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Vote Boost

Pre-stakers receive a temporary vote boost that amplifies their voting power and reward weight during the first 8 weeks after TGE. The boost decays in fixed steps, ensuring early supporters are rewarded while the system transitions to a level playing field.

How the Boost Works

The vote boost multiplies both your voting power and your reward weight (for incentives and trading fees distributed via Merkl). It applies only to your founding-eligible amount: Pre-Staked amount before TGE only.

This means a small pre-stake does not unlock an outsized boost on a large post-TGE position. The boost is earned on the amount you actually committed before TGE.

Decay Schedule

The boost decays in 0.5x steps every two weeks (one epoch = 14 days):

Epoch Period Effective Power
1 Day 0-14 3.0x
2 Day 15-28 2.5x
3 Day 29-42 2.0x
4 Day 43-56 1.5x
5+ Day 57+ 1.0x (normal)

After Day 56, all stakers operate at 1.0x — the boost fully expires and the system enters steady state.

Eligibility

The vote boost is available to pre-stakers only (those who committed KAT before TGE via the relayer). Manual stakers who stake within 72 hours of TGE qualify for Founding Staker status but do not receive the vote boost.

What the Boost Applies To

  • Gauge voting weight — Your votes on emission gauges carry more influence
  • Incentive and trading fee rewards — Your share of Merkl-distributed rewards is proportionally larger
  • Founding distribution — Your weight in the Founding Staker exit fee distribution

The boost applies to the founding-eligible amount only, not your entire staked balance.

Pre-Staker vs. Post TGE Founding Staker

The vote boost is the key differentiator between pre-stakers and post-TGE founding stakers. Both qualify for founding status, but pre-stakers receive significantly more:

Benefit Pre-Staker Manual Founding Staker
Founding Staker status Yes Yes
Share of accumulated exit fees Yes (boosted weight) Yes (1x weight)
3x vote boost (decaying) Yes No
Boosted founding distribution weight Yes - boost multiplier applies No - 1x weight only
35% guaranteed yield (first 350M KAT) Yes (capped) No

The 35% guaranteed yield applies to the first 350M KAT pre-staked. If organic yield (exit fees + trading fees + vote incentives) over the first 60 days falls below 35%, the KAT treasury tops up the difference in vKAT. Pre-stakers after the 350M cap still receive the vote boost, founding status, and organic yield. Only the floor guarantee is capped.

Suspension and Revocation

Action Effect on Boost Recoverable?
Hold avKAT or vKAT normally Boost active N/A
Switch between avKAT and vKAT via app Boost active N/A
Enter the exit queue Suspended to 1.0x Yes - cancel exit to restore
Cancel exit and resume staking Boost restored N/A
Complete a withdrawal Permanently revoked No
Sell avKAT on DEX below balance floor Permanently revoked No
Transfer tokens to another wallet Permanently revoked No

The key principle: as long as your staked balance stays at or above your founding-eligible amount and you remain in the same wallet, your boost is safe.

Balance floor

Your balance floor is your founding-eligible amount: ie Pre-Staked amount or staked balance within 72hours of TGE. If your avKAT or vKAT balance drops below this at any point during Day 0-60, you lose both your vote boost and Founding Staker eligibility. See Founding Stakers for details.

Why Decay Instead of a Flat Boost

A flat 3x boost for 90 days would make every post-TGE staker second-class for three months, deterring new entrants. The 56-day decay:

  • Creates a clean transition to steady state
  • Gives pre-stakers meaningful early advantage without permanent structural privilege

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