# IOTA Iron, Bronze, Silver and Gold: tiers, eligibility and layers

Separate a run tier, a miner’s eligibility and a model layer. None is a hardware model or online status, and identical hardware does not imply equal rewards. Use official run descriptions for current labels; missing labels stay unknown.

- Canonical: https://iotahome.site/en/learn/iota-run-tiers
- Publisher: IOTA Watch
- Topics: IOTA
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Updated: 2026-10-22

## At a glance

Separate a run tier, a miner’s eligibility and a model layer. None is a hardware model or online status, and identical hardware does not imply equal rewards. Use official run descriptions for current labels; missing labels stay unknown.

## Three fields, three different meanings

[Runs and capacity](https://iotahome.site/en/network) · [Application checklist](https://iotahome.site/en/learn/iota-tier-promotion)

## Field / what it establishes

| Field | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Tier label | A run grouping, not a chip benchmark or fixed return. |
| Eligibility | Controlled by official review and run conditions; we cannot grant it. |
| Model layer | A segment of the model pipeline, not a Bronze or Silver tier. |

## October 22 check: current labels differ from older guides

The official /mainnet/runs response contained eight active runs: 4.13.7.6–9-tah were described as Tier 0 (Bronze), 4.13.7.10–11-tah as Tier 1 (Silver), and 4.13.7.12–13-tah as Tier 2 (Gold). This is a dated metadata snapshot, not a permanent numbering rule. Older claims that Iron is always 0 or Gold has no active runs do not match this response. Do not infer future tiers from a run ID suffix.

## How should I read the names?

Iron, Bronze, Silver and Gold are labels encountered in tier discussions. This page does not grade Macs by model or assert that every named tier currently has a run. Match the specific run ID to its official metadata description. Our network view displays reported labels without guessing missing values. A missing label is not evidence of a ban.

## Why do identical Macs earn different amounts?

Official scoring documentation explains that layers differ in work and miner counts; verified score share, run allocation and burning affect rewards. Match run, layer, period and record status before comparing. A tier name is not a reward formula. See [rewards explained](https://iotahome.site/en/learn/how-rewards-work).

## How do I seek access to another tier?

Use the official application and the [promotion checklist](https://iotahome.site/en/learn/iota-tier-promotion) to prepare your public coldkey and actual hardware details. Approval, available runs and future rules belong to the project. Without published evidence, we do not show a promotion countdown or suggest Pro purchases upgrade official tiers.

## Common questions

### October 22 check: current labels differ from older guides

The official /mainnet/runs response contained eight active runs: 4.13.7.6–9-tah were described as Tier 0 (Bronze), 4.13.7.10–11-tah as Tier 1 (Silver), and 4.13.7.12–13-tah as Tier 2 (Gold). This is a dated metadata snapshot, not a permanent numbering rule. Older claims that Iron is always 0 or Gold has no active runs do not match this response. Do not infer future tiers from a run ID suffix.

### How should I read the names?

Iron, Bronze, Silver and Gold are labels encountered in tier discussions. This page does not grade Macs by model or assert that every named tier currently has a run. Match the specific run ID to its official metadata description. Our network view displays reported labels without guessing missing values. A missing label is not evidence of a ban.

## Sources and implementation

- [Macrocosmos · Provider Compute Application](https://iota.macrocosmos.ai/train-at-home/apply)
- [Macrocosmos · Scoring, Rewards & Kicking](https://docs.macrocosmos.ai/subnets/subnet-9-iota/scoring-rewards-and-kicking)
- [Macrocosmos · official run metadata](https://iota-web.api.macrocosmos.ai/mainnet/runs)