EXPERIMENT

In our experiment’s gritty narrative, the IKIGAI token isn’t just spare change—it’s the engine that drives real value into our NFT collection. Here’s the rundown:

Imagine the token as the bloodstream in this unconventional ecosystem. Every time you mint one of our AI art pieces, a modest fee is funneled into the system. That fee does two things: it fills the Protocol Treasury and boosts staking rewards. In other words, it creates a cycle where the act of minting not only secures your exclusive piece of art but also injects tangible value back into the ecosystem.

This isn’t about flashy promises. It’s about building a framework where every NFT has a foundation in real, verifiable liquidity. The token’s value is anchored by BeraChain’s proof-of-liquidity model—ensuring that our experimental setup remains grounded in actual market activity. When NFT holders stake their tokens, they’re not just locking up digital assets; they’re earning rewards that reflect the underlying health of the system.

So, while our project may be an experiment, the IKIGAI token brings a measured, tangible benefit to the NFT collection. It provides a steady, real-world economic backing—ensuring that each NFT isn’t just a digital collectible but a stake in a self-sustaining ecosystem.


Ikigai Protocol: A Gritty Experiment in DeFi and AI Art

Picture this: a rain-soaked back alley where a small band of Berachain NFT holders gather for an offbeat experiment. This isn’t a blockbuster pitch—it’s a raw, hands-on test of blending unconventional tokenomics with AI art minting. We’re not here to make grand promises; we’re here to see what happens when art, blockchain, and a bit of degen spirit collide.

The Experimental Mint: A Modest Opening Heist

In this scene, holding a Berachain NFT isn’t just about status—it’s your ticket to early access for minting an exclusive series of AI-generated art. The process is deliberately controlled: a rate limit of 5 mints per hour, rigorous ownership checks, and built-in circuit breakers. It’s not perfect, and it won’t solve all your problems, but it’s a calculated move in an experimental game of art and blockchain.

Tokenomics: The Unpolished Underbelly

At the heart of our experiment is the IKIGAI token—crafted with a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens, minted only as real value emerges. Here’s the lowdown:

• A modest 3.3% fee on NFT mints in BERA splits into 2% for the Protocol Treasury and 1.3% for staking rewards.

• This fee isn’t designed to dazzle; it’s simply a mechanism to support ongoing liquidity and reward early participants, without overhyping potential returns.

Proof of Liquidity: Keeping It Real on BeraChain

Now, let’s address the backbone of our setup: proof of liquidity. The protocol is designed to align with BeraChain’s model, ensuring every move is anchored in tangible, verifiable liquidity. With automated systems maintaining a balance between 40% and 80%, this isn’t about promising the moon—it’s about establishing a reliable baseline. The liquidity pools are dynamic, but we’re careful not to overpromise; we’re simply making sure that every transaction is backed by real assets.

An Experiment with Room to Grow

In true Tarantino fashion, our narrative is more about raw ambition than polished guarantees. The Ikigai Protocol is an experiment—a measured, sometimes messy foray into uncharted territory. It rewards Berachain NFT holders with the chance to mint unique AI art, while its tokenomics and liquidity safeguards are designed to be solid, albeit unproven. We’re underpromising so that, if things work out, we can overdeliver on our vision.


There are a few avenues to not only improve the current model but also add extra layers of utility to the IKIGAI token, making it a more integral part of the AI art ecosystem. Here are some ideas:

Enhanced Governance and Curation:

Give token holders voting rights on key aspects of the AI art series—from selecting themes for future drops to deciding on reward structures. This turns the token into a real governance tool, making every holder a stakeholder in the creative direction.

Exclusive Access and Perks:

Expand the utility by offering token-based access to exclusive content or early releases. For example, holding a certain amount of tokens could unlock behind-the-scenes insights, early previews of upcoming art, or even virtual meetups with the artists.

Integrated Marketplace Functionality:

Develop a dedicated marketplace where all transactions (buys, sells, trades) occur using the IKIGAI token. This not only increases the token’s circulation and demand but also positions it as the lifeblood of the ecosystem, directly tying its value to the art trading volume.

Deflationary Mechanisms:

Introduce token burn events or transaction fees that slowly reduce the total supply over time. This scarcity mechanism could help in enhancing the token’s value, making it a more attractive asset for holders and traders.

Collateral and Lending Options:

Enable the token to be used as collateral in DeFi lending platforms. By doing so, token holders could unlock liquidity without having to sell their tokens, thereby further integrating the token into broader financial operations.

Each of these enhancements builds on the current model where the token backs the NFT collection through a cycle of fees and staking rewards. But by adding governance, exclusive access, marketplace utility, deflationary measures, and collateral use, the IKIGAI token transforms from a simple backing asset into a dynamic tool that continuously drives engagement and value throughout the ecosystem.


