How earning works
Paid projects are in preparation. Sales are not open yet: this page describes the rules that are already decided.
What you can sell
Firmware flashed from the browser
The buyer flashes it onto their own board right from the project page.
Project files
Case, wiring, source code.
Closed source
Firmware can be sold with closed code. Code under GPL or AGPL cannot be sold as closed firmware.
What the buyer gets
Firmware for their boards
The right to flash their own boards: 3 by default, the author sets from 1 to 10. Reflashing the same board is not limited.
Updates
New versions within the same major version.
Where the money goes
- Chipnik takes 10% of the price.
- The fee of the payment method the buyer chose comes out of the author’s share, as a separate line.
- Chipnik pays the cost of sending the payout to the author.
Example: a project for $10
| Card via Lava.top | USDT via NOWPayments | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Payment system fee | 8%, $0.80 | 0.5%, $0.05 |
| Chipnik, 10% | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| The author gets | $8.20 | $8.95 |
Payment system rates are taken from their public pages and can change.
Payouts
- First in USDT on the TON network, Chipnik pays the transfer. PayPal comes later.
- Payout and refund rules will be published before sales open.
Protecting closed firmware
A paid firmware file is tied to the buyer’s chip, and the buyer’s number is written inside the file. There is no absolute protection against copying: a determined person can get around any check.
Questions from authors
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When do sales open? | Paid projects are in preparation. There is no date yet. |
| How much does Chipnik take? | 10% of the price. |
| Is there a 0% period for the first authors? | No. The commission is 10% from the first sale. |
| Who pays the payment system fee? | It comes out of the author’s share, as a separate line. |
| Who pays for the payout? | Chipnik. |
| How will I get paid? | First in USDT on TON, later PayPal. |
| Minimum payout, timing, countries, refunds? | Payout and refund rules will be published before sales open. |
| Can I sell closed-source firmware? | Yes. Code under GPL or AGPL cannot be sold as closed firmware. |
| Can a buyer copy my firmware? | The file is tied to the buyer’s chip. Absolute protection against copying does not exist. |
| Taxes and contracts? | Each author handles taxes and paperwork on their own. This is a question for an accountant. |