1 CHF (when cashed out)
|-
|-
| Cash-out
| '''Allocation'''
| At the pace of user subscriptions (no guarantee)
| Via the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]] (for donations) or Open Calls (for work)
|-
|-
| Tax event
| '''Cash-out trigger'''
| At cash-out only
| Paid in tranches of CHF 100, funded by [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|subscription revenue]]
|-
|-
| Priority
| '''Long-term target'''
| P2 (personal)
| [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Annual Value Increase|5% annual value increase]] (study replacing the multiplier)
|-
|-
| See also
| '''Revenue Split'''
| [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Rewards|Rewards Explained]]
| [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Revenue-Structure|25/25/50 rule]] (Donors / Early supporters / Operations)
|-
|-
| See also
| '''Guarantee'''
| [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]]
| None (depends entirely on user adoption)
|-
| See also
| Funding Contract
|}
|}


Rewards are '''converted into Swiss francs at the pace of the subscriptions taken by users'''. They represent a conditional claim on future subscription revenue, not a debt or financial instrument: there is no guarantee on timing or completion, and their availability depends entirely on the number of subscribed users.
Rewards are '''automatically converted into cash''' in Swiss francs. They should not be confused with '''[[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Karma-Tokens|Karma tokens]]''' (the exchange unit for services), a separate internal unit covered on its own page. This page covers Rewards only.


As a reminder, in synthesis: a [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|subscription]] is required for anyone who wishes to make a transaction using any of the marketplaces, at the very low price of CHF 10 per year. The money that people pay for their subscriptions is intended to cover the Rewards: it is redistributed to Reward holders proportionally. The cash-out is funded by subscriptions, and subscriptions are not invasive: the platform can be used without paying, a subscription is only required to sign a contract in a marketplace, and it is inactive by default. The full mechanism, and the three options envisaged for the percentage attributed to the cash-out, are described on the [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Cashout-Mechanism|cashout mechanism]] page.
== What Rewards Are (no guarantee*) ==
Rewards are converted into Swiss francs at the pace of the subscriptions taken by users. They represent a conditional claim on future subscription revenue, not a debt or financial instrument: there is no guarantee on timing or completion, and their availability depends entirely on the number of subscribed users.


Rewards are honest: they are distributed at the rhythm of subscription income. If subscription income is low, rewards can be low. It is a transparent process: each subscription automatically generates a distribution to all Reward holders, '''pro rata''' of the Rewards they hold. A dashboard model illustrates this redistribution: [https://aidev.wikideal.net/mockups/latest/dashboard.html dashboard (mockup, latest version)].
* Automatically converted to CHF by tranches of CHF 100 when funds allow.
* A possible annual percentage increase is under study (draft [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Annual Value Increase|Open Call]], not decided).
* Held in your personal account (Priority 2).
* Tax applies at cash-out.
* No financial return is guaranteed. See Terms & Conditions and FINMA sandbox rules.


Concretely: when a person buys a CHF 10 yearly subscription to use WikiDeal and becomes a subscribed user, this person obtains the right to vote, and the CHF 10 feed the redistribution to Reward holders, each one receiving a share in proportion to the Rewards they hold. One point remains open and still has to be defined: whether 100% of each subscription is redistributed to Reward holders, or only a part of it. No financial projection with risk estimates has been made on this question yet. What is already set: for the '''first tranche of CHF 200,000''' donated for Prototype 1, subscription revenue is '''entirely (100%) attributed to Rewards'''. If this allocation is modified later, so that only a part of the subscriptions is redistributed, '''at least 50% of subscription revenue on average''' (over Prototype 1) would remain attributed to Reward holders, in order to guarantee the donors' trust in the possibility of cashing out their Rewards: this is a '''contractual commitment''' (stated in the donation agreement). This question is intended to be explored through a dedicated open call: [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Call:Subscription-Redistribution|subscription redistribution to Rewards]].
=== Who Receives Rewards: two types ===
Rewards are defined along two axes: their origin and their allocation.


=== What Are Rewards? ===
'''Two origins:'''
# '''Donation''': Rewards granted in recognition of a donation to WikiDeal. This covers donors as well as early supporters who contributed in the years preceding the launch.
# '''Validated work''': Rewards granted for contributions validated through the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Calls:Main|Open Calls]] process, or for expert work invited by the initial [[Gov/en/Portal:Institutions/Steering-Committee|Steering Committee]].


When you fund WikiDeal through the Fund WikiDeal page, your contribution passes through the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|bonding curve]] algorithm. Depending on your chosen reward type (Priority 2), you receive Rewards in your personal account.
'''Two allocations:''' each Reward is split between a '''personal share''' kept by the recipient and a '''community share''' allocated to the ecosystem, according to the [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Need-Driven-Funding|Need-Driven Funding]] mechanism.


