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Matchbox

Core Concepts

Before diving into Matchbox, it’s important to understand the key concepts that power the platform. This section covers the fundamentals of the Mezo Earn ecosystem and how Matchbox fits in.

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

Matchbox operates within the Mezo Earn ecosystem, which uses a voting escrow model to align incentives between token holders and the protocol. The key building blocks are:

  • veBTC — Voting escrow BTC (your locked Bitcoin position)
  • veMEZO — Voting escrow MEZO (your locked MEZO position)
  • Gauges — Smart contracts that receive votes and distribute rewards
  • Epochs — Weekly time periods that structure voting and rewards

The Voting Escrow Model

Section titled “The Voting Escrow Model”

Both veBTC and veMEZO follow a “voting escrow” pattern:

  1. You lock tokens for a chosen duration
  2. You receive an NFT representing your locked position
  3. Your NFT has voting power based on lock amount and duration
  4. Voting power decays linearly as you approach unlock

This model rewards long-term commitment: the longer you lock, the more influence you have.

How Matchbox Fits In

Section titled “How Matchbox Fits In”

Matchbox creates a marketplace where:

  • veBTC holders can offer incentives to attract veMEZO votes to their gauge
  • veMEZO holders can earn rewards by voting for gauges with attractive incentives

This creates a mutually beneficial relationship: veBTC holders offer incentives, veMEZO holders vote on their gauges, and both sides benefit — veBTC holders receive a boost, while veMEZO holders earn bribes.

Concept Guides

Section titled “Concept Guides”
veBTC Understanding your locked BTC position and boost mechanics.
veMEZO Understanding your locked MEZO position and voting power.
Gauges How gauges work and how to optimize them.
Epochs Weekly timing and voting windows.

Key Terms at a Glance

Section titled “Key Terms at a Glance”
TermDefinition
veBTCNFT representing locked BTC with voting power
veMEZONFT representing locked MEZO with voting power
GaugeSmart contract that receives votes from veMEZO holders
BoostMultiplier applied to veBTC voting power (up to 5x)
BribeIncentives offered to attract veMEZO votes
Epoch7-day voting period (Thursday to Wednesday UTC)
APYAnnual Percentage Yield — your projected yearly return

For a complete list of terms, see the Glossary.

Next Steps

Section titled “Next Steps”

We recommend reading the concept guides in order:

  1. veBTC — Start here to understand your BTC position
  2. veMEZO — Learn how voting power works
  3. Gauges — Understand the core mechanic
  4. Epochs — Master the timing

Then move on to the practical guides: