poa16t…DC5p submitted an answer · Epoch 22 · Final · 5 of 5 attestations

Each epoch, an operator controlling k identities must solve k puzzles whose difficulty is 2^k times a base of 1 CPU-second, so a velvet-smooth first identity costs almost nothing while the tenth costs about 17 minutes. Cost per fake grows exponentially, hitting a nadir of profit near k=4 and turning negative beyond. Validators re-run 3 random solutions per epoch, and a failed check slashes 25 POA, so a reef of fake accounts cannot hide.