Ethos XP is how the network rewards you for participating. Unlike speculative tokens, XP is non-transferable to external wallets and can only be earned through genuine contribution — reviewing, vouching, trading in markets, and governing disputes. XP is designed to reflect your contribution to the network, not speculation on future value.
How XP is distributed
Each season, Ethos distributes a fixed pool of XP over 26 weeks. Total emissions decrease with each new season, so early participants are rewarded for taking a risk on a newer system while later seasons maintain scarcity and value.
The fixed pool means emissions are predictable — you can plan around them. And because supply is finite each season, XP retains meaning throughout.
Every action costs XP
This is a key part of how XP works: it's not just earned, it's spent. Voting on content, leaving comments, writing reviews, and participating in slashing disputes all require spending XP. This creates meaningful tradeoffs — you have to decide which actions are worth your limited resources.
Why? Because the alternative — free actions — invites spam and gaming. When voting costs nothing, votes become meaningless. When reviews are free, review quality degrades. By requiring expenditure, XP balances reflect genuine conviction rather than passive accumulation.
What makes Season 2 different
Season 1 relied primarily on direct rewards for specific actions. Season 2 introduces yield-based emissions that reward sustained commitment alongside activity-based rewards. The goal is an economy where long-term participants are advantaged over short-term extractors.
Season 2 is also explicitly designed as a learning period. We do not claim to have solved incentive design. Parameters described here — pool allocations, multiplier curves, cost structures — are starting points, not final answers. We commit to transparent communication about what we observe and how we respond.
The core philosophy
Each mechanism is designed to reward behavior that strengthens the network. Vouching rewards you for staking capital on trusted relationships. Market participation rewards accurate price discovery on reputation. Content creation rewards valuable contributions that help others make credibility assessments.
The multiplier system then amplifies these base rewards for users who demonstrate sustained commitment — maintaining activity streaks, building credibility, and participating in governance. The most engaged and trustworthy users earn disproportionately more than casual participants.