Tea: Launching the Final Phase of Testnet Package Registration & Staking

We’re excited to announce the launch of the final phase of package registration and staking on the Tea testnet. This milestone represents a pivotal moment toward achieving our core mission: establishing the first blockchain purpose-built to sustainably reward and fund open-source software.

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Why We’re Excited

Tea emerged from a deep appreciation and respect for the power and importance of open-source software. Max Howell and I began this journey in 2021, driven by a firm belief that open-source contributors deserve not just recognition, but sustainable compensation. All too often, enterprises reap significant benefits from open-source projects without adequately supporting the developers who create and maintain them.

Our solution leverages blockchain technology to rectify this imbalance, creating a decentralized, token-based economy. By eliminating intermediaries, facilitating transparent cross-border transactions, and ensuring permissionless participation, we’re enabling fair and consistent rewards for contributions. This ecosystem recognizes and sustains the true value of open-source development on a global scale.

The final phase of our testnet isn’t just a technological milestone; it’s a reflection of our unwavering commitment to the open-source community. We’ve navigated technical hurdles, embraced community feedback, and evolved through lessons learned—all in pursuit of an equitable, secure, and innovative environment for developers around the world.

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Strengthening Integrity: Robust Anti-Spam Measures

During the previous phases of our testnet, we encountered considerable challenges related to spam and exploitation. Malicious actors created thousands of fake packages and manipulated dependencies to artificially boost their teaRank scores. Such actions not only threatened our system’s integrity but also undermined the hard work of legitimate open-source contributors.

We took this feedback seriously and implemented a comprehensive suite of anti-spam measures:

• Zero-Knowledge Proof for Ownership: We will be integrating advanced zero-knowledge proofs to validate package ownership securely, without compromising privacy. This ensures that only authentic maintainers can claim packages, significantly reducing unauthorized or fraudulent claims.

• Enhanced teaRank Algorithm: Our proprietary teaRank algorithm has been significantly refined, now evaluating multiple dimensions beyond simple dependency counts. This holistic approach better reflects the genuine impact and utility of each package, strongly mitigating attempts at manipulation.

• Strict Package Eligibility Requirements: In this final testnet phase, registration is restricted to packages already listed on reputable registries such as npm, Homebrew, Debian, or similar sources prior to January 2024. This proactive measure prevents a surge of new, potentially spam-related packages.

• PKGX Integration and Monitoring: New packages may still be registered via PKGX until mainnet launch. We will closely monitor these registrations for quality assurance and promptly address any abuse, ensuring continued growth without compromising integrity.

• Reopened KYC Attestation Process: We’ve reinstated the KYC attestation process specifically for new package registrars. While anyone can complete KYC, only those whose packages achieve a valid teaRank will receive rewards during this phase. This added layer ensures alignment with our community-driven standards.

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Staking: Raising the Stakes

Participants can now stake their TEA tokens directly to registered packages, creating a real financial stake in the success and authenticity of each package. This new staking feature enables project maintainers to manage their project's treasury via a multi-sig safe contract, effectively operating as their project's DAO.

Here's how you stake:

1. After registering your package, navigate to your project's registration page.
2. Click on the Quick Stake or Unstake button.
3. In the Manage Project Stake pop-up, enter the amount of T tokens you wish to stake or unstake.
4. Confirm your transaction to complete the staking process.

Claim your rewards directly from the package registry page after your tokens are staked.

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Our Commitment to the Open-Source Community

At tea, we remain dedicated to empowering open-source developers by providing sustainable funding, meaningful recognition, and secure interactions. By integrating these robust security measures and innovative blockchain technology, we’re building an environment where open-source development can thrive.

We warmly invite all open-source contributors to actively participate in this crucial final testnet phase, claim their rightful packages, stake tokens, and join us in shaping a fairer future for open-source funding.

Thank you for your continued support, collaboration, and passion for open-source innovation.

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Step-by-Step: How to Register & Stake a Package on Tea Protocol

Sign In with Your Wallet
Visit the staking app and sign in using your preferred wallet service (e.g., MetaMask).

Enable Developer Mode
Go to settings and check the box that says “yes, I am a developer” to access the "My Projects" screen.

Navigate to 'My Projects'
Once logged in, click on "Register a new project."

Search and Select Your Project
Use the search bar to find your open-source project. Confirm and agree to the Tea Protocol terms.

Verify Maintainer Ownership
The system checks your repo contributions. If this fails, registration is blocked.

Set Up Your Project Constitution
Select additional contributors (if any), define quorum (number of signatures required), and establish initial governance settings. Contributors must have a Tea account.

Copy the YAML Constitution File
Download or copy the YAML file and paste it into your Git repository root directory.

Validate Constitution
Click "Validate Constitution." Tea Protocol verifies your YAML file.

Confirm Registration
Upon successful validation, your project treasury is created. Manage tokens and view your project on the block explorer.

Multi-Sig Notes
If quorum > 1, use safe.tea.xyz to execute treasury transactions.

Stake Tokens
Stake or unstake your tokens from your project's registration page via the Quick Stake button.

Claim Rewards
Claim staking rewards directly from the package registry page.

✨ Need help? Reach out via Discord for support.

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