# Incentives & Penalties

## Incentives

As a public utility, anyone can become a mediator of the Joint Protocol, helping to solve disputes. However, mediators spend time and money to perform these duties. 

On Joint protocol, the mediator role is incentivized. Joint will reward mediators to solve disputes and keep the protocol lively. 

## Slashing

The Joint protocol considers the mediator critical to the protocol's success, as such irresponsible behaviours, mistakes, or incompetence will not be tolerated. 

To reduce misbehaviours, the protocol causes economic loss to mediators who are not following the rules by burning a fraction of the security bond associated with their ticket.

There are two situations where a mediator's security deposit is slashed:

* A fraction of the mediator's security deposit is slashed when a drafted mediator does not vote for the majority verdict.
* A drafted mediator will be slashed when they do not vote or complete all the vote procedures.

Slashed security bonds will be burned - This will serve as a deflationary mechanism for the native token.