The interwoven set of mechanics for how the network protocol token, POLYX, is used on the blockchain.
POLYX enables the creation and management of security tokens, drives POLYX holder participation through governance, and secures the chain through staking. Tie these pieces together and an ecosystem emerges on Polymesh with POLYX at the centre.
The Polymesh Network Treasury exists to fund complementary technology, new features, and other roles.
Network Treasury funds are disbursed by the Polymesh Governing Council upon approval of Polymesh Improvement Proposals (PIPs).
Fees on Polymesh
Fees are charged in POLYX for all chain uses. Transaction and protocol fees are automatically distributed to node operators. They also operate to protect the chain from DOS or spam attacks.
Transaction fees
Fees charged for transactions on Polymesh are the product of transaction size (in bytes) and the complexity of the transaction, but otherwise charged regardless of the functionality used.
Protocol fees
Protocol fees are charged for certain types of native functions (e.g. reserving a token ticker) and set by the Polymesh Governing Council.
Developer fees
Developer fees can be charged and set by developers of smart contracts and smart extensions.
Grants
The Network Treasury disburses grants used to bolster important developments to Polymesh and the activities supporting it. Developers who provide an answer and solution to a specific Request for Proposal, or even address unsolicited solutions, may be provided a grant in the form of POLYX. Grants and their associated development requirements will be managed by the Polymesh Treasury Committee.
Staking secures the network by aligning the economic incentives of node operators and stakers to the correct operation of the chain through rewards and penalties denominated in POLYX. It’s an important aspect of the nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which defines which blocks get written to the chain as well as the roles, rules, and incentives of Polymesh. On Polymesh, node operators and stakers work together with stakers backing node operators of their choice with POLYX. Both are either rewarded or fined based on the node operator’s performance running their node (i.e. keeping their node online; writing blocks to the chain per the rules of Polymesh). Stakers can be any POLYX holder whose identity has been verified through a customer due diligence process.
Staked POLYX may be simultaneously used to signal support in Polymesh Governance.
Block rewards and fines are essential to Polymesh’s nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and therefore proper chain operation. For each block created, the authoring node operator is rewarded in POLYX along with their stakers. Failure to meet the performance standards of the chain, however, could lead to node operators being fined in POLYX. Stakers may also be fined pending Governing Council approval.
Rewards and fines are calculated and enacted per era (every 24 hours).
Block rewards
The total block rewards pool per era is a product of the nominal rewards rate and the total POLYX staked on node operators.
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The total block rewards pool per era is a product of the nominal rewards rate and the total POLYX staked on node operators. They are then split by a number of factors:
The era rewards are evenly split between node operators based on performance
Commission (a percentage of block rewards claimed by the node operator) is subtracted from the node operator’s payable staking rewards
Remaining block rewards are split as a percentage of POLYX staked on the node operator, including the node operator’s stake
Block rewards are newly minted and rewarded for each era, increasing the total supply of POLYX.
When total POLYX supply is below 1 billion, there is a maximum annual inflation rate of 14%. Maximum inflation is reached only with a 70% staking ratio (the amount of POLYX staked vs. the total POLYX supply). Block rewards are structured to incentivize this ideal staking ratio. When there is less than 70% POLYX staked on the chain, the rewards rate is higher. If the ratio is above 70%, there is less incentive to stake due to lower rewards rate. The ideal staking ratio of 70% was selected because it properly balances security for Polymesh with availability of POLYX.
When total POLYX supply is over 1 billion, new supply is capped at a maximum of 140 million POLYX every year, regardless of total supply. This way, new supply decreases over time as a percentage of total supply for a given staking ratio, approaching an asymptotic limit.
Fines
The severity of fines on Polymesh is based on the amount of offending node operators across the chain.
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There are two types of infractions that can lead to fines:
Unresponsiveness When a node is experiencing downtime and not connected to Polymesh
Equivocation or double-signing The creation of two or more blocks in a single slot, or adjustment or rejection of votes on a block. Both can be signs of collusion.
Fines on Polymesh differ based on infraction type and are applied to the amount of POLYX a node operator has staked on their node. In the future, if fines are applied to stakers, the fine will apply to the entire pool of POLYX staked on the node operator.