Protocol invariants

Northset v1.1 supports only objectively verifiable tasks. Outcomes that cannot be verified by deterministic code, ideally via a ZK-proofed verifier program, are out of scope. No arbitration, no subjective quality scoring, no reputation-weighted voting.

Settlement is trust-minimized and on-chain. Off-chain systems such as indexers, relays, and UIs may assist discovery and convenience, but are never required for correctness or payout.

A buyer and a worker complete the full task lifecycle from their own wallets, end to end, with USDC on Arbitrum One.

The task lifecycle is OPEN → SELECTED → ACTIVE → COMPLETED on the proof-settled path, with OPEN → CANCELLED for pre-selection cancellation, SELECTED → OPEN via selection cancellation, and ACTIVE → TIMED_OUT for missed submit deadlines. There are no disputes, no partial pay, and no appeals.

The selected delegatee is not slashable until they call activateTask. selectBid records the chosen bid but does not transfer the bond; the bond transfer happens at activation, and the submit deadline starts from activation. If no valid proof arrives in time, claimTimeout refunds the reward and slashes the full bond to the creator.

Boundary: self-serve beta is proven only in a simpler statistics lane; code-change evidence is controlled, not self-serve.

Arbitrum One (chain id 42161); USDC at 6 decimals.

Two verifier families are publicly available, registered on Arbitrum One, and have completed live on-chain settlements:

This claim applies to approved objective lanes. The protocol does not arbitrate subjective work, judge taste, weight reputation, or hold a marketplace opinion on whether the work is "good enough". The verifier program either accepts the proof or rejects it.

Subjective tasks. The protocol settles only outcomes a deterministic program can verify.