> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cantina.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payout Schedule & Process

> Understand when and how you'll receive your earnings from competitions, security reviews, and bug bounty programs.

# Payout Schedule & Process

> Understand when and how you'll receive your earnings from competitions, security reviews, and bug bounty programs.

***

## Prerequisites

Before any payment can be processed, you must:

1. **Complete KYC** via [withpersona.com](https://withpersona.com/) — incomplete KYC is the most common reason for delayed or blocked payouts.
2. **Add a payment address** — an Ethereum mainnet wallet address to receive USDC. No other chain is supported.

If either of these is missing, your payment will be held until resolved. See [KYC and Payments](/for-security-researchers/joining-cantina/kyc) for setup instructions.

***

## Payout Schedule

Cantina processes payouts on a **weekly cycle**:

| Day           | Action                                                             |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Tuesday**   | Payment queue closes — all approved earnings queued for this cycle |
| **Wednesday** | Payments sent out via multisig                                     |

<Warning>
  **Cutoff rule:** If your earning is approved after the Tuesday cutoff, it rolls over to the **following Wednesday's** payout cycle.
</Warning>

***

## What Can Delay Your Payout

| Blocker                     | Details                                                          |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Incomplete KYC              | Must be fully verified before any payment is scheduled           |
| Missing payment address     | No wallet address on file = no payout                            |
| Sponsor hasn't paid Cantina | Cantina can only release funds after the client/sponsor has paid |
| Late approval               | Findings approved after Tuesday queue closes roll to next week   |

***

## Payment by Program Type

### Competitions

Payouts are planned and scheduled by the Cantina team after the competition ends and findings are judged. Your payout depends on your final score and prize pool allocation.

### Security Reviews (Cantina Code)

Payments are coordinated as part of the engagement terms set at the start of the review.

### Bug Bounties

Payouts are processed after a finding is marked **Confirmed** by the triage team and the sponsor. For program-specific timing and notes, see [Bug Bounty Payout](/for-security-researchers/participation-guides/bounty-payouts).

<Note>
  **Duplicate findings are not eligible for payment** in bug bounty programs.
</Note>

***

## How Payments Are Sent

All payments are distributed in **USDC on Ethereum mainnet** through Cantina's multisig:

**cantina.eth** — `0x3dcb7cfbb431a11cabb6f7f2296e2354f488efc2`

You can verify any outgoing payment on-chain using this address.

***

## Invoicing (Legal Entities)

If you are operating as a registered legal entity (company, LLC, etc.), you may issue an invoice to Cantina for your own accounting records. Contact [support@cantina.xyz](mailto:support@cantina.xyz) for the relevant billing details.

***

## Still Waiting on a Payment?

If you believe your payout is overdue, check the following before reaching out:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Verify KYC is complete">
    Confirm your KYC status is fully verified on your Cantina profile.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your payment address">
    Make sure an Ethereum mainnet address is saved under your payment settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm your finding is approved">
    Your finding or contribution must be marked as approved or confirmed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait one full weekly cycle">
    At least one Tuesday–Wednesday cycle must have passed since your approval.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Contact support">
    If all the above are confirmed, reach out to [support@cantina.xyz](mailto:support@cantina.xyz) with your Cantina username and the relevant competition or program name.
  </Step>
</Steps>