Time-Based Scaling
Ownership • Legacy • Access Control • Sovereignty
Time-Based Scaling is a protocol design principle where access, yield, influence, or utility increases based on how long a user holds, stakes, or participates. This model anchors value to time, rewarding consistency and longevity over one-time action. By tying protocol privileges or outputs to user duration, time-based scaling naturally filters commitment, amplifies retention, and strengthens alignment between user behavior and system health.
Use Case: A yield platform starts users at base APR, but boosts rewards by 0.5% every 30 days the tokens remain staked, up to a cap. This time-based scaling model incentivizes users to stay engaged without needing fixed lockups, turning duration into a passive yield multiplier.
Key Concepts:
- Time-Weighted Rewards — Yield increases in proportion to how long a user remains committed.
- Staking Duration — The core timer that governs reward tiers or access unlocks.
- Layered Utility — Features or benefits scale over time with continued participation.
- Access Maturity Curves — Progressive unlocking of utility tied to time-held thresholds.
Summary: Time-Based Scaling turns time itself into a yield, access, or governance amplifier. It rewards patience, punishes churn, and helps protocols grow stronger with users who stay aligned—making it a core structure in sustainable DeFi and token ecosystems.