The Cooperative Model
Everyone can use the platform.
There are no tiers. The actual cost of your usage is communicated directly with you, and anyone can help cover it to sustain the network.
Included in every membership
Pay what it costs.
Receive your badge.
We calculate the exact cost of your participation on the network, including:
- Setup costs
- Recurring power & data storage
- Platform maintenance
- Sponsored transaction fees
When you pay at least your calculated cost, you receive an attestation — a certified badge — from irl.coop.
Collective support: Anyone (or multiple people) can pay anyone else's calculated cost. This could come from members within your group or external groups or individuals.
The Economics of Sovereignty
A realistic breakdown for a reliable budget-friendly hardware node in the irl.coop network supporting 6–25 users with 250GB storage and ~200 on-chain transactions per month.
Hardware Amortization
One-time costs (3-5yr life)
Operating Costs
Recurring Monthly Expense
Sponsored Fees
Blockchain Subsidy
200 tx @ $0.01-$0.05 per gas fee
Mixed usage across multiple chains
Transaction fees are highly dependent on chain selection. Most cooperative activity happens on low-cost L2s.
Total Estimated Monthly Support
This is the target amount a small group (up to 25 users) should aim to cover collectively to remain sustainable.
Includes hardware depreciation and power
Includes offsite replication and backups
Includes sponsored transaction capacity
Cash-Only Monthly
Direct expenses (Hosting, Power, Tx Fees)
Economic Monthly (inc. Labor)
Includes ~2hrs/mo maintenance value at $25/hr
Trust layer
Collective treasury management with no hidden costs.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. irl.coop is a non-profit cooperative, designed to cycle revenue back into infrastructure, technology and community-building. We welcome all types of cooperative endeavors, even traditional businesses who would like a say in how the platforms they use are run.