---
layout: default
title: Core Mechanics
nav_order: 6
has_children: true
---

# Core Mechanics

How reserves are allocated, seniority is recorded, and reward purchases are settled.

## Mechanics Index

- **[How the Machine Runs]({% link protocol/how-the-machine-runs.md %})**: A complete walkthrough from trading-tax revenue to reserves, position weights, settlement and FEED maintenance.
- **[Belly Reserve & Release]({% link protocol/belly.md %})**: Allocations from unreserved funds, the decay model and the separate eight-hour outflow cap.
- **[Meals & Seniority]({% link protocol/meals-and-seniority.md %})**: Minimum eight-hour intervals, the 22-notch seniority ladder and position weights.
- **[Procurement & Settlement]({% link protocol/execution.md %})**: Oldest-meal settlement order, TWAP and slippage checks, fallback conditions and claim boundaries.
- **[Tax Routing & Fees]({% link protocol/fees.md %})**: Tax receipt, upstream fees, Feeder rewards and the split of remaining revenue: 85% to Belly and 15% for operations.