FAQ
General
What is CAREL Protocol?
CAREL is a DeFi execution layer on Starknet. It lets you swap, stake, place limit orders, and bridge — with optional private execution (Hide Mode) and autonomous AI agent routing (ERC-8004).
Is CAREL live?
Yes — on Starknet Sepolia testnet. Mainnet deployment requires completion of an external security audit. See the Security page for current status.
Do I need a special wallet?
You need a Starknet wallet — either Argent X or Braavos. Set it to Starknet Sepolia testnet. See Quick Start.
Hide Mode
Is Hide Mode truly private?
Hide Mode provides wallet unlinkability — the on-chain transaction shows the relayer’s address, not yours. It does not provide full anonymity. Timing, token type, and approximate amount are still visible on-chain. The CAREL backend knows your identity off-chain. See Hide Mode for the full privacy model.
Who is the relayer?
The CAREL relayer is operated by the CAREL team. It submits Hide Mode transactions on behalf of users. The relayer cannot alter your intent — the Garaga Honk proof binds your intent to the on-chain execution.
What is a Garaga Honk proof?
It is a ZK proof (UltraHonk via Barretenberg, verified via Garaga) that proves your signed intent matches what was executed on-chain. The proof is generated by the CAREL backend and verified by the ShieldedPool V4 contract on Starknet. Without a valid proof, the transaction is rejected.
Why does proving sometimes take a while?
Generating a Garaga Honk proof requires approximately 16GB of RAM and takes 30–90 seconds. If the prover is busy or unavailable, the UI will show an error. This is a known infrastructure constraint being addressed in Milestone 1.
Can I use Hide Mode without CAREL tokens?
Yes — Hide Mode itself does not require CAREL tokens. AI Level 3 (private AI execution) charges a fee (3 CAREL flat burn + ~$0.50 in CAREL via oracle). Normal Hide Mode swap, stake, and limit order have no CAREL token fee.
AI Agent
What is the difference between L1, L2, and L3?
| Level | What it does | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Parses your intent and shows a plan — you confirm manually | Free |
| L2 | Executes on-chain autonomously via AIExecutor contract | 2 CAREL flat burn + ~$0.30 in CAREL |
| L3 | Executes via Hide Mode — AI routing + wallet unlinkability | 3 CAREL flat burn + ~$0.50 in CAREL |
Is the AI agent autonomous?
Yes. L2 and L3 submit on-chain without requiring you to manually approve each transaction after initial confirmation. The AIExecutor contract implements ERC-8004, an on-chain standard for autonomous AI agent execution on Starknet.
What commands does the AI agent understand?
Natural language commands for DeFi actions:
swap 10 STRK to USDTstake 500 CARELlimit order sell 100 USDT at 1.05 STRKbridge 0.01 ETH to Starknet
Staking & Points
What is the staking multiplier?
Staking CAREL tokens unlocks a global points multiplier that applies to all your on-chain actions:
| Staked CAREL | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| ≥ 100 | 2× |
| ≥ 1,000 | 3× |
| ≥ 10,000 | 5× |
How are points converted to CAREL tokens?
Each month the backend finalizes point totals, generates a Merkle tree, and submits the root on-chain. You claim proportionally:
reward = monthly_pool × your_points / total_points_epochIs there a lock-up period for staking?
No lock-up on testnet. You can unstake at any time.
Discount NFT
What are the NFT tiers?
| Tier | Name |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Bronze Shield |
| Tier 2 | Silver Blade |
| Tier 3 | Gold Blade |
| Tier 4 | Platinum Blade |
| Tier 5 | Onyx Blade |
Higher tiers give larger fee discounts on swaps and limit orders.
Can I sell or transfer my NFT?
No. It is a soulbound NFT — transfer functions are permanently disabled. It is linked to the wallet that minted it.
What happens when uses run out?
You can recharge the NFT by spending points on-chain. This prevents unlimited free discounts.
Security & Mainnet
Has CAREL been audited?
An internal security review was completed in March 2026 covering 35 Cairo contracts, the Rust backend, and the Next.js frontend. 25 findings were identified — all Critical and High severity findings have been addressed. An external audit is required before mainnet deployment. See Security.
When is mainnet?
After the external audit is completed and all open hardening items are resolved. This is planned for the Growth phase following the seed grant period. No specific date is set.
Is the MockGaragaVerifier used in production?
No. MockGaragaVerifier is testnet-only and will never be used on mainnet under any condition.
Where do I report a security issue?
Open a private issue on the GitHub repository.