Blockchain for settled marketplace activity
Bench is testing a conservative token layer on top of its existing ledger and settlement system. Real money movement stays in fiat. Token distributions are planned from transferred allocations, recorded with traceability, and limited to Base Sepolia while the program is still in pilot.
Built to extend the ledger, not replace it
The point of the blockchain layer is auditability and programmable distribution, not a new money rail. That keeps the architecture easier to reason about for finance, ops, and compliance teams.
Fiat settles first
Stripe and the Bench ledger remain the economic source of truth. Token activity is layered on afterward, never the other way around.
Allocations are canonical
The bridge keys off transferred ledger allocations so every planned token distribution maps back to a specific beneficiary split.
Queue before mint
Cloud Functions plan auditable distribution records first. A separate signer service can later submit mint transactions in a controlled way.
Admin controls stay tight
BenchToken uses role-based mint and pause controls. The mint key is intended for an isolated signer, not a general web runtime.
How the bridge works
The flow is deliberately slow and observable so finance operations can verify every step before anything goes on-chain.
Settle revenue in fiat
Marketplace earnings move through the existing payments and settlement rails first.
Split by beneficiary map
Bench records the revenue split in the ledger using the same allocation model already used for settlement and reconciliation.
Plan token distributions
Only transferred allocations become eligible for a token distribution record, with a fixed, configurable reward rate for pilot.
Submit from a dedicated signer
A separate minting service can read planned records and call `mint()` on Base Sepolia while preserving role and retry discipline.
The pilot stays narrow on purpose
Bench is treating blockchain as infrastructure, not as a shortcut around payments, compliance, or product discipline. The launch posture is intentionally limited until legal and operational review is complete.
Current constraints
Base Sepolia only while the program is in pilot mode
No token sale, exchange listing, or fundraising flow
No staking, APY, or passive-income mechanics
No wallet custody product inside Bench
No mainnet configuration until legal review is complete