$PUBLIC Token Utility

The $PUBLIC token serves multiple essential functions within the PublicAI platform, supporting a wide range of economic and governance activities. Its core utilities include:

1. Community Rewards

$PUBLIC is used to incentivize data contributors for activities such as:

• Uploading datasets

• Participating in data validation through voting

As described in the token release mechanism, the issuance of $PUBLIC tokens is revenue-driven, meaning new tokens are minted proportionally to actual revenue generated by the platform, ensuring sustainable and value-aligned distribution.

2. Staking as Collateral

Contributors are required to stake $PUBLIC tokens as a form of collateral to back the quality of their contributions.

• If a contributor is found to be submitting malicious, low-quality, or manipulated data, their staked tokens may be slashed (partially or fully forfeited).

• This mechanism helps ensure data integrity and discourages spam or dishonest behavior.

3. Staking for Passive Yields

Users who do not actively contribute but wish to support the ecosystem can stake $PUBLIC tokens to earn a base yield:

• A target Annual Return Rate (ARR) of ~2.5%

• Eligibility requires no history of malicious activity

This allows for low-risk participation in platform growth while increasing token lock-in and reducing short-term market supply.

4. Governance Participation

All $PUBLIC holders are eligible to participate in PublicDAO governance, where they can propose and vote on key decisions including:

• Reward and staking parameter adjustments

• Approval of new platform features or modules

• Dispute resolution rules

• General platform maintenance and policy changes

This ensures that the platform evolves in a community-driven, decentralized manner.