Basic Concepts

Epoch in Gonka: Network Time Unit

In everyday life, we count time in days and months. In the Gonka blockchain, time is measured in epochs. An epoch is an interval during which the network summarizes results: accrues rewards, verifies hosts, updates state.

What is an Epoch

An epoch is a fixed block interval in the Gonka network. At the end of each epoch, the network automatically accrues rewards to hosts, updates node weights, and verifies the fulfillment of obligations. You can think of it as the network's 'workday' – at the end of the day, results are summarized.

How Long Does an Epoch Last

The duration of an epoch is defined by the number of blocks, not hours. In practice, one epoch lasts approximately 1 day, but the exact time depends on the block generation speed in the network. Epochs are numbered sequentially from the launch of mainnet (August 2025).

Why Epochs Are Important

Reward vesting is measured in epochs: 180 epochs (~6 months) until full unlock. Grace Period for new hosts (without collateral) – 180 epochs. Unbonding period upon leaving the network – 1 epoch. Penalties for downtime (slashing) are tied to epochs. Understanding epochs is key to planning mining profitability.
An epoch is a unit of time in Gonka, approximately equal to 1 day. Rewards, vesting, collateral, and penalties – all are tied to epochs. This is a basic concept for any host.

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