TL;DR

Every station must hold a small security bond to withdraw rewards. You still earn rewards without it, but you cannot move them to an external wallet until the minimum bond is met. The bond exists to discourage station spam and fraudulent behavior.

What Is the Station Security Bond?

Mastchain requires each station to maintain a security bond.

The bond is a nominal amount of tMAST that creates an economic incentive for stations to behave honestly and operate correctly on the network.

Minimum Bond Requirement

The current minimum bond amount is:

10 tMAST

What Happens If I Do Not Meet the Bond?

Your station will:

• Continue collecting data
• Continue accruing rewards
  

However:

• You cannot withdraw tMAST to an external wallet
• Rewards remain locked until the bond threshold is reached

What Happens Once I Meet the Bond?

When your station holds at least 10 tMAST:

• Withdrawals to an external wallet become enabled
• Rewards function normally

No other action is required.

Why Does Mastchain Use a Bond?

The bond exists to:

• Discourage spam stations
• Discourage fraudulent behavior
• Protect network integrity

If malicious activity occurs, the bond provides an economic deterrent against abuse.

FAQ — Station Security Bond

Do I lose the bond when I start a station?

No.The bond is not a fee and is not consumed. It simply needs to be held by the station.

Do I need the bond to start earning rewards?

No.Your station earns rewards regardless of bond status.

Why can’t I withdraw my rewards?

Because your station has not yet reached the minimum 10 tMAST bond.

Once the station balance meets or exceeds 10 tMAST, withdrawals become available.

Are my rewards lost if I don’t have the bond?

No.Rewards continue to accumulate and remain associated with your station.

Can I use my earned rewards to reach the bond?

Yes.Once your accrued balance reaches 10 tMAST, the bond requirement is satisfied automatically.

Is the bond permanent?

The bond must remain at or above the minimum while you wish to make withdrawals.

If your balance later drops below 10 tMAST, withdrawals will be disabled again.

Is this the same as staking?

No.

The bond:

• Does not earn yield
• Is not locked into a contract
• Is simply a minimum balance requirement

Can the bond amount change?

The minimum bond may be adjusted in the future as network conditions evolve.

Any changes will be communicated in advance.

“Can my bond be slashed if my station reports incorrect positions by accident?”

Unintentional errors are not slashed.

Slashing requires patterns that demonstrate intent, automation, or systematic manipulation.

“Will I be slashed for running multiple stations?”

No.

Operating multiple stations is allowed.

Slashing only occurs if those stations are used to perform coordinated abuse or fraudulent activity.

“Is slashing automatic?”

No.

Slashing is a controlled action applied only after clear evidence of abuse.

“What is an example of station spam?”

A user launches many virtual stations that do not connect to real antennas.They generate fabricated or replayed data to appear active and collect rewards.

Because no real coverage is provided, this is considered spam and can result in bond slashing.