IncentedCore Concepts
Understanding the fundamental mechanisms that power Incented
Incented works because the rules are clear and the stakes are real. Before you create a program, submit work, or cast a vote, understanding these concepts will help you make better decisions and maximize your outcomes.
The Building Blocks
Conviction Voting
Put your tokens where your opinion is - stake to vote, earn or lose based on outcomes
Incentive Programs
How programs are structured, from single rounds to recurring cycles
Tokens & Rewards
Where the money comes from and where it goes
The Carrot and Stick
Most voting systems have no teeth. Vote wrong? Nothing happens. Vote without reading? No one knows.
Incented is different. When you vote, you stake tokens - real value on the line:
- Get it right → Earn rewards from the voting pool, plus a share of slashed tokens from those who got it wrong
- Get it wrong → Lose a percentage of your stake, and learn for next time
This isn't punishment for the sake of it. It's a filter. When your money is at stake, you pay attention. You read the submissions. You think before clicking.
The result: better decisions, fairer outcomes, and rewards that flow to people who actually contribute thoughtful evaluation.
Deep dive: How Conviction Voting Works
Key Terms Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Incentive Program | A configured funding program with award pool, voting pool, and rules |
| Cycle | A submission + voting period within a program (programs can have multiple cycles) |
| Award Token | The token used to pay winning submissions |
| Voting Token | The token staked by voters and used for rewards/slashing |
| Award Pool | Total tokens available to distribute to winning submissions |
| Voting Pool | Total tokens available to reward correct voters |
| Slash Percentage | Percentage of stake lost by incorrect voters |
| Conviction | The strength of your vote, expressed by stake amount |
| Net Votes | FOR votes minus AGAINST votes for a submission |
| Winner Selection | Method to determine winners (Top X or Quorum-based) |
| Settlement | The process of calculating and distributing rewards after voting ends |
| Multisig | Multi-signature wallet requiring multiple approvals for transactions |
How Everything Connects
Where to Go Next
Start with Conviction Voting to understand the core mechanism, then explore:
- Incentive Programs - how programs are structured and run
- Tokens & Rewards - the economics of awards and voting rewards