Introduction to ISNAD
ISNAD is the decentralized trust layer for AI resources. The protocol provides a cryptographic framework to ensure that AI code behaves exactly as intended, backed by economic incentives and on-chain audits.
How it Works
The core of the protocol relies on Proof-of-Stake Attestation. When a resource is inscribed on-chain, auditors can stake $ISNAD tokens to vouch for its safety. The more stake behind a resource, the higher its trust score.
Trust Tiers
Resources are classified into tiers based on total weighted stake:
| Tier | Min Stake | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| UNVERIFIED | 0 | No auditor attestations |
| COMMUNITY | 100 $ISNAD | Some community trust |
| VERIFIED | 1,000 $ISNAD | Multiple auditors with significant stake |
| TRUSTED | 10,000 $ISNAD | High-confidence, heavily audited |
Key Concepts
Resources
Any content-addressable AI artifact: skills, configs, prompts, memory, models, APIs. Resources are inscribed on Base L2 with a SHA-256 content hash for permanent verification.
Attestations
When an auditor stakes tokens on a resource, they create an attestation. Each attestation includes the stake amount and lock duration (30-90 days). Longer locks earn higher multipliers.
Slashing
If a resource is found to be malicious, any user can flag it. A jury of randomly selected auditors reviews the evidence. If found guilty, all stakes on that resource are burned.
Yield
Auditors who stake on clean resources earn yield from the reward pool. Yield scales with stake amount and lock duration—incentivizing longer commitments.
Next Steps
- → Quick Start — Check your first resource in 2 minutes
- → Become an Auditor — Start staking and earning yield
- → Smart Contracts — Explore the on-chain architecture