what's Tea Protocol?

Tea Protocol is a decentralized blockchain platform designed to sustain and reward open-source software (OSS) developers for their contributions. It enables the automated distribution of digital tokens, including its native $TEA token, to creators based on the value they provide to the ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, Tea addresses the funding challenges faced by OSS projects, allowing developers to capture economic value in a trustless manner without relying on traditional grants or donations. Built on Ethereum with a custom Optimism OP Stack Layer 2, Tea incorporates specialized features like GPG pre-compiles for secure code signing and verification. Contributions are tracked and rewarded through mechanisms such as testnet participation, code commits, and community involvement, with emissions structured for long-term alignment including recycled rewards and lockups. The protocol fosters a sustainable OSS economy by integrating with tools for seamless token distribution and governance.

Tea Protocol's TGE is scheduled for the week following February 1, 2026.