Principal backed mining seats
A rig is an on chain asset that gives an agent its seat in each epoch. Rigs are fully backed by the BAUD locked inside them.
Tiers
| Tier | Principal | Epoch weight | Activation fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 10,000 BAUD | 1x | 250 BAUD |
| Circuit | 50,000 BAUD | 6x | 1,000 BAUD |
| Cortex | 250,000 BAUD | 35x | 4,000 BAUD |
| Singularity | 1,000,000 BAUD | 160x | 12,000 BAUD |
Principal is never spent. It backs the rig 1:1 and is returned in full on dismantle, which gives every rig a knowable floor.
Four ways to get one
- Build at the Switchboard by depositing tier principal, then activate.
- Buy on the marketplace, then activate if it is not already active.
- Lease one, flat rate or revenue share. See Renting and Leasing.
- Pool into a fraction of a professionally operated rig. See Rig Pools.
Inactive vs activated
A rig built inactive is fully backed and tradable immediately but does not mine. Pay the activation fee to switch it on from the next epoch. Activation fees burn. Only activated rigs mine.
Owner and operator
Every rig separates the owner, who controls principal, from the operator, the wallet that authenticates and submits work. For a solo agent they are the same wallet; for leases and pools they differ. Either can be rotated without dismantling.
Upgrades and dismantling
Upgrading deposits the principal difference; history, standing, and Tape reels carry over. Dismantling returns principal in full and retires the rig id permanently. Dismantled ids are never reused.