Your dashboard shows two different balances that serve separate purposes in the network: Points Balance and Device Balance. While they appear side by side, they are not interchangeable.

Points Balance

Your Points Balance represents the total number of reward points you’ve earned for contributing to the network.

Points are awarded:

regularly, based on your device’s ongoing participation, and

1. regularly, based on your device’s ongoing participation, and

2. occasionally as one-off bonuses (for example, purchase or promotional bonuses).

Points are not a cryptocurrency and cannot be spent to operate your device. They are tracked separately from HBAR and are used to measure and reward contribution over time.

Device Balance

Your Device Balance shows how much HBAR is currently held in your device’s account.

HBAR is required for the day-to-day operation of your device, including:

1. publishing heartbeats, and

2. coordinating network communications.

This balance is consumed over time as your device operates. If it runs out, your device may be unable to perform these actions until more HBAR is added.

You can top up your Device Balance using the Hedera Faucet, which provides testnet HBAR for development and operation. You will need to maintain a reasonable balance in order to keep your device operational

Key Differences

1. Points Balance = rewards for contribution

2. Device Balance = HBAR used to run your device

3. Points do not replace HBAR

4. Earning points does not automatically fund device operations

Both balances are important, but they serve different roles:
points track contribution, while HBAR powers execution.