> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sleuthintel.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Access Tiers: How to Unlock Sleuth Intel Platform Access
> Explore Sleuth Intel's four access tiers and the three paths to unlock them — subscription, SLEUTH holdings by dollar value, or earned aSLEUTH rank.
Sleuth Intel has four access tiers. Each tier unlocks progressively deeper platform capabilities — richer intelligence feeds, swarm participation rights, and marketplace access. You reach any tier through one of three paths: pay a monthly subscription, hold enough SLEUTH by dollar value, or earn enough aSLEUTH through accepted contributions. All three paths grant the same access at each tier.
## Tier Comparison
| | **Tier 1** | **Tier 2** | **Tier 3** | **Tier 4** |
| ------------------------ | ---------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
| **Monthly subscription** | Free | \$50/mo | \$100/mo | \$150/mo |
| **SLEUTH to hold** | — | \$2,000 value | \$3,000 value | \$4,000 value |
| **aSLEUTH to hold** | — | \$2,000 | \$3,000 | \$4,000 |
| **Platform access** | Limited | Standard | Advanced | Full |
SLEUTH thresholds are dollar-denominated, not token-denominated. If SLEUTH trades at $0.10, you need 20,000 tokens to qualify for Tier 2. If it trades at $0.20, you need 10,000. The system re-evaluates your holdings continuously against the live price.
## The Three Paths Into Any Tier
Pay a flat monthly fee in fiat or stablecoins. Immediate access, no tokens required. Cancel any time and your tier drops at the next billing cycle.
Hold enough SLEUTH in your connected wallet to meet the dollar-value threshold for your target tier. No staking, no lockups — the tokens stay in your custody. Access is live as long as your holdings stay above the threshold.
Accumulate aSLEUTH through accepted intel submissions. Your aSLEUTH balance counts toward tier thresholds exactly as held SLEUTH does. Reach \$4,000 aSLEUTH and you qualify for Tier 4 through contribution alone.
## Dollar-Denominated Thresholds Explained
Every SLEUTH tier threshold is expressed in dollars, not in a fixed token count. The platform evaluates the **current market value** of your holdings against the threshold for your tier.
This has a direct consequence: when the SLEUTH price falls, holders who want to stay at their current tier need to acquire more tokens to restore their dollar-value position above the threshold. This is not a punishment — it is a natural economic mechanic.
### The Soft Floor Mechanism
Because thousands of holders across all tiers are simultaneously defending their dollar-value thresholds, any significant price drop triggers a wave of organic buy-side demand. Holders who care about their tier access go to the open market and top up.
You don't have to defend your tier instantly. The platform provides a **24-hour grace window** before a tier drop takes effect. Use it to top up your SLEUTH holdings, switch to a subscription, or let the tier drop if you no longer need the access level.
This creates a soft price floor that emerges from user behaviour — not from any protocol mechanism, lock, or staking requirement. The floor is as strong as the number of active holders who value their tier access.
## aSLEUTH and Swarm Rights
Earning aSLEUTH does more than count toward tier thresholds. Specific aSLEUTH milestones unlock **swarm participation rights** — the ability to act as an active contributor rather than a passive consumer:
* **\$1,000 aSLEUTH** — unlocks your **hunting licence** (submit intel to The Belt) and your **verifier licence** (be selected as a random verdict verifier)
* **\$1,500 aSLEUTH** — unlocks **listing rights** in the intelligence marketplace
* **\$2,000 aSLEUTH** — unlocks **top placement** in the marketplace, maximising your intelligence's visibility
Swarm rights stack with tier access. A contributor holding $500 in SLEUTH (below Tier 2) but with $1,200 aSLEUTH still qualifies for Tier 2 access and holds a valid hunting and verifier licence — the two paths combine toward the same threshold.
## Wages Are Never Gated
Your ability to earn SLEUTH wages is **completely independent of your tier**. The moment your first intel submission is accepted, your monthly bill starts accruing and your epoch wage is in motion — regardless of whether you are on Tier 1 or Tier 4.
Tiers control what intelligence you can consume and what marketplace rights you hold. They do not control whether you can earn. A free Tier 1 contributor with one accepted submission earns from day one.
There is no minimum tier required to contribute, no contribution tax by tier, and no wage premium for higher-tier contributors. Earnings are determined entirely by the grade and volume of your accepted submissions.