Leagues · 6 min read
The Commissioner's Playbook: Setting League Tax Rates and Prize Pots
Anyone can create a league and become its commissioner, and the commissioner is far more than an organizer. By controlling tax rates, season structure, and prize distribution, a commissioner shapes the entire economy of the competition. This is the meta-game that sits on top of the trading itself.
Creating a league
When you create a league you set its rules and become its commissioner. The maximum number of members depends on your tier:
| Commissioner tier | Max members (incl. commissioner) |
|---|---|
| Free | 10 |
| Plus | 12 |
| Pro | 16 |
| Elite | 50 |
The commissioner's real power: tax rates
The most distinctive lever a commissioner holds is the ability to set a custom league tax rate that differs from the platform baseline. Which direction you set it changes the whole character of the league.
Setting the rate below baseline
Set the league rate below the platform baseline and the difference is deferred, not forgiven. Members pay less at the time of each sale, but the unpaid amount accrues as a liability that settles on Tax Day. This encourages aggressive, high-volume trading during the season, at the cost of a large bill waiting at the end.
Setting the rate above baseline
Set the rate above baseline and the excess flows into a league prize pot. You decide how that pot is distributed: the full pot to the top finisher, or a tiered split such as 60/30/10. A higher tax rate discourages churn and rewards disciplined, long-term holding, and it builds a prize worth competing for. Remember that prizes are paid in StarCoins, which have no cash value outside the platform.
Designing a league that plays well
Think of the tax rate as a dial between two styles. A below-baseline league is fast and loose, with lots of trading, big swings, and a dramatic Tax Day reckoning. An above-baseline league is patient and strategic, where holders are rewarded, churn is punished, and a real prize pot is on the line. There is no single right answer. The best commissioners pick a style, set the prize structure to match, and tell their members exactly what to expect before rates lock.
Why the finish matters
Leagues are not just for points. When the season ends, the final standings determine how members' virtual StarCoin holdings and positions transfer between accounts. The commissioner sets the rules that decide how hard-fought, and how rewarding, that finish line is. Set them thoughtfully.