Commons Chain is the Syndicate Network’s hub for staking and emissions—where SYND holders direct activity and shape the network. It connects the mechanics of Syndicate Network’s staking model to the broader vision of an internet governed and owned by communities.

Help shape the future of Syndicate Network by going to https://commons.syndicate.io/.

What is Commons Chain?

At its core, Commons Chain is about turning ownership into action and serves as the community hub for Syndicate Network. It’s a purpose-built appchain where SYND holders stake, direct emissions, and collectively strengthen the Syndicate Network.

Commons Chain is Syndicate Network’s flagship appchain provides a possible technical blueprint for other appchains:

  • Settles on Base for security and scalability.
  • Smart Sequencers run on Syndicate Network for customizability and programmability.
  • Uses SYND as its gas token, aligning network operations with the token economy.

By design, Commons Chain is optimized for staking and emissions—operations that are central to how the Syndicate Network circulates value back to its communities. 

Advantages of Commons Chain

Commons Chain delivers clear advantages for staking and emissions:

  • Lower costs: Staking transactions are cheaper on a dedicated chain.
  • Faster bridging: Withdrawals finalize securely in ~1 hour.
  • Custom design: Separating staking from other network activity ensures efficiency and scalability.
  • Extensible hub: Commons Chain may expand to include an appchain registry, analytics, and tools for appchain operators and participants.

Staking Launch Timeline

Commons Chain staking and emissions is rolling out in phases:

September 17, 23:00 UTC  — Signal Staking Opens

  • SYND holders can begin staking on Commons Chain.
  • No rewards are distributed yet during this setup period.
  • Users are not yet able to stake towards a specific appchain.

September 30, 23:00 UTC  — Epoch 0 Begins

  • The first official epoch starts, with 100% of network emissions directed to the Base Pool.
  • This bootstraps the staking system before appchain staking becomes available.

October 30, 23:00 UTC  — Epoch 0 Ends

  • Stakers’ share of Epoch 0 emissions is calculated based on their stake size and duration.

October 30, 23:00 UTC  — Epoch 1 Begins (Appchain Staking Live)

  • Rewards from Epoch 0 are claimable just after Epoch 1 starts.
  • Appchain staking is expected to launch this epoch. We expect appchain staking to go live in mid-October. Once live, stakers will be able to direct emissions to specific appchains by selecting them before the epoch starts.

November 29, 23:00 UTC  — Epoch 1 Ends

  • Emissions expand to the full three-pool model:
    • 30% Base Pool (network foundation)
    • 30% Performance Pool (aligned with network efficiency)
    • 40% Appchain Pools (supporting the growth of individual appchains)
  • Stakers can claim emissions from the Base + Performance Pools, while appchains claim their share based on stake directed toward them and appchain activity.

November 29, 23:00 UTC  — Epoch 2 Begins

  • Staking fully transitions into its long-term design: a system where every stake supports the network of appchains, and every emission flows back to the communities building on Syndicate.

How to Participate in Staking SYND

Staking on Commons Chain enables SYND holders to support the Syndicate Network and specific appchains built on top of it. Here’s how it works:

  1. Bridge SYND to Commons ChainFlexible bridging infrastructure ensures tokens can move efficiently into Commons Chain’s staking environment.
  2. Stake SYND through the Commons Chain staking contractsDeposited tokens are locked in alignment with Syndicate’s 30-day emission epochs.
  3. Direct your stake to appchainsBefore each epoch, stakers can choose which appchains to support. These decisions determine the emissions to stakers and appchains.
  4. Manage emissionsEmissions accrue based on stake size, duration, and appchain activity. Stakers can adjust allocations at the start of each epoch, or let them automatically roll over.
  5. Unstake when readyRequests to unstake SYND take effect at the end of the current epoch, ensuring emissions are calculated correctly. Tokens and unclaimed emissions are always returned to your Commons Chain address.

This design aligns stakers with appchains and their performance—making every decision a vote of confidence and support towards appchains and their communities.

Expanding the Role of Commons Chain

Commons Chain makes ownership tangible. It aligns every SYND holder to the growth of appchains, the flow of emissions, and the growth of the Syndicate Network itself. Over time, we expect Commons Chain to expand into the overall network’s commons—where appchain registries, analytics, coordination, and incentives tools can give communities the infrastructure to govern and grow together.

Learn more about Commons Chain in The SYND Token Litepaper. 

→ Explore the Commons Chain at https://commons.syndicate.io/