The bond
Every time you verify a user, an onchain bond is created through the Ethos Bond smart contract. This bond:
Links your reputation to the verified user's humanity status
Persists for 3 years before requiring renewal
Is recorded entirely onchain
Can be slashed if the verification is later proven fraudulent
What happens if you verify a bot or sybil
If a user you verified is proven to be non-human through a successful slash proposal, you face:
800 credibility score loss per fraudulent verification
Permanent loss of your ability to verify humans (you can never verify again)
Standard slashing procedures applied to the bond itself
Reputational damage within the Ethos community
Why the penalties are this severe
The penalties are deliberately asymmetric. You earn 3,000 XP for a verification but risk 800 credibility and a permanent verification ban if it's fraudulent. This makes honest verification worthwhile but fraud economically irrational.
Verifying a non-human pollutes the verified pool and damages the credential's value for every legitimate verified user on Ethos. The penalties reflect that seriousness.
How to protect yourself
Prefer in-person or video verification over voice-only
Exercise genuine judgment — don't rubber-stamp requests
If something feels off, don't verify. You're never obligated to verify anyone.
Remember: your reputation is on the line for 3 years per verification