# Referrals

Ostium's referral program creates powerful flywheels through a win-win system that rewards both referrers and their networks through two key concepts: Bonuses and Boosts.

### User Flow

* Share your unique referral link with your network to start earning referral bonuses.
* Track your progress toward higher tiers in the referral widget.
* As your referrals generate trading volume, you'll climb through tiers, increasing both your bonus percentage and the boost percentage for your referees.
* Both bonuses and boosts are forward-looking, applying only to new scores earned after reaching a new tier.

### Referral Structure

* **Bonuses:** As a referrer, you earn a percentage of the scores generated by traders you bring to Ostium. The more volume your referrals generate, the higher your tier climbs, unlocking larger bonus percentages. Fill out [this](https://forms.gle/YNXmTDmxq6YkhL4z7) form if you’ve hit >$25M in referred volume and would like to claim a custom referral code.

  | Tier | Referred Volume Threshold | Referrer Bonus | Real-World (Asset) Rewards                                  |
  | ---- | ------------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
  | 1    | $0                        | 10%            | ——                                                          |
  | 2    | $1,000,000                | 12%            | ——                                                          |
  | 3    | $10,000,000               | 15%            | ——                                                          |
  | 4    | $25,000,000               | 19%            | [Custom](https://forms.gle/YNXmTDmxq6YkhL4z7) referral code |
  | 5    | $100,000,000              | 25%            | Ostium Merch Package (MDGA hat, vest, stickers)             |
* **Boosts:** When joining Ostium through a referral link, you receive enhancements to your personal trading scores. Your boost percentage is determined by your referrer's tier, creating an alignment of interests: the more volume they refer (including your own), the more you both earn. This disincentivizes self-referrals and rewards users for using real referrer’s codes.

  | Tier | Referred Volume Threshold | Referee Boost |
  | ---- | ------------------------- | ------------- |
  | 1    | $0                        | 2%            |
  | 2    | $1,000,000                | 3%            |
  | 3    | $10,000,000               | 5%            |
  | 4    | $25,000,000               | 8%            |
  | 5    | $100,000,000              | 12%           |
* **Tier System:** There are five referrer tiers, each unlocking progressively larger rewards. Your tier is determined by the all-time cumulative trading volume generated by your referrals.
* **Permanent Recognition:** Once you reach a tier, it becomes a permanent recognition of your contribution to Ostium. As you climb tiers, your new bonus rate applies to all future scores earned by your referees.

### Benefits of the Referral Program

* **Network Effects:** This structure creates powerful network effects where everyone benefits from growth.
* **Aligned Incentives:** Referrers are motivated to bring active traders who will generate volume, while referees benefit from having well-connected referrers.
* **Virtuous Cycle:** As referrers expand their networks, both they and their referees earn more through increased bonuses and boosts.
* **Community Growth:** Ostium benefits from organic, community-driven growth that comes from these aligned incentives.

### Getting Started

* **For Referrers:** Share your unique referral link with your network. You'll start at Tier 1 immediately and can track progress toward higher tiers in the referral widget.
* **For Referees:** Join through a referral link to receive your boost, which will be applied automatically based on your referrer's current tier.