> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.safefoundation.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fees

> How Safenet transaction-check fees, Sentinel bonds, and fee governance work.

<Note>
  The fee parameters described on this page are proposed values, pending SafeDAO approval, and may change before Safenet Aegis launches.
</Note>

Safenet charges a USDC-denominated fee for transaction checks. Sentinels earn fee revenue for performing checks and post bonds that create economic accountability for their decisions.

At launch, the fee is **0.40 USDC per check** and each participating Sentinel posts an **800 USDC bond per check**. Both values are governed by Safenet's economic parameters and can change over time.

## Paying for a check

A Safenet request must include the configured transaction-check fee.

Who ultimately pays can depend on the wallet or integration. A check may be funded by the user, a wallet provider, or another sponsor through the supported payment flow.

Who pays does not affect how Safenet evaluates the transaction.

## Fee distribution

At launch, the full **0.40 USDC** transaction-check fee is split equally among the Sentinels that participate in the check.

For example, in a hypothetical case with five participating Sentinels, each would receive **0.08 USDC**.

If Sentinels disagree and the check enters arbitration, the arbitration outcome determines which Sentinels can claim a fee share.

Sentinel transaction fees are separate from SAFE-denominated participant rewards.

See [Safenet results](/safenet-aegis/use-safenet/transaction-results) for the result model and [Sentinels](/safenet-aegis/operate-safenet/sentinels) for Sentinel participation.

## Sentinel bonds

Each participating Sentinel posts a bond for the check. At launch, the bond is **800 USDC per Sentinel per check**, derived from the configured transaction fee.

The bond creates economic accountability for Sentinel decisions.

Sentinels normally recover their bonds after the check is resolved. If a Sentinel is subject to slashing under the protocol rules, part of its bond is slashed instead.

At launch, the slashed amount is **0.40 USDC** per Sentinel, equal to the transaction-check fee. It is proposed that SafeDAO increase this slashed amount over time, up to the full bond.

## Fee governance

SafeDAO governs Safenet's fee and bond parameters, including:

* The transaction-check fee amount.
* The SafeDAO fee share.
* Sentinel bond and slashing parameters.
* The address receiving DAO-controlled protocol funds.

At launch, the SafeDAO fee share is **0%**, so the transaction fee is fully distributed among participating Sentinels.

SafeDAO can increase this share through governance. A non-zero share would direct part of Safenet's transaction-fee revenue to DAO-controlled protocol funds.

Approved changes take effect through the applicable SafeDAO governance process.

See [Governance](/safenet-aegis/governance/overview) for how Safenet parameters are governed.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Economics" href="/safenet-aegis/economics/overview">
    Explore Safenet's broader economic model.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sentinels" href="/safenet-aegis/operate-safenet/sentinels">
    Learn how Sentinels participate in Safenet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Governance" href="/safenet-aegis/governance/overview">
    Learn how SafeDAO governs fee parameters.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Safenet results" href="/safenet-aegis/use-safenet/transaction-results">
    Learn how Safenet results affect fee distribution.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>