The "Skin in the Game" Refund Mechanic

Eroteme's core trust mechanic is simple: if the AI prediction is wrong, you can claim a refund of your analysis fee. This is what we call "skin in the game" — the AI has accountability, not just output.

How It Works

1. You pay an analysis fee — When you request an AI prediction, you pay a fee in USDC ($1 for Standard, $5 for Eroteme tier)
2. The AI delivers its prediction — The pipeline runs and produces a calibrated probability
3. The event resolves — When the real-world outcome is known via Polymarket, the prediction is marked as correct or incorrect
4. If the AI was wrong, you claim a refund — Click "Claim Refund" on the prediction, sign with your wallet, and the refund is sent to your wallet in USDC

Claiming a Refund

Refunds are not automatic — you need to claim them:

1. Navigate to the resolved prediction
2. If the AI was wrong, a Claim Refund button appears
3. Click the button and sign the transaction with your wallet
4. The refund (minus a small processing fee) is sent to your connected wallet

Prediction resolves as incorrect
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"Claim Refund" button appears on prediction
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User clicks and signs with wallet
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Refund sent to wallet in USDC (minus processing fee)

Fee Structure

The $0.10 processing fee covers on-chain transaction costs for the refund settlement.

Eligibility

Refunds are available when:

• The prediction was paid for in USDC (not free tier or Stripe payments)
• The prediction resolved as incorrect
• The refund has not already been claimed

Why This Matters

Most AI tools charge you regardless of quality. Eroteme flips this model:

• Correct prediction — You paid for valuable analysis. The fee is earned.
• Incorrect prediction — The analysis didn't deliver. Claim your refund.

This creates a fundamentally different incentive structure. The platform only earns from AI predictions when the AI is actually right.