Validator Accountability and Slashing Risks

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
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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:

• 10 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
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Why the penalties are this severe

This makes honest verification worthwhile but fraud economically irrational.

Verifying a non-human pollute the verified pool and damages the credential's value for every legitimate verified user on Ethos. The penalties reflect that seriousness.
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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