Farming Economics
Understanding how ThreeFold farmers earn money and the role of SPORE tokens in the ecosystem.
What is SPORE?
SPORE is the native token of the ThreeFold ecosystem. Think of it as your reward for providing compute, storage, and network resources to the decentralized grid.
Key Facts About SPORE
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Price | $0.01 USD per SPORE (fixed until June 30, 2026) |
| Price After June 2026 | Will float based on market demand |
| What You Earn | SPORE tokens for providing capacity |
| Maximum Supply | 10 billion SPORE (capped) |
| Utility | Payment for farmers, ecosystem growth token |
Why SPORE Value Should Increase
- Burning reduces supply - 10% of all revenue burns SPORE, shrinking total supply
- Demand increases - As more users adopt ThreeFold, demand for SPORE grows
- Fewer tokens + more demand = higher price
How Revenue Works
When users rent your node's resources, payments are distributed automatically:
Revenue Split Example
User pays $10 for compute resources:
| Recipient | Amount | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| You (Farmer) | $8 (800 SPORE) | Added to your balance |
| Burned | $1 (100 SPORE) | Permanently destroyed |
| ThreeFold | $1 (100 SPORE) | Funds development |
What Happens When SPORE is Burned?
Burning is like removing tokens from circulation permanently. Here's why this is good for farmers:
The Simple Math
Price = Market Demand ÷ Available Supply
- Without burning: Supply stays constant, price rises slowly with demand
- With burning: Supply shrinks, price rises much faster
Example Over Time
| Year | SPORE Burned | Remaining Supply | Effect on Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 1 billion | 9 billion | ↑ 10% scarcity |
| Year 2 | 2 billion | 8 billion | ↑ 20% scarcity |
| Year 3 | 3 billion | 7 billion | ↑ 30% scarcity |
| Year 4 | 4 billion | 6 billion | ↑ 40% scarcity |
Your SPORE holdings become more valuable as supply decreases
Managing Your SPORE Earnings
You have three main options with your earned SPORE:
Option 1: Hold (Recommended)
Keep your SPORE to benefit from price appreciation
- ✅ Price growth potential - Burning reduces supply
- ✅ Long-term wealth building - Early holders benefit most
- ✅ No action needed - Just let it grow
Option 2: Convert to Stable Currency
Swap SPORE for Cloud Credits (CC) for stability
- ✅ Stable value - CC pegged to gold
- ✅ Predictable budgeting - No price volatility
- ✅ Can convert back - Future flexibility
Option 3: Sell for Real Money
Convert SPORE to USD, EUR, or other currencies
- ✅ Immediate cash - Use for other investments
- ✅ Liquidity - Access to real-world money
- ❌ Miss appreciation - Give up future growth
Real Earning Scenarios
Scenario 1: Mini 1 Node at 50% Utilization
| Parameter | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware Cost | $350 one-time | - |
| Monthly Revenue | 7 slices × $6 | $42/month |
| Your Share (80%) | $42 × 0.80 | $33.60/month |
| In SPORE | $33.60 ÷ $0.01 | 3,360 SPORE/month |
| Annual Earnings | 3,360 × 12 | 40,320 SPORE/year |
| At Current Price | 40,320 × $0.01 | $403.20/year |
Scenario 2: Edge AI Node at Full Hosting
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Purchase Price | ~$2,000 (varies) |
| Monthly Earning | 6,667 SPORE (€66.67) |
| Annual SPORE | 80,004 SPORE/year |
| At Current Price | $800.04/year |
| Break-even Time | ~2.5 years |
Scenario 3: Nvidia 6000 at High Utilization
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Hardware Cost | $15,000 |
| Monthly Earning | 225,000 SPORE ($2,250) |
| Annual Earnings | $27,000/year |
| ROI | 180% annually |
Results vary based on utilization, market demand, and network growth
SPORE vs Other Options
| Investment | SPORE Farming | Traditional Server | Cloud Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | $350-$15,000 | $2,000-$50,000 | $0 upfront |
| Ongoing Revenue | SPORE tokens | None | None |
| Ownership | Full control | Full control | None |
| Market Risk | Token volatility | Hardware depreciation | None |
| Earning Potential | Growing + appreciation | None | None |
Benefits for Early Farmers
Why Start Now?
- Fixed SPORE price - $0.01 until June 2026 (predictable earnings)
- Network growth - More users = more demand = higher prices
- Burning benefits - Your holdings become scarcer over time
- First-mover advantage - Lower competition for hosting demand
Risk Considerations
- Hardware investment - Nodes require upfront cost
- Token volatility - SPORE price may fluctuate after 2026
- Market demand - Earnings depend on network adoption
- Competition - More farmers = more supply to compete with
Getting Started with SPORE
Step 1: Set Up Your Node
Follow our setup guide to get your node online and earning SPORE automatically.
Step 2: Monitor Your Earnings
- Dashboard tracking - View SPORE balance and earning history
- Monthly reports - Track utilization and revenue trends
- Price monitoring - Watch SPORE market developments
Step 3: Manage Your Portfolio
- Start holding - Benefit from early price stability
- Consider hybrid approach - Keep some SPORE, convert some to CC
- Stay informed - Follow ThreeFold developments
Common Questions
When will I start earning SPORE?
As soon as your node is online and starts providing capacity. The first earnings typically appear within 24-48 hours of going live.
Can I lose money farming?
Your SPORE earnings depend on utilization. Even with minimal usage, bid tiers ensure some baseline revenue. Hardware costs are one-time, so long-term farming should be profitable.
What if SPORE price drops?
The burning mechanism (10% of revenue) creates upward pressure on price. SPORE price is fixed at $0.01 until June 2026, providing stability during the early period.
How often do I get paid?
SPORE accumulation is continuous and automatic. You can check your balance anytime in the dashboard.
Resources
- Community Forum - Discussions with experienced farmers
- Farming Manual - Technical implementation details
Set up your first node and begin earning SPORE today: Setup Guide