Fees
The Totems protocol collects fees on certain actions. These fees serve as spam deterrents and incentivize the development of independent interfaces.
The Referrer System
When users perform certain protocol actions, a mandatory fee is collected. This fee can be directed to a referrer - typically the interface (UI) that facilitated the interaction.
How Referrer Fees Work
| Action | Fee Recipient |
|---|---|
| Creating a Totem | Referrer address (or burned if none) |
| Publishing a Mod | Referrer address (or burned if none) |
If no referrer is provided (e.g., direct contract interaction), the minimum fee is burned instead.
Tip
There is always a portion of the fee that is burned as a spam deterrent, regardless of referrer. However, if no referrer is provided, the entire minimum fee amount is burned.
Mod Licensing Fees
When a Totem creator licenses a mod, they pay:
| Fee | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Mod price | Mod publisher (seller) |
| Referrer fee | Referrer address (or burned if none) |
The referrer fee is always a static price, independent of the mod price.
If there are multiple mods being licensed in a single transaction, the referrer fee is only charged once.
Building Your Own Interface
Anyone can build an interface to the Totems protocol and receive referrer fees:
- Build a frontend that interacts with the Totems contracts
- Include your address as the referrer in transactions
- Receive fees when users create Totems or publish mods through your interface
This creates a growth engine for the protocol where interfaces may compete on user experience, features, and trust, while the underlying protocol remains neutral and accessible to all.