Ikigai Protocol: An Experimental Journey into NFTs, Rewards, and Liquidity on BeraChain

In the dim light of innovation, the Ikigai Protocol emerges as an experiment—a deliberate, unpolished foray into merging an NFT marketplace with a dynamic rewards system. Built on BeraChain, this initiative isn’t about grandiose promises but about testing a real-world model where every transaction and token is a data point in a larger narrative of digital art and community value.

The Marketplace: Where Art Meets Experimentation

At its core, our platform is a streamlined NFT marketplace powered by Reservoir. It’s designed for seamless trading and priority minting exclusively for Berachain NFT holders. Here, every trade is recorded, and every mint isn’t just a digital asset but a ticket into a broader experiment. The system automatically distributes rewards while maintaining a transparent fee structure, ensuring that every action fuels the ecosystem without overhyping potential returns.

Dynamic Rewards: Fueling Engagement and Participation

The heart of our experiment lies in its dynamic reward system, which is segmented into four key components:

Trading Rewards:

For every trade, participants earn a base reward of 3% in IKIGAI tokens. With combo multipliers that can boost rewards up to 5x within a 24-hour window, each trade becomes a subtle wager—a quiet experiment in trading behavior and volume milestones that gradually unlock greater rewards.

Minting Rewards:

When it comes to minting, Berachain NFT holders benefit from a 5% reward. Priority discounts come into play, making early participation a modest yet tangible benefit. This isn’t about explosive gains; it’s about creating a mechanism where art and participation are interlinked.

Staking Rewards:

Staking is equally measured. With a 2% base reward, enhanced by tiered multipliers across Base, Silver, Gold, and Diamond levels, the system encourages longer-term commitment. The rewards compound gradually, reflecting the inherent risks and rewards of staking over time.

Referral Program:

A simple, transparent 1% referral reward system means that every share and recommendation is tracked and rewarded instantly. It’s a quiet nod to organic growth—a way to test how community engagement can drive participation without relying on hype.

Reward Mechanics: The Engine Behind the Scenes

Behind these rewards lie carefully calibrated mechanics:

Trading Combos: Every trade within a 24-hour window nudges your combo count higher, adding a 0.1% bonus per level up to a maximum multiplier of 5x. The system resets after a day of inactivity—a reminder that while momentum can build, it’s also ephemeral.

Volume Milestones: Defined thresholds ensure that as trading volumes increase, rewards scale proportionally—ranging from modest gains at lower volumes to more substantial rewards as milestones are hit.

Staking Tiers: Four distinct tiers reward those who commit more significantly, with longer lock periods corresponding to higher multipliers—a subtle nod to the value of patience in an experimental environment.

Under the Hood: Technical Integration and Security

The Ikigai Protocol is built on a suite of smart contracts:

IkigaiNFT.sol: Manages NFT minting, staking, and priority access.

IkigaiRewards.sol: Handles the intricacies of reward distribution.

IkigaiTreasury.sol: Oversees automated liquidity management, ensuring that every fee is reinvested to support the ecosystem.

IkigaiToken.sol: Governs the tokenomics of IKIGAI—the ERC20 token that underpins every transaction.

Integration with Reservoir is achieved via a dedicated SDK, linking NFT sales directly to reward distribution. A transparent fee structure—4.3% of transactions—is allocated with 2% going toward protocol-owned liquidity, 1.3% to staking rewards, and 1% to treasury operations. This structure is purposefully modest; it’s an experiment in sustaining liquidity while incentivizing active participation.

Security remains paramount. With stringent rate limiting on minting and staking, along with built-in circuit breakers and emergency pause features, the protocol is designed to weather unexpected volatility. Every safeguard is in place not to promise invulnerability, but to provide a baseline of reliability as we navigate uncharted territory.

Tokenomics: The Backbone of Value

The IKIGAI token is more than a digital currency—it’s the experimental backbone that ties the ecosystem together. With a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens and a fair launch starting at zero, the token is minted solely through protocol activities:

• Trading rewards, minting rewards, staking rewards, and referral rewards all contribute to its circulation.

• A modest deflationary mechanism is implemented through a 1% burn on transactions, aiming to create gradual scarcity over time without drastic disruption.

Trading controls, such as transfer limits and cooldown periods, further ensure that every token movement is deliberate, reflecting the measured pace of our experiment. The treasury operates with a focus on maintaining dynamic liquidity, reinvesting fees back into the ecosystem—a practical, almost understated approach to creating lasting value.

A Cautious Yet Ambitious Experiment

The Ikigai Protocol isn’t a polished product—it’s a careful experiment where every element, from NFT minting to token rewards, is tested in real time. It’s an environment built to learn from every trade and every stake, with the hope that the lessons gleaned here can pave the way for future innovations. We’re underpromising because we believe in the power of experimentation, and we aim to overdeliver on the insights and value that come from this journey.


