📦 Stake-as-a-Service (SaaS)

The Vault uses Stake-as-a-Service (SaaS) invoices for its Direct Stake Leaders, Elite Performance and Community Pool allocations. The fee rate and unpaid-invoice limit depend on which allocation generated the invoice. Direct stake is not charged these allocation fees.

Key Principles

• Sustainability: Introduces a fee structure to maintain and grow our operations.
• Fairness: Equal access to stake for approved validators, contingent on consistent subscription payments.
• Transparency: Invoices and payment statuses are tracked through our dApp.
• Simplicity: Fixed-rate system, with a payment bot that pays your invoices automatically.

Payment Terms

The two invoice categories have different terms:

Main-bucket invoices are issued one epoch after stake is received. Review each invoice's source and settlement token. Current invoicers can use vSOL or VLP; the new Community Pool contract accepts VLP only. The website and official bot support SOL funding for the required token.

Validator Board members' main-bucket exemption does not waive Community Pool fees. The temporary 20-invoice allowance gives main-bucket validators time to switch payment systems; it is not a permanent term or a Community Pool grace period.

The 25% main-bucket rate is calculated using the following formula: [((avg_mev_per_block × validator mev commission) + avg_rewards_per_block) × (stake by the vault ÷ avg_stake_per_leader_slot) + (stake by the vault × (chain inflation rate ÷ epochs per year) × validator inflation commission)] × 0.25 (Figure 7.17).

Figure 7.17: How the SaaS rate is calculated

Enforcement

At the temporary 20-unpaid-invoice main-bucket limit, the stakebot blocks Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance delegation until overdue invoices are settled. The validator remains on the approved list. Community Pool stake instead keeps the three-unpaid-invoice cap: the stakebot automatically blocks late pool validators and reallocates that pool stake to paying eligible validators (Figure 7.18).

Figure 7.18: Separate invoice limits

Settle overdue invoices and check eligibility and subsequent allocation updates. Payment confirmation does not mean previously removed stake has already activated again.

Pay Your Fees Automatically

The Vault's SaaS payment bot checks for invoices once a day in your own GitHub Actions fork. It pays invoices from its trusted Vault invoicer list using each invoice's settlement token, currently vSOL or VLP. When needed, it uses SOL from the payer wallet to obtain that token. The payer wallet does not need to be connected to your validator. Update an existing fork or deployment for the Community Pool invoicer and VLP; custom bots must add the same support. The current bot confirms its funding transaction before submitting the separate invoice payment. Check settlement, not only funding success.

GitHub can pause scheduled workflows in a repository with no activity for 60 days. Check the Actions tab now and then, and push a commit at least every 60 days to keep the bot running. You can also run the bot in your own environment instead of GitHub Actions; the repository's README explains how.

Pay Your Fees Manually

You can also pay your invoices yourself on the validator dashboard.

FAQ

What If I Don't Pay on Time?

Community Pool stake has a three-unpaid-invoice cap. The main Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance buckets have a separate temporary 20-invoice allowance. Late Community Pool stake is automatically reallocated to paying eligible validators. See Enforcement.

Can I Pay My Invoices Automatically?

Yes. Set up the SaaS payment bot: it checks for outstanding invoices once a day and pays them from a payer wallet you choose. See Pay your fees automatically.

Can an Invoice Be Paid Twice by Mistake?

An already-settled invoice cannot be paid again. Funding and payment are separate transactions, so a funding transaction can still leave vSOL or VLP in your payer wallet if payment is deferred or the invoice is settled by another run.

Why Do Some Validators Have No Stake-as-a-Service Invoices?

Main-bucket invoices apply to Direct Stake Leaders and Elite Performance allocations, with the Validator Board exemption for those buckets. Direct stake and manual gauge allocations outside the Community Pool are not charged the main-bucket fee. Community Pool allocations have their own 75% fee, so gauge stake must not be described as universally fee-free.

Can I Track How Much I Owe?

Yes. Validators can view current and past invoices on the dApp.

Is This System Permanent?

This is a pilot structure. The Vault may adapt the pricing or model based on validator feedback and protocol needs.