Running quests on platforms like Zealy or Galxe often comes down to one question: what is the effective customer acquisition cost (CAC) of the rewards you’re giving?
A practical trick shared in the transcript is to structure rewards as a combination of USDT plus tokens, then value each component’s contribution to CAC separately. The speaker describes this as producing an effective ~25% discount versus giving users rewards using only USD.
Why mixing USDT and tokens can lower effective CAC
The core idea is simple: when you reward users with a single asset type (like USD), you’re implicitly valuing every reward component the same way.
Instead, the speaker suggests a reward mix where users receive USDT (stablecoin value component) plus tokens (token value component). Then, rather than applying one blanket valuation to the whole reward, you estimate the CAC contribution of each part independently.
That separation matters because the transcript frames “real” CAC contribution as something you can approximate by splitting the reward into components and valuing them toward CAC.
Estimating CAC value for the USDT reward portion (about 50 cents/user)
In the approach described, the speaker estimates that the USDT portion adds about $0.50 per user to the effective CAC.
So, when you model your quest economics, you don’t treat the stablecoin reward as “free” or “just the same as the token.” Instead, you assign it an estimated CAC value contribution.
Key takeaway from the transcript: the USDT component is estimated at roughly 50 cents per acquired user.
Estimating CAC value for the token reward portion (about 25 cents/user)
The same method is then applied to the token portion.
The speaker estimates that the token portion contributes about $0.25 per user to effective CAC.
Again, the important point is not the number itself as a universal truth, but that the model treats tokens as a separate valuation input from USDT. In other words, the transcript describes a component-based valuation approach rather than a one-size-fits-all reward valuation.
Key takeaway from the transcript: the token component is estimated at roughly 25 cents per acquired user.
How the token + USDT mix produces an effective ~25% discount vs USD-only
With the transcript’s estimates, the economics are described as follows:
- USDT portion: ~$0.50 per user
- Token portion: ~$0.25 per user
Combined, the speaker describes an effective discount compared to rewarding users using only USD.
Specifically, the transcript states the approach yields approximately a 25% discount versus USD-only, based on valuing the token + USDT reward mix correctly toward CAC.
Stated differently: by splitting rewards into USDT and tokens and then applying the speaker’s component valuation assumptions, the effective acquisition cost comes out lower than if the same reward intent were delivered using only USD.
Practical implications for quest reward strategy (Zealy/Galxe-style)
If you’re managing quest campaigns and trying to improve CAC outcomes, the transcript suggests a decision framework:
- Split reward types: structure quest incentives as a combination of USDT and tokens, rather than relying on a single asset type.
- Value reward components separately: estimate the CAC impact of the USDT part and the token part independently.
- Use the resulting effective CAC to compare scenarios: compare the mixed-reward strategy against a USD-only strategy to see whether you get an effective discount.
The main “trick” is the modeling discipline: you’re not just changing what users receive—you’re changing how you estimate what those rewards truly cost you in acquisition economics.
Conclusion
The transcript outlines a reward-structuring method to lower effective CAC for Zealy/Galxe quests: give users rewards as a USDT + token combination, and estimate CAC contribution separately for each component. Using the speaker’s assumptions—~$0.50/user for USDT and ~$0.25/user for tokens—the approach is described as producing an effective ~25% discount versus USD-only rewards.
