> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lighter.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lighter.xyz/referral-program.md).

# Referral Program

Lighter remains free to trade for most users. This referral program rewards you for referring traders who choose Premium, letting you earn a share of the fees they pay. Referred users get their first week of Premium fees rebated. The program applies to new referrals only, starting **Monday, July 28, 2026.**

### How it works

Share your referral link. When someone signs up through it, they become your referred user, and you start earning a kickback on the trading fees they pay.

Referral attribution is permanent: once a referral code is used at sign-up, it cannot be changed or added later.

### Referrer kickbacks

You earn a percentage of the **gross fees** paid by your referred users. The percentage depends on your tier:

| Tier   | Kickback | Requirement                                   |
| ------ | -------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Bronze | 10%      | Available to everyone                         |
| Silver | 20%      | 15+ unique referrals, each active for 5+ days |
| Gold   | 30%      | 50+ unique referrals, each active for 5+ days |

A referred user counts as **active for 5+ days** once they have traded on at least 5 separate days. Only users who signed up on or after the program start date count toward tier requirements.

Tier upgrades are reviewed manually and applied **weekly, on Mondays**. Once upgraded, your new rate applies to all fees generated by your referred users **from the upgrade date onward**, it is not applied retroactively to fees generated before the upgrade. Meeting the requirements makes you eligible for an upgrade, but upgrades are granted at our discretion.

### Referee free trial

If you join through a referral link, you'll be prompted to activate **one week of premium for free**: the trading fees you pay during your trial week are rebated back to you every Monday. The trial week starts at sign-up, when the referral code is used.

**Trial cap:** fees are rebated on the first **$10M in trading volume** during the trial. Both maker and taker volume count toward this cap.

### Payouts

Rebates for both referrers and referees are paid out **weekly as L2 Transfers**, from this address: `0xF516F26A52bc61DB91b27242CC575AeF2D5362D6`

Each Monday's payout covers fees generated from **Monday 00:00 UTC through Sunday 23:59 UTC** of the preceding week. Tier reviews use the same snapshot.

There is a **$1 minimum** for payouts.

### Program guidelines

* All kickbacks and rebates, on both the referrer and referee side, are **discretionary**.
* Wash trading, self-referrals, and any other attempts to abuse or game the program will result in **disqualification** and forfeiture of pending rebates.
* Tier upgrades are discretionary and processed weekly on Mondays.
* Only referrals made on or after **July 27, 2026** qualify for the program.
* Referral codes cannot be changed after sign-up.
* We may modify, suspend, or terminate the program at any time.