Rewards accumulate over time. They can be cashed out when the conditions are met: specifically, when sufficient subscription revenue has been generated by active WikiDeal users.
=== Where the money comes from: subscription revenue ===
As a reminder, a [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|subscription]] is required for anyone who wishes to make a transaction using any of the marketplaces, at the very low price of CHF 10 per year. The money that people pay for their subscriptions is intended to cover the Rewards: it is redistributed to Reward holders proportionally.


=== How Rewards Work ===
Concretely: when a person buys a CHF 10 yearly subscription to use WikiDeal, this person obtains the right to vote, and the CHF 10 feed the redistribution to Reward holders. The cash-out is funded by subscriptions, and subscriptions are not invasive: the platform can be used without paying, a subscription is only required to sign a contract in a marketplace.


# '''Funding contribution:''' You contribute CHF via the funding flow.
One point remains open and still has to be defined: whether 100% of each subscription is redistributed to Reward holders, or only a part of it. What is already set: for the '''first tranche of CHF 200,000''' donated for Prototype 1, subscription revenue is '''entirely (100%) attributed to Rewards'''. If this allocation is modified later, at least 50% of subscription revenue on average would remain attributed to Reward holders (contractual commitment). This is explored in the open call: [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Calls:Subscription-Redistribution|subscription redistribution to Rewards]].
# '''[[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding curve]] processing:''' The algorithm converts your CHF into Credits based on the current reserve level. Early funders receive more Credits per CHF (e.g. ×100 multiplier at very low reserve).
# '''Credit allocation:''' Your Credits are split by the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Need-Driven Funding|Need-Driven Funding]] mechanism into Rewards (P2) and community pool contributions.
# '''Cash-out:''' When platform conditions allow (sufficient subscription revenue), you can request conversion to CHF.


=== Two ways to obtain Rewards, three reward funds ===
=== Cash-out mechanism (tranches of CHF 100) ===
Cash-out occurs in '''tranches of CHF 100'''. As subscription revenue accumulates in the redistribution pool, it is allocated to Reward holders based on the proportion of Rewards they hold. When a holder's allocated share reaches CHF 100, that tranche becomes available for cash-out.


There are two ways to obtain Rewards:
The system is sized so that Rewards are fully honoured once the platform has reached CHF 100 million in cumulative collections. With roughly 1 million active users, reaching this could take on the order of 10 years.


* '''Through a donation:''' the amount of Rewards received is defined by the combination of the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|bonding curve]] and the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Need-Driven Funding|need-driven stabilizer]]: it is the combination of the two that sets the sum.
=== How long to cash out? (estimated, no guarantee) ===
* '''Through an attribution by the Ynternet.org Foundation:''' in the frame of the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Call:Main|open calls]] or of other agreements and mandates.
The time needed to cash out Rewards depends entirely on how much the platform is used. Based on Wikipedia's success, we estimate it will take 1 to 2 years for the model to work. Assuming strong resistance or low initial community involvement, it could take up to 10 years, or it might never work at all. Therefore, the estimated average is '''3 to 4 years'''. Once the platform reaches approximately '''5 million users''', the process is essentially resolved within a maximum of 3 to 4 years.


Three reward funds correspond to these attributions:
'''⚠️ This figure is purely theoretical. There is no guarantee whatsoever.''' A faster uptake shortens the horizon; slow adoption lengthens it.


# the Rewards obtained through donations;
== How Rewards Work: The Mechanisms ==
# the Rewards attributed by the steering committee, notably in the frame of the open calls and of mandates;
# the Rewards attributed by the founder ([[Gov/en/Portal:Meta/Licensing-and-Credits|see credits]]).


The beneficiaries of the cash-out are therefore all the people who have already made a donation in money, or obtained Rewards for their contributions (as early supporters): two categories of cash-out beneficiaries.
=== How Rewards Work ===
 
1. '''You make a donation''' (or perform validated work).
=== Where the money comes from: subscription revenue ===
2. '''You receive a Reward allocation'''.


Rewards are '''funded directly from subscription revenue'''. At the start, the revenue collected from the CHF 10/year subscriptions is allocated to the holders of Rewards. As these holders are progressively paid out, their number decreases over time.
The amount you receive is processed through the [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]], a mathematical formula that determines how many Rewards you receive per CHF contributed. Early funders get more Rewards per CHF to reward their early commitment. Everything moves based on '''real expenses''': no speculation, no invented values.


