Moving Your Contributor Earnings Out as USDC to a Self-Custody Wallet
Learn how contributor earnings in USDC are tracked in your aggregator account and how to withdraw them to a self-custody wallet, keeping earnings separate from top-up balance.
Understanding Contributor Earnings
When you contribute to the aggregator—such as by providing API capacity or referring users—you earn USDC credits. These earnings are recorded in your account and are separate from any top-up balance you may have added for your own usage.
- Top-up balance: USDC you deposit to pay for API calls. You pay official price × 1.3 for usage.
- Contributor earnings: USDC credited to you for contributions, calculated as official price × 1.1 (or × 1.2 for premium contributions).
These two balances are tracked independently. You can use top-up balance for API calls and withdraw contributor earnings to a wallet you control.
When Earnings Become Withdrawable
Contributor earnings typically become withdrawable after a short settlement period to prevent fraud and ensure accuracy. The exact timing depends on the contribution type and may be shown in your account dashboard. Once settled, the earnings appear as available for withdrawal.
- Check your account dashboard for the current withdrawable amount.
- Settlement periods may vary; refer to the platform's terms for details.
Withdrawing to a Self-Custody Wallet
To move your earnings out:
- Connect or provide a wallet address: Ensure you have a self-custody wallet that supports USDC on Base. You'll need its address.
- Initiate a withdrawal: In your account settings, find the withdrawal option for contributor earnings. Enter the amount and your wallet address.
- Confirm the transaction: The platform will process the transfer on-chain. You may need to confirm via email or two-factor authentication.
- Receive USDC: Once confirmed, the USDC will appear in your wallet. Network fees may apply; check before confirming.
Keeping Earnings Separate from Top-Up Balance
Your top-up balance is intended for API usage and is not automatically converted to withdrawable earnings. To avoid mixing funds:
- Withdraw contributor earnings regularly to your wallet.
- Use top-up balance solely for API calls.
- Do not attempt to withdraw top-up balance unless the platform explicitly allows it (e.g., refunds).
Best Practices
- Use a wallet you control: Self-custody means you hold the private keys. Never share them.
- Double-check addresses: Blockchain transactions are irreversible.
- Monitor fees: Base network fees are typically low, but always confirm before withdrawing.
- Keep records: For your own tracking, note withdrawal dates and amounts.