Braintrust is the first decentralized, user-controlled Talent network — and it’s through the $BTRST token that the network is able to programmatically distribute shared ownership and governance to all the people who make a living on it.

One simple way to think of tokens: They are “units of value” that allow the network to give you a vote over the network based on your relative contribution to it. The more value you build, the more you earn.

By using tokens like $BTRST, and by building on the blockchain, Web3 networks like Braintrust are able to redistribute value and operate with lower operational costs — which is how we’re able to charge Talent zero fees and an industry-low 15% fees for clients.

In this macro guide, we’ll teach you all about how you can earn $BTRST and use it, the best way to transfer it from your Braintrust wallet to other platforms, while answering other questions as well.

Introducing the $BTRST Token
- Why does Braintrust have a token?
- What can I use tokens for?
- How do I earn tokens?
How to Hold, and Withdraw, $BTRST
- Where can I find my $BTRST wallet?
- What is the purpose of my $BTRST wallet?
- What happens if I transfer my tokens and lose them?
- How do I prepare to withdraw $BTRST tokens?
- How do I withdraw or transfer $BTRST tokens?
- Why aren’t my tokens showing up in MetaMask?
- How do I keep my tokens secure?
Other $BTRST Questions.
- Is $BTRST like stock?
- Are there tax implications?
- Why am I not getting $BTRST for referrals?
- What is vesting, and why is it important?
- What if I have questions about other platforms?
Additional Resources

Introducing the $BTRST Token

Why does Braintrust have a token?

The Braintrust token ($BTRST) is the core incentive mechanism given to users for building, curating, and improving the network.

Examples of this include earning the Approved Talent badge, referring new Talent, referring new clients and helping to vet and curate the talent pool.

You can learn more about the purpose of the $BTRST token in the whitepaper or in the blog post “What is $BTRST?”.

$BTRST tokens do NOT represent equity, debt, a claim on profits, or dividends and does not constitute any financial instrument of any business or organization.

What can I use tokens for?

Ownership in Braintrust is represented in the $BTRST token. Token holders, through voting with their tokens, are able to control the future of the network, decide which categories it expands into, how disputes should be resolved, what platform fees should be, what the platform rules should be, and other network governance topics.

$BTRST will also be used to help talent differentiate their proposals to clients and more efficiently run their businesses on Braintrust. Braintrust Talent run their businesses on Braintrust, so having an influence on the direction and governance of Braintrust is important to them.

How do I earn tokens?

$BTRST is designed to provide our community with control and governance over the Braintrust network as well as various functionalities.

It can be earned on the Braintrust network through a number of different contributions, including becoming Approved Talent, referring new Talent, and referring new clients, with more potential ways to earn possible in the future.

The best way to access your $BTRST is through your Braintrust account and your $BTRST wallet. From there, the decision will be yours to move your $BTRST to a third party wallet of your choosing, or keep it in your wallet.

How to hold, and withdraw, Braintrust

Where can I find my $BTRST Wallet?

Your on-platform Braintrust wallet can be accessed through the platform dashboard, in the “Wallet” tab.

Wallet quick link: https://app.usebraintrust.com/talent/dashboard/my_wallet/

What is the purpose of my $BTRST wallet?

Braintrust holds your $BTRST tokens for you on an internal wallet, but Braintrust is not a cryptocurrency exchange. Tokens held in your Braintrust wallet are stored to access benefits, such as exclusive rewards or a greater vote on network decisions (to learn more, read our Macro guides on Benefits and Governance).

The Braintrust platform stores your $BTRST on an insured, qualified custodian, with multi-signature wallets held at Coinbase and Anchorage Institutional Custody.

If you’d like to hold your $BTRST tokens on an external wallet but still want to use them to vote or stake within the network, you will need to use an external wallet that is ERC-20 compatible, such as…

MetaMask
Coinbase Wallet (Note: Coinbase Wallet and Coinbase.com are not the same. Read more)
WalletConnect
Torus
Portis
Fortmatic

If you’d like to trade, buy, or sell tokens, you will need to transfer them to an external wallet or cryptocurrency exchange.

What happens if I transfer my tokens and lose them?

Once the tokens leave the Braintrust platform, they are your responsibility. If you lose them, the network cannot get them back for you. If you are new to token transfers, we recommend starting with small amounts.

How do I prepare to withdraw $BTRST tokens?

There are a number of excellent resources about how to create a wallet, the different types of wallets available, and how to properly secure them:

If you have any questions - please email support@usebraintrust.com.

Before you get started, you’ll want to…

Complete the “Withdrawing $BTRST on Braintrust” course
If you haven’t already, set up your ERC-20 compatible wallet
Ensure you have two-factor authorization (2fa) set up
- Make sure to store your 2fa backup codes in a secure location

Withdrawals can only be made to your individual account. If you try to withdraw tokens to a wallet owned by another user, the system will automatically flag it and your account will become disabled until the transaction can be reviewed.

How do I withdraw or transfer $BTRST tokens?

Step 1

Log-in to the Braintrust platform and go to your Wallet Page.

Step 2

Click on the Withdrawal button.