The system is sized so that Rewards are fully honoured once the platform has reached '''CHF 100 million in cumulative collections'''. As an order of magnitude: with roughly 1 million active users (≈ CHF 12/year each), reaching CHF 100 million in collections would take on the order of '''10 years'''. If adoption grows faster (for example reaching 3 million users within 3 years), that horizon shortens accordingly.
=== Need-Driven Funding ===
The [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Need-Driven Funding|Need-Driven Funding]] mechanism regulates the availability of Rewards. We strictly use the Need-Driven concept.


=== Two blocks of Rewards (Prototype 1) ===
=== Two blocks of Rewards (Prototype 1) ===
Within the Prototype 1 framework, Rewards are split into '''two distinct blocks''':
Within the Prototype 1 framework, Rewards are split into '''two distinct blocks''':
 
* '''Early supporters:''' 50 million Rewards
* '''Early supporters:''' '''50 million''' Rewards
* '''Funders / donors:''' 50 million Rewards
* '''Funders / donors (funding contributions):''' '''50 million''' Rewards
 
That is '''100 million Rewards in total''', drawn down from subscription revenue as it accrues.
That is '''100 million Rewards in total''', drawn down from subscription revenue as it accrues.


=== How long to cash out? (estimated, no guarantee) ===
== Transparency and Replicability ==
 
* '''Replicable Model''': Every User Group can launch its own funding campaign using the exact same methodology (bonding curve, Rewards, Gift mechanism) as WikiDeal Core. The Babysitting User Group or Street Fundraising User Group can attract funders specifically for their infrastructure.
The time needed to cash out Rewards depends entirely on how much the platform is used. To be deliberately cautious, the cash-out horizon is described as ranging '''between 1 and 10 years''', with an '''estimated average of 3 to 4 years'''.
* '''Tax Implications''': Rewards are not taxable when earned. Tax implications arise only at the moment of cash-out.
 
* '''Honest Accounting''': All Commissions are charged at cost. Rewards are only distributed when real revenue exists. WikiDeal operates under Swiss FINMA sandbox rules.
'''⚠️ This figure is purely theoretical. There is no guarantee whatsoever.''' It is an '''estimated projection''', not a promise. The actual timing will depend on the platform's attractiveness and adoption. A faster uptake (more users, more subscription revenue) shortens the horizon; slow adoption lengthens it.
 
Another element shapes the rhythm over time: each subscription franc is redistributed across all the Rewards '''already activated''' (already held by people). As more donations arrive, the distribution spreads over more holders and more Rewards held, so the share received per Reward decreases over time. Only activated Rewards take part in the redistribution: if, for example, a call plans a total of 100 million Rewards but only 60 million have been distributed so far, 40% of those Rewards are not yet held by anyone and receive nothing. When funding is complete, there are more beneficiaries, and therefore a smaller percentage of each subscription per Reward held; conversely, if all goes well, there are also more and more subscribed users.
 
=== Tax Implications ===
 
Rewards are '''not taxable when earned'''. Tax implications arise only at the moment of cash-out, when Credits are converted to CHF. This is consistent with Swiss tax law for utility credits and supports FINMA sandbox classification as a utility token, not a security (see the [[Gov/en/Portal:Legal/Legal-Studies|legal studies]]).
 
Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation. WikiDeal does not provide tax advice.
 
=== Needs Addressed ===
 
Rewards address the legitimate financial interests of early funders who take on the highest risk. When WikiDeal has few users, the platform is unproven: early funders deserve recognition for their trust. Rewards provide a conditional path to community redistribution without creating speculative pressure or securities-law complexity.
 
=== No Guarantee: An Honest Design ===
 
The absence of guarantee is not a weakness: it is the honest architecture. WikiDeal does not promise what it cannot deliver. Rewards will be distributed when and only when subscription revenue allows. This aligns funder interests with platform growth, not with speculation.
 
* No financial return is guaranteed. See Terms & Conditions and FAQ for full details. FINMA sandbox rules apply (see the [[Gov/en/Portal:Legal/Legal-Studies|legal studies]]).


'''See also:''' [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Rewards|Rewards Explained]] [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Karma-Tokens|Karma tokens]] [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Bonding Curve|Bonding Curve]] [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Need-Driven Funding|Need-Driven Funding]] [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Subscriptions|Subscription Model]] Funding Contract FAQ
''See also: [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Karma-Tokens|Karma tokens]] | [[Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Karma-Token-Market|Karma Token Market]] | [[Market:Programs|Programs]] | Terms & Conditions | FAQ | [[Gov/en/Portal:Onboarding/Glossary|Glossary]]''


💡 '''Improve this concept:''' submit a proposal via [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Call:Main|Open Call]]
[[Category:Migration June 2026]]
[[Category:Migration June 2026]]
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[[Category:Economy]]
[[Category:WikiDeal Rewards]]