Ikigai Protocol Tokenomics Paper

Introduction

The Ikigai Protocol is a comprehensive NFT marketplace and reward system on BeraChain, designed to blend dynamic rewards, trading incentives, and automated liquidity management into a single, experimental ecosystem. Rather than making lofty promises, this paper outlines a measured approach to building a sustainable system where every transaction and reward helps forge lasting value. The IKIGAI token serves as the ecosystem’s economic backbone, providing both utility and a deflationary mechanism to encourage long-term participation.

1. IKIGAI Token Overview

Token Standard: ERC20

Symbol: IKIGAI

Maximum Supply: 1,000,000,000 tokens (1 billion)

Initial Supply: 0 (fair launch)

Decimals: 18

The IKIGAI token is minted exclusively through protocol activities, ensuring that its circulation grows organically with user engagement and transaction volume.

2. Token Distribution

All IKIGAI tokens are generated as a result of key protocol activities:

Trading Rewards:

• 3% of trading volume is distributed as IKIGAI tokens.

• Combos and volume milestones further enhance rewards, encouraging active trading.

Minting Rewards:

• 5% reward on the minting price for each NFT minted, with priority minting discounts reserved for Berachain NFT holders.

Staking Rewards:

• Base APR of 2%, augmented by tiered multipliers and lock period bonuses.

• Rewards compound over time, incentivizing longer-term commitment.

Referral Rewards:

• 1% of referred volume is instantly distributed, with unlimited referrals and transparent tracking.

This multi-faceted distribution model ensures that every aspect of protocol participation—from trading to minting and staking—directly contributes to token circulation.

3. Deflationary Mechanics

To foster scarcity and encourage value accrual, the protocol implements a series of deflationary measures:

Burn Rate:

• 1% of every transaction is burned, reducing the overall supply.

Auto-Burn Mechanisms:

• A portion of marketplace fees is automatically burned, maintaining a controlled supply.

Buy & Burn Operations:

• Treasury activities include strategic buy and burn events to further reduce circulating supply.

Maximum Burn:

• Cumulatively, up to 20% of the total supply may be burned over time, supporting long-term token value.

These measures are designed to create a feedback loop where increased utility and participation drive scarcity, thereby contributing to an upward trajectory in token value.

4. Trading Controls

To ensure a stable and secure trading environment, the protocol enforces strict controls:

Transfer Limits:

• Maximum transfer of 1,000,000 IKIGAI tokens per transaction.

Cooldown Period:

• A mandatory 1-minute cooldown between transfers to mitigate rapid, automated trading.

Batch Limits:

• A maximum of 20 operations per batch to prevent overloading the system.

Anti-Bot Protections:

• Gradual enabling of trading.

• Implementation of transfer cooldowns and rate limiting.

• A robust blacklist system to prevent malicious activity.

These controls are critical to maintaining market stability and ensuring that token movement is deliberate and secure.

5. Staking Mechanism

The protocol encourages long-term commitment through a tiered staking system:

Lock Periods:

• Base Tier: 1 week

• Silver Tier: 2 weeks

• Gold Tier: 3 weeks

• Diamond Tier: 4 weeks

Minimum Stakes:

• Base: 1,000 IKIGAI

• Silver: 5,000 IKIGAI

• Gold: 10,000 IKIGAI

• Diamond: 25,000 IKIGAI

Reward Multipliers:

• Base: 1x

• Silver: 1.25x

• Gold: 1.5x

• Diamond: 2x

This structure rewards users for locking up their tokens, thereby reducing circulating supply and stabilizing token value, while also providing enhanced rewards for higher levels of commitment.

6. Treasury Operations

The treasury is designed to sustain liquidity and drive revenue distribution within the ecosystem:

Protocol Owned Liquidity (POL):

• 2% of all protocol fees is allocated to POL.

• Dynamic rebalancing ensures liquidity ratios are maintained between set minimum thresholds.

Revenue Distribution:

• 50% of collected fees are funneled into staking rewards.

• 30% supports liquidity operations.

• 20% is directed to treasury operations for ongoing development and emergency controls.

Automated LP management and dynamic rebalancing ensure that the treasury remains responsive to market conditions, thereby reinforcing the stability of the ecosystem.

7. Security Features

Security is integral to the protocol’s design:

Trading Controls:

• Configurable limits, emergency pause features, and a robust blacklist system protect against market manipulation.

Access Control:

• Role-based permissions across smart contracts.

• Multi-sig treasury management for enhanced security.

• Time-locked upgrades and emergency controls safeguard against unauthorized changes.

These features collectively create a secure environment that supports both experimental innovation and long-term stability.

Conclusion

The IKIGAI tokenomics model is a careful blend of reward distribution, deflationary mechanics, and robust security measures, all built around a transparent fee structure and dynamic liquidity management. While the Ikigai Protocol is still an experimental journey, its design is purposefully understated—promising steady, measurable value accrual rather than explosive growth. The ultimate goal is to create a platform where users engage because the experience is superior and token holders benefit from real, accrued value, much like earning equity in a successful venture.