> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://quintes.gitbook.io/quintes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://quintes.gitbook.io/quintes/core-mechanisms/the-quintes-index.md).

# The Quintes Index

The Quintes Index is the core benchmark of the protocol, a smart tracker that automatically increases every **3 days by 0.235%**, producing a governance-controlled annualized yield of **\~33%**.

This steady growth defines the reference price that QNT follows.

***

### Governance Control

The **target yield of 33%** is not fixed by code, it is set and adjustable through **governance voting** by QTS holders. This ensures that the index growth rate remains responsive to evolving market conditions and community consensus.

***

### Growth Calculation

The Quintes Index compounds predictably based on the 3-day incremental growth rate:

| Formula Component    | Calculation          | Result         |
| -------------------- | -------------------- | -------------- |
| Growth per period    | 1 + 0.00235          | **1.00235**    |
| Annual growth factor | (1.00235) ^ 121.6667 | **≈ 1.330535** |
| Annual return        | (1.330535 − 1)       | **≈ 33.05%**   |

So, over the course of a year, an Index value of **1.00** will grow to approximately **1.33**.

***

### Month-by-Month Breakdown

| Month | Approx. Days Elapsed | Quintes Index Value |
| :---: | :------------------: | :-----------------: |
|   0   |        0 days        |     **1.000000**    |
|   1   |        30 days       |     **1.026165**    |
|   2   |        61 days       |     **1.053004**    |
|   3   |        91 days       |     **1.080555**    |
|   4   |       122 days       |     **1.108833**    |
|   5   |       152 days       |     **1.137868**    |
|   6   |       182 days       |     **1.167682**    |
|   7   |       213 days       |     **1.198298**    |
|   8   |       243 days       |     **1.229737**    |
|   9   |       274 days       |     **1.262024**    |
|   10  |       304 days       |     **1.295180**    |
|   11  |       335 days       |     **1.329230**    |
|   12  |       365 days       |     **1.330535**    |

This illustrates the smooth compounding trajectory of the Index throughout the year.

***

### Visual Performance

*A 12-month performance chart of the Quintes Index can be embedded here to visualize the steady 33% annualized growth curve.*

<figure><img src="/files/M3D3tZAGzkwJqRj3ErMB" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>