> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.benqi.fi/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.benqi.fi/benqinomics/benqinomics.md).
# Overview
The QI token is native to Avalanche and is at the core of the entire BENQI ecosystem. **A core use case is staking QI to receive BENQI Miles (formerly veQI).**
BENQI Miles can then be used for purposes such as:
* Directing AVAX delegations to validators, and
* governance
QI can also be used for yield (e.g. as collateral) and provides discounts for services such as launching a PAYG validator.
Furthermore, holders of BENQI Miles can engage in [Node Voting](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MVjIfedJgGlCPfTx3QP/s/-MViz_ikDZy4OemUj_VI/~/changes/358/node-voting/governance), whereby they can allocate their votes to support specific Avalanche validators, influencing how AVAX is delegated from BENQI’s Liquid Staking Pool.
## Gradual Decentralization
The founding team currently governs the protocol. As BENQI matures, the protocol will progressively be decentralized and eventually be governed by a DAO consisting of QI token holders and governance structures both on-chain & off-chain.
BENQI Miles will be used to vote on all aspects of BENQI. To begin, it has been applied to Node Voting, covered in [Node Voting](/node-voting/governance.md)
**The total supply of QI is 7,200,000,000 tokens.**
We provide a full breakdown of the supply in the [Token Distribution & Vesting](/benqinomics/token-distribution.md) section.
## BENQI Miles
By staking QI, users receive BENQI Miles, formally known as veQI.
BENQI Miles can be used to vote in governance decisions, with the initial focus on **Node Voting** to support Avalanche validators.
All users begin with a BENQI Miles balance of zero. When QI is staked, Miles accrue linearly over time to 100 times the QI staked (eg: 1 QI = 100veQI).
**The accrual rate is 0.000003888888888 Miles per staked QI each second**, and this accrual is automatic so there is no need to claim it. For example, over the course of one day (86,400 seconds), a user would earn approximately **336 BENQI Miles** for each staked QI.
However, **unstaking** any amount of QI will reset the user's entire accumulated veQI balance to zero.
Example: How BENQI Miles Accrue Over Time
Let's say a user stakes **1,000 QI** in BENQI.
* **Accrual Rate**: Each staked QI earns **0.00000388888888 BENQI Miles per second**.
* **Calculation**:
* Over the course of one day (86,400 seconds), this user would earn approximately **336 BENQI Miles** (0.00388888888 × 86,400)
* **Accumulation Over Time**:
* If the user keeps their 1,000 QI staked for **30 days**, they would accumulate **10,080 BENQI Miles**: (336 per day × 30 days)
* **Reset Condition**: If the user decides to unstake any amount of their QI during this period, their entire BENQI Miles balance would reset to **zero**. This incentivizes users to keep their QI staked for longer to maximize their Miles balance.