Revenue Structure
WikiDeal:Economics NEWWikiDeal's revenue model is structured around three distinct income streams, each with clear governance, transparent allocation, and mechanisms to prevent profit extraction. No stream is designed to generate returns for shareholders — all revenues either cover costs or are redistributed to the community.
| Stream 1 | Commissions 1.5% central + ≤5% UG |
| Stream 2 | Subscriptions 10 CHF/year platform |
| Stream 3 | Targeted Donations Via bonding curve |
| Distribution | 50% common fund 50% credit holders |
| Profit margin | Zero by design |
Three Revenue Streams
| Stream | Source | Rate | Set by | Goes to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Commissions | Every Transaction | 1.5% (central) + ≤5% (UG), max 10% | Foundation / User Group | Operations + surplus return |
| 2. Subscriptions | Annual/monthly users | 10 CHF/year (or 12 CHF if monthly) | Foundation | Platform development + distribution |
| 3. Targeted Donations | Foundations, institutions | Donor-defined amount | Donor + Foundation | Bonding curve rewards + beneficiary years |
Stream 1: Commissions
Transaction Commissions are the most direct revenue stream — charged on every WikiDeal-powered Transaction. The structure is strictly two-tier:
- Central Services Commission (1.5%): set by Ynternet.org Foundation, covers platform costs
- Specific Services Commission (≤5%): set by User Group, covers service-specific costs
- Combined ceiling: 10% on service-time Transactions
- Cap rule: e.g. 1% max 50 CHF for Transactions >5,000 CHF
See Commissions for full breakdown.
Stream 2: Subscriptions
Platform subscriptions are the stable, recurring revenue base that funds ongoing operations and development. Two levels:
- Platform subscription: 10 CHF/year (all users) — set by Foundation
- User Group subscription: ~1€/month or 10€/year — set by each User Group independently
See Subscription Model and Monthly Subscriptions for details.
Stream 3: Targeted Donations
Institutional donors (foundations, governments, NGOs) can fund WikiDeal through targeted Donations that generate subscription years for specific beneficiary groups. This stream is governed by the Targeted Donations model and processed through the Bonding Curve mechanism.
Revenue Distribution
Once operating costs are covered, surplus revenue is distributed using the 50/50 split defined in the Bonding Curve model:
| Share | Destination | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | Common Fund | Proportional to années held by early investors |
| 50% | Credit Holders | Sequential distribution (crédit #1 first, then all, then crédit #2, etc.) |
ℹ️ Distribution happens only after operating costs are fully covered. There is no guarantee of distribution timing — it depends on revenue growth. Early supporters accept this risk in exchange for the ×100 → ×30 bonding curve reward ratio.
Governing Principles
- 🔒 No fixed profit margin — surplus return is "what remains after audited costs"
- 📢 Full transparency — every Commission is publicly broken down by category
- ⚖️ Natural competition — if rates too high, users can fork (structural pressure)
- 🏛️ Ynternet.org Foundation sets central rates only — User Groups have autonomy on specific rates
- 💡 At-cost design — WikiDeal charges only what it needs to operate
- 🔄 Surplus return — structural rule, not discretionary policy