Gridlock is a decentralized system that rewards real participation. If you help protect users or improve the system, you can receive LOCK tokens. These aren’t wages, and you’re not required to participate—but if you do, and your work helps the network grow stronger, you’ll be recognized for it.
You don’t need to buy anything to get started. Gridlock is free to use and open to contributions from anyone.
Run a Guardian Node
To help kickstart the ecosystem, the first 25 registerd guardians will get 1,000 LOCK each month for the first year —just for being active and available!
Anyone can operate a Guardian Node and can help protect users who select them as a guardian.
Token Recognition: 20 LOCK per protected user per month
Distribution Schedule: Every quarter in year one, then monthly after
Requirements:
Verified identity (to avoid abuse)
Stable uptime
Maintained reputation score
Gridlock uses a transparent public rating system so users can see how each guardian performs:
A+: Verified, supporter, and excellent uptime track record - a top-tier guardian that's been supporting the network for a long time
A: Verified and supporter - not only verified but a supporter an active supporter and token holder
B: Verified - identity verified for peace of mind
C: Unverified - not yet verified or unable to be verified
D: Degraded/Inactive - not recommended for use
FAQ - Running a Guardian Node
How do I run a guardian node?
Download the code, set some configuration values, and let it run. More instructions here
How much LOCK is granted to guardian node operators?
Guardian operators are granted 20 LOCK, per user, per month, for each Gridlock Pro user who selects them
When are tokens distributed?
LOCK allocations for guardian node participation are settled quarterly during the first year, and monthly thereafter.
Distributions begin after a 12-month cliff starting from the creation of the bonding curve in April 2025. This delay is intentional. It ensures that buyers from the bonding curve are protected, with foundation-held tokens locked for even longer than public purchases.
After the cliff, tokens vest gradually over the next 12 months. Once vested, distributions are made as soon as funds are available, based on your fair share of the total vested pool.
Why am I not receiving LOCK even though I’m supporting users?
Only users with Gridlock Pro status trigger LOCK distributions to their guardians. To be eligible, the user must either:
Subscribe to Gridlock Pro through the app store, or
Hold the minimum required amount of LOCK in their wallet (Currently 5000 LOCK)
If a user doesn’t meet one of these criteria, supporting them won’t result in any token grant.
What are the requirements to receive LOCK?
To be eligible for protocol-level token grants, you must:
Be a guardian to at least one Gridlock Pro user
Complete identity verification
Run a guardian node with sufficient uptime to maintain a minimum reputation
Who can operate a guardian node?
Anyone can run a guardian node that is selected by Gridlock users. Only verified participants with stable uptime and strong reputations are eligible to receive LOCK. Anyone under the age of 18 is excluded, as they cannot complete the verification process until they turn 18.
How can I improve my reputation?
Stay online consistently, complete verification, and support more users. The protocol monitors activity constantly to and regularly reassesses reliability.
How do users select guardians?
Users manually select guardians, either through the Gridlock app or through an alternative app the connects with the Gridlock Network via the SDK.
Where does the LOCK come from for guardian node distributions?
All guardian node distributions come from the Guardian Node Reward Fund, which was allocated during the initial LOCK token genesis. This fund was specifically set aside to incentivize long-term network participation and support.
Contribute to the Community
Starting June 2025, 2% of Gridlock’s initial Ecosystem Development Fund will be unlocked every month—and anyone can earn from it.
No applications. No paperwork. No gatekeeping. Just real rewards for real contributions.
How is impact measured?
Each month, the foundation will run an AI-powered analysis of all contributions and allocate rewards based on your share of that month’s total impact.
Want to get involved? Start by exploring our GitHub repos:
Guardian Node – Strengthen the core of Gridlock’s distributed security.
Gridlock SDK – Build tools and apps that connect to the Gridlock storage network.
Gridlock CLI – Enhance the command-line interface for users, admins, and devs.
You don’t need to write code to contribute!
You can still help by improving documentation, writing tutorials, making videos, translating content, or suggest new ideas. If it helps Gridlock or the community — it counts.
Details:
Monthly Allocation: 2% of the total initial token supply
What Counts: Code, docs, tutorials, translations, ecosystem tools, design, ideas—anything that moves the mission forward
First Allocation: June 2025
FAQ - Contributing to Development
How do I receive LOCK for contributing to Gridlock?
Each month, 2% of the ecosystem fund is distributed to contributors based on the measurableimpact of their work. There are no applications or approvals—if your contribution adds value, it’s considered.
What types of contributions are eligible?
Any contribution that strengthens Gridlock or improves the user experience may be eligible for LOCK distribution, including:
No. Non-code contributions—like documentation, design, or educational resources—are recognized based on the same impact-based system.
How is “impact” determined?
An AI-powered system reviews all contributions monthly and scores them relative to others. Your share of the month’s distribution is based on your share of the total contribution impact.
Is there any review or moderation?
Yes. While impact scoring is AI-driven for scale and consistency, there is ongoing human oversight to improve fairness and flag anomalies.
Gridlock SDK – Build apps and services on the network
Gridlock CLI – Improve tooling for users, admins, and developers
When do distributions begin?
Contributions start counting in June 2025, but LOCK isn’t distributed right away. All distributions follow the ecosystem fund schedule:
12-month cliff starting April 2025
Followed by 12-month linear vesting
Once tokens vest, contributors with finalized allocations will receive their share as soon as enough funds are available.
Do contributor rewards follow the same vesting schedule as guardian nodes?
Yes, all rewards come from the Ecosystem Fund which follows the same vesting schedule as the Guardian Node Reward Fund. Both funds have a vesting cliff of twelve months from the creation of the bonding curve followed by a linear rollout for the following twelve months.
What is the very first thing I need to do?
There’s no approval process. Review the projects, find where you can contribute, and push your work. If it adds value, it will be counted.
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