Qubic (QUBIC) Tokenomics

The Qubic Network utilizes a unique tokenomics model centered around a deflationary mechanism driven by token burns and a dynamic emission schedule designed to align with the network's long-term goal of scarcity and value preservation. The native coin, QUBIC, is integral to the network's operation, serving as the medium for decentralized computing, smart contract execution, and community governance.

Issuance Mechanism and Supply Cap

The Qubic token issuance mechanism is characterized by a fixed weekly emission rate combined with a strategic reduction in the maximum supply and a mechanism for scheduled halvings.

• Emission Rate: Qubic currently emits 1 trillion QUBIC per week.
• Max Supply Reduction: The initial hard supply cap was set at 1,000 trillion QUBIC, projected to be reached around 2041. However, the Qubic team implemented a significant reduction, cutting the maximum supply by 80% to 200 trillion QUBIC.
• Circulating Supply: As of late 2024, the circulating supply was approximately 120 trillion QUBIC, meaning more than half of the new total supply is already in circulation.
• Halving Mechanism: The network plans to implement an emission reduction method similar to traditional halvings, customized for Qubic. This mechanism, combined with a "Supply Watcher" feature, allows the emission smart contract to account for token burns in real-time to guarantee the 200 trillion maximum supply.

Allocation Mechanism

The Qubic token allocation strategy focuses on rewarding network participants (Computors) and funding ecosystem development through a community-driven treasury.

• Computor Rewards: Computors (validator nodes) receive a portion of the newly minted QUBIC each epoch as a reward for their overall network participation, which includes executing tasks, running smart contracts, and participating in quorum-based decision-making. Only Computors who maintain their status for a full week receive these rewards.
• Computor Controlled Fund (CCF): A proposal was made to allocate 8% of the weekly QUBIC emissions to the Computor Controlled Fund (CCF).
  • Purpose: The CCF acts as a community-driven treasury to support the growth and development of the Qubic ecosystem, funding approved projects, development, and community initiatives.
  • Mechanism: Funding requests are managed through a smart contract, where Computors vote on the allocation of funds. Computors can adjust the 8% weekly emission rate at any time to ensure sustainable funding without overwhelming the supply.

Usage and Incentive Mechanism

Qubic's tokenomics are fundamentally deflationary, driven by multiple burn mechanisms tied directly to network utility and smart contract usage. The network also incentivizes long-term holding and participation through staking and rewards for network operators.

Deflationary Mechanisms (Burns)

While QUBIC transfers are feeless, the execution of smart contracts and other network activities consume and permanently burn QUBIC, reducing the overall supply.

• Smart Contract Execution: The execution of smart contracts burns QUBIC. Developers can also design their contracts to incorporate additional token burn mechanisms.
• Smart Contract IPOs: Every smart contract launched via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) burns the QUBIC coins spent on purchasing shares. For example, the IPO for the RANDOM smart contract burned 1.02 trillion QUBIC.
• Oracles and AI: Oracles, which connect real-world data to smart contracts, and the future use of Aigarth (Qubic's open-source AI) will also consume and burn QUBIC.
• QEarn Penalties: A portion of unearned rewards from early withdrawals in the QEarn staking program is burned, further reducing the circulating supply.

Incentives and Utility

The QUBIC token is used to incentivize network security, development, and user engagement.

• Computor Incentives: Computors are rewarded for running the network's consensus protocol and performing computation tasks, ensuring network integrity and decentralization.
• Smart Contract Shareholders: Smart contracts launch through an IPO model, enabling passive income for shareholders. A portion of the QUBIC burned with each use of a smart contract (like the RANDOM contract) is distributed as passive income to its shareholders.
• Decentralized Computing: QUBIC is the medium for accessing decentralized computing power, allowing users to run complex simulations and train AI models.
• Micropayments: The feeless nature of QUBIC transfers promotes efficient micropayments, revolutionizing industries hindered by transaction fees.

Locking Mechanism and Unlocking Time (QEarn)

The primary locking mechanism in the Qubic ecosystem is QEarn, a community-led initiative designed to reduce circulating supply by offering yields in exchange for locking coins.

• Locking Mechanism: Users lock QUBIC coins for a chosen duration to earn rewards. The longer the lock commitment, the higher the potential Annual Percentage Yield (APY). The maximum rewards are reserved for those committing to the full 52-week period.
• Incentives for Locking: Locking encourages user engagement and long-term commitment. Penalties incurred from early withdrawals are redistributed among the remaining staked coin holders, boosting their yields.
• Early Withdrawal/Unlocking: Participants can withdraw their coins early without incurring a penalty on their principal. However, withdrawing before the end of the staking commitment incurs withdrawal penalties on the yield, impacting the final reward.
• Reward Distribution: Rewards are allocated upon unlocking. For a full 52-week lock, rewards are distributed in full at the end of the period. For early unlocks, rewards are adjusted based on the lock duration and distributed immediately.
• Deflationary Contribution: When an early unlock occurs, the unearned rewards are split: a portion is returned to the unlocking user, a portion is burned (reducing supply), and the remainder is redistributed to other participants in the same locking round (epoch).

As of early 2025, QEarn had locked nearly 11% of the circulating supply of QUBIC, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing the available supply and fostering long-term holding.