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Overview

The referral system is a crucial component of the Orderly ecosystem, designed to incentivize user growth and engagement through a structured rewards program. A builder can choose to share part of its builder fees to incentivize a distributor, affiliate, or referrer for bringing in new traders. The ecosystem consists of three key participants:
  1. The Builder (DEX): The DEX built on Orderly. Builders determine the fee structures and maximum rebate limits.
  2. The Referrer (Affiliate): A user (e.g., a KOL, influencer, or community leader) who invites others to trade. They can modify the fee split between themselves and the trader, but not the maximum rebate limit.
  3. The Referee (Trader): The new user who signs up using a referral code.

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Legacy and multilevel affiliate programs

Orderly supports a legacy single-level affiliate program and a multilevel affiliate program. The key differences are:

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Coexistence and migration

The multilevel affiliate program supersedes the legacy program for new activations:
  • New builders, and existing builders that have not enabled the legacy program, use the multilevel program when they enable affiliate referrals. The legacy program is not available to them.
  • Builders already using the legacy program can continue using it or upgrade to the multilevel program. The upgrade is irreversible.
  • After an upgrade, existing legacy referral codes remain valid and continue to generate commission, but no new legacy referral codes can be created.
  • Affiliates should check with their DEX to confirm which program is active. When a DEX upgrades, eligible affiliates can create a multilevel referral code while continuing to earn from existing legacy codes.
For multilevel program configuration and commission guidance, see the Builder’s Quick Guide and Affiliate’s Quick Guide.

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How It Works

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1. The Binding Process

The binding is established when a new user (Referee) connects to a Builder and enters a referral code. Their account is permanently bound to the Referrer. A bound referral code cannot be removed or modified after binding.

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2. The Reward Split

When a Referee executes a trade, the trading fee is split automatically. Orderly Network retains a base protocol fee, and the remaining Builder Fee is distributed among the Builder, Referrer, and Referee based on the configured rebate settings.
  • Referrer Rebate: Commission earned by the affiliate for inviting the user.
  • Referee Rebate: A discount returned to the trader, incentivizing them to use the referral code.
  • Builder Revenue: The remaining portion of the fee retained by the platform.

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Example Calculation

The following example demonstrates how fees flow between parties. Scenario:
  • Orderly Base Fee: Depends on the Builder’s current fee tier. This tiering applies only to the Builder’s base fee paid to Orderly.
  • Example taker trade: If Orderly’s base taker fee is 3 bps and the Builder charges a 6 bps user-facing taker fee, the Builder’s net profit is 3 bps.
  • Example maker trade: A negative tier rate is the maximum rebate Orderly will fund when the Builder passes a negative maker fee through to the trader. The funded rebate is not Builder revenue. If the Builder charges the trader a zero or positive maker fee, Orderly funds no maker rebate; any positive maker fee collected is Builder revenue.
Referral Configuration: The Builder generates a code for a KOL with an 80% Max Rebate, split 50:50 between the Referrer and Referee. In Dollar Terms: If a user generates $10 USDC in Net Builder Fees:
  1. $4.00 is returned to the Trader (Referee).
  2. $4.00 is credited to the Affiliate (Referrer).
  3. $2.00 is retained by the Builder.

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Configuration for Builders

Builders manage referral codes and rebate rates in Orderly One Affiliate.

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Setup Fields

Common referral-code settings include:
  1. User Address: The wallet address of the Affiliate (Referrer) who will own this code.
  2. Referral Code: The unique string traders will enter (e.g., REFFCODE1).
  3. Max Rebate: The total percentage of the Builder’s Net Profit allocated for rebates (e.g., 80%).
  4. Split Slider: Determines how the rebate is divided:
    • Referrer Rebate: The percentage of the rebate the Affiliate keeps.
    • Referee Rebate: The percentage of the rebate returned to the Trader.

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Distribution

Rewards are calculated automatically by the Orderly protocol.
  • Frequency: Rewards are typically distributed daily.
  • Currency: Payouts are settled in USDC.

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Auto referral system

Similar to the affiliate system, the auto-referral system grants traders a referral code once they reach a specific trading volume. This means that instead of manual entry, traders are automatically assigned a code based on their trading activity.