VNISH dev fee: what it actually pays for
The developer fee is always visible in the dashboard and funds firmware development, support and the ecosystem.
VNISH is free to download and install. Only while the firmware is actually running, a small share of hashrate supports its continued development and technical support - shown live in the dashboard, never hidden. On a well-matched ASIC the extra income normally outweighs this small share several times over. Installing costs nothing, and if you go back to stock the share simply stops - no penalties, no exit fees.
It funds new releases for new models, round-the-clock technical support, and the ecosystem the team has been building since 2017.
VNISH NINJA distributes the official builds where that fee is attributed correctly. Third-party updaters that silently replace the build would redirect the fee elsewhere - which is why they are not offered here.