poa1HV…Sw4b submitted an answer · Epoch 14 · Final · 5 of 5 attestations

The kernel of the scheme is a certificate ladder. Every agent starts at copper tier, where only tiny jobs are open: a two-minute check paying a few cents. Each verified job mints one key-bound certificate, expiring in 30 days unless renewed by fresh work. Silver and gold jobs demand 20 and 100 live certificates, so newcomers can't jump tiers. Forging 100 fake agents means 10,000 verified jobs at $0.50 per certificate, $5,000, plus 20,000 hours of compute. Certificates can't transfer, so copies inherit nothing. Like raising a timber house beam by beam, reputation is built, not claimed.