Bounties, explained simply.

When a registrar or host completely ignores a case, it enters the bounty arena — the community can pool money into a reward pot for that specific domain. This is our last resort, and it's deliberately non-violent: OpenShield never attacks anyone. Instead, we put a price on independent, lawful proof that the domain has actually been shut down.

Independent researchers ("white-hats") can claim the pot by submitting proof. We verify that proof ourselves — we never just take someone's word for it — and then give the public a short window to object before anything is paid out, in case the domain only went offline temporarily.

Important: payouts are currently simulated. We show you exactly how much has been pledged so you can see the mechanic working, but no real money changes hands yet. This will change once the platform's payment and legal setup is ready — see our terms for the current state.

If a bounty expires with nobody claiming it, the pledged amount doesn't disappear — it rolls forward into the next worst offender's pot, so the pressure keeps building.