# 5. Vault & Incentive Layer \[V2 launch] ### 5.1 Centralized View of Earnings The Vault is where all protocol rewards flow. It is the interface through which users can stake $MAI, track their play-based rewards, view referral progress, and claim bonuses. It acts as a unifying layer for all incentive flows. ### 5.2 Staking Mechanics When users stake $MAI, they become eligible for: * A proportional share of protocol fees * Enhanced game-based rewards * Access to future governance features Staked $MAI can be withdrawn at any time, though reward eligibility may depend on lock duration. ### 5.3 Referrals Referral systems have long powered growth in high-volume applications. On MAI, referrals are structured with: * Direct share of rakeback from referred users * Volume-based tiers * Auto-compounding of referral earnings into Vault rewards ### 5.4 Early Incentives Users who participate during the alpha phase—by playing, staking, or referring—will be eligible for retroactive token drops, multipliers, and long-term Vault boosts. These rewards are protocol-native and non-custodial. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.maiprotocol.com/litepaper/5.-vault-and-incentive-layer-v2-launch.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.