Sible Network Suspends Multi-Account Mining Plans Following Community Concerns

Sible Network confirmed the suspension on November 2, less than 24 hours after announcing a proposed feature that would allow up to three individuals to mine SIB tokens using the same mobile device. The company said feedback from community members and ambassadors had prompted it to reconsider the arrangement, which was originally intended to make mining more accessible to families sharing smartphones.

The reversal means Sible's existing policy of permitting only one account per person remains unchanged. Although the company has not ruled out introducing shared-device mining in the future, it has suspended the proposed trial while considering how to prevent abuse and maintain fair participation across its network.

Community Opposition Prompts Rapid Reversal

Sible Network unveiled its proposed multi-account functionality on November 1, announcing plans for an application update that would support three separate mining accounts on a single smartphone. The feature would have allowed legitimate users to switch between accounts without requiring individual devices, potentially reducing the cost of participating in the project's mobile mining activities.

The announcement promoted the concept with the message, "One device. Three accounts. More mining flexibility." However, concerns quickly emerged about whether the system could distinguish between three individuals sharing a phone and one person operating several accounts to increase their cryptocurrency rewards.

Sible initially defended the proposal, explaining that the three-account limit was intended to prevent large-scale abuse while providing greater flexibility for genuine participants. The company also indicated that additional rules and penalties could be introduced to discourage fraudulent activity, although these assurances failed to resolve concerns about the effectiveness of account verification.

By November 2, the project had suspended the proposed functionality, acknowledging the community's objections and reaffirming its existing restrictions. The announcement did not specify when the feature might be reconsidered or whether a revised version would eventually be introduced.

Sybil Attack Risks Raise Questions Over Mining Fairness

Much of the criticism centred on the possibility of Sybil attacks, where an individual creates multiple identities to manipulate systems that distribute rewards or influence according to individual participation. In cryptocurrency mining and token reward programmes, this can allow dishonest participants to accumulate benefits intended for separate users.

Crypto commentator Vindicated Chidi was among those questioning the proposal, arguing that shared-device mining could encourage account farming unless Sible introduced effective safeguards. While acknowledging the potential benefits for families without access to multiple smartphones, Chidi raised concerns about how the network would verify that each account belonged to a different individual.

"My biggest concern is the incentive structure," Chidi wrote, questioning whether the proposed arrangement could reward users for creating additional identities rather than contributing meaningfully to the network.

The criticism also highlighted uncertainty surrounding identity verification and whether mining rewards would be adjusted when multiple accounts operated from the same device. Without appropriate controls, participants could potentially exploit the arrangement to increase their share of SIB token distributions, undermining confidence in the fairness of the wider rewards system.

Similar concerns have previously affected cryptocurrency projects distributing tokens through airdrops and other participation-based programmes. Disputes surrounding zkSync's Sybil protections and allegations of coordinated reward farming involving Avantis have demonstrated the difficulties projects face when attempting to distinguish legitimate users from individuals controlling multiple accounts.

However, there is no indication that Sible Network has experienced a Sybil attack as a result of its proposal. The community's objections focused on vulnerabilities that could arise if the planned feature were introduced without sufficient safeguards.

Sible Explains Original Plans To Support Shared Smartphones

Following the criticism, Sible explained that its proposal had been developed in response to requests from families who could not afford separate smartphones for every household member. The company said it had received messages from users whose spouses and children wanted to participate in mining activities but lacked access to their own devices.

The proposed system was intended to allow three genuine participants to operate separate accounts through one smartphone, rather than permitting an individual to create multiple identities. Sible reiterated this distinction in its November 2 announcement, stating: "One Person = One Account. No exceptions." The company also confirmed that operating additional accounts to accumulate rewards remains prohibited under its participation rules.

Sible acknowledged the competing priorities of making its network accessible to financially disadvantaged participants while protecting the integrity of its reward distribution system. Although it described the suspension as temporary, the company has not announced a replacement feature, revised verification requirements or an implementation timetable.

Existing Mining Restrictions Remain In Place

Sible Network operates as a decentralised AI project that allows users to participate through mobile mining and activities associated with its Sentinel programme. These activities are intended to support community engagement and data contributions connected to the development of the project's artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Before the suspension, the proposed three-account limit had been presented as a way to make mining sessions and Sentinel tasks easier to manage while reducing the number of accounts operating from individual devices. However, the functionality had not been released to the wider community, meaning the reversal concerned a planned application update rather than an established feature.

For now, Sible's existing account restrictions remain unchanged, with each individual permitted to operate only one mining account. The company has indicated that it will continue considering ways to accommodate shared-device participation without undermining safeguards against fraudulent activity, although any future changes will depend on further development and community feedback.