Step 3

Fill in the Withdrawal Form

Enter the amount of $BTRST you would like to withdraw. The minimum withdrawal amount is 10 $BTRST.
Enter your wallet address.
- Double check you have the CORRECT wallet address!
Click “continue to authentication.”

Step 4

Click the confirmation link sent to your email.

Step 5

Confirm the transaction summary via email: double check the details again, including your wallet information, click the link and confirm one last time!

verify details

FINAL: Transaction Completed!

The above restrictions are security protocols to protect token holders and can be changed over time.

Tokens may take up to 24 hours for processing
You can withdraw 10-100,000 tokens at a time
You can withdraw up to 3 times every rolling 7 days

Why aren’t my tokens showing up in MetaMask?

MetaMask requires their users to add a custom token for $BTRST before the tokens are visible in your wallet. To set this up with one click, go to this link, and click on the MetaMask icon in the contract address.

Make sure you're signed into your MetaMask account on your browser. When you click on the MetaMask icon, a pop-up will appear.

Navigate to the Add Token page, and click on the Custom Token tab to expand the search window.

If the Token Symbol and Decimals of Precision do not autofill, copy and paste the token address: 0x799ebfabe77a6e34311eeee9825190b9ece32824

Click Next to proceed. You will be redirected to confirm adding a token. Click Add Token to confirm.

How do I keep my tokens secure?

We encourage community members to do their own research and become their own advocates in protecting their data and tokens.

However, we are happy to provide some widely accepted suggestions when it comes to practicing good digital hygiene:

Never share your private wallet keys with ANYONE.
Always set up an authenticator app to verify 2fa on all blockchain related accounts (your external wallet, emails, etc).
- Be sure to download and save your backup codes in a safe place in case you ever lose your phone or accidentally delete your authenticator app.
You have options for how to set up your external wallet. If you choose to set up a self-custodial wallet, remember:
- Understand that if you lose your crypto, no one can get it back for you.
- If you want to have wallets on your phone, consider having a second phone that you keep in a secure place, on Airplane mode, to store your wallets.
- Print out back up keys and secure them in a safe place.

Braintrust will never ask you for personal information or credentials, nor will Braintrust ever discuss the value of $BTRST beyond the utility it has on our network. Braintrust core team, admins or community leaders will never reach out to you directly via email or on the platform to discuss the $BTRST tokens.

If you believe you are the victim of attempted fraud, please email conduct@usebraintrust.com.

The official social media and community channels that have been set up by the Braintrust community are below:

Please be cautious about fraud, scams, and impersonations, and only communicate through the platform or these community-endorsed social channels.

Reminder: Braintrust admin and moderators will never direct message you for payment information or about sales or contests. Do not share your wallet information or click on links from people you don't know.

Other $BTRST Questions.

Is $BTRST like stock?

$BTRST is not stock and is qualitatively different from stock. It’s not a form of equity, and it’s not a dividend or profit return mechanism. Its value is in its utility on the Braintrust network, providing its holders and the Braintrust community control and ownership of the network itself.

When it comes to Governance and control, $BTRST does have some distinct advantages over stock:

It’s finite: There is a cap of 250 million tokens of $BTRST, and no more or less will ever exist. That means $BTRST cannot be diluted.
It’s equal in value: All tokens are created equally, so there are not different classes of token. Simply put, one token = one vote.
It’s global: $BTRST’s utility extends beyond any particular company or organization, and is tied to the decentralized talent network it supports. Anyone around the world can earn and hold $BTRST tokens.

Are there tax implications for holding $BTRST?

Depending on where you live, there may be tax implications for earning and withdrawing $BTRST tokens.

All community members are encouraged to do their own research and consult with a local tax professional for tax advice unique to regional and national regulations.

Why am I not getting $BTRST for referrals?

New referrals may sign up through your unique referral link. When they sign up as freelancers, they are invited to create a profile and participate in the network.

When the referred freelancer gets their profile approved, you will both receive a $BTRST token reward.
Once the referred freelancer begins working, you will receive 1% of their earnings in $BTRST — up to 10K USD for each referral.

Make sure your referees sign up through your referral link so that you can be credited properly.

Find your unique link here: Refer New Talent

If you are experiencing problems getting $BTRST for your referrals, please report the issue by emailing support@usebraintrust.com.

What is vesting, and why is it important?

Vesting is the process of locking and releasing tokens that have been set aside for a specified period of time.

Vesting is an extremely common practice. Tokens are released gradually over the vesting period, sometimes once a month, once a week, or even daily as the project progresses.

These times can vary depending on the project. While tokens are vested, they are locked away and users are unable to withdraw them until they are unvested.

Before contacting Support or Community, refer back to your original vesting agreements for information on when the tokens will be unlocked. Individual vesting plans cannot be looked up.

What if I have questions about other platforms?

Unfortunately, Braintrust is unable to answer questions related to other wallets, platforms, networks, or exchanges where $BTRST may be stored. We suggest reaching out to those entities directly.

Additional Resources.

If you want to learn more about the $BTRST token, we encourage to to read the whitepaper or the “What is $BTRST?” blog post.

Guide: How to Earn and Use $BTRST

Table of Contents