diff --git a/aethex-bot/bot.js b/aethex-bot/bot.js
index 780e72a..22422d8 100644
--- a/aethex-bot/bot.js
+++ b/aethex-bot/bot.js
@@ -485,10 +485,11 @@ const REALM_GUILDS = {
 client.REALM_GUILDS = REALM_GUILDS;
 
 // =============================================================================
-// GUILD WHITELIST SYSTEM
+// TIERED ACCESS SYSTEM (Open Bot with Federation Gating)
 // =============================================================================
 
-const WHITELISTED_GUILDS = [
+// Core AeThex servers - auto-verified for federation
+const AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS = [
   '373713073594302464',  // AeThex | Corporation
   '515711457946632232',  // AeThex (Main)
   '525971009313046529',  // AeThex | Nexus
@@ -496,11 +497,69 @@ const WHITELISTED_GUILDS = [
   '1275962459596783686', // AeThex | LABS
   '1284290638564687925', // AeThex | DevOps
   '1338564560277344287', // AeThex | Foundation
-  '352519501201539072', // AeThex | Lone Star Studio
-  
-  ...(process.env.EXTRA_WHITELISTED_GUILDS || '').split(',').filter(Boolean),
+  '352519501201539072',  // AeThex | Lone Star Studio
 ];
-client.WHITELISTED_GUILDS = WHITELISTED_GUILDS;
+client.AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS = AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS;
+
+// Check if a server is federation-verified (cached for performance)
+const federationCache = new Map();
+client.federationCache = federationCache;
+
+async function isServerFederationVerified(guildId) {
+  if (AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS.includes(guildId)) return true;
+  
+  if (federationCache.has(guildId)) {
+    const cached = federationCache.get(guildId);
+    if (Date.now() - cached.timestamp < 5 * 60 * 1000) {
+      return cached.verified;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  if (!supabase) return false;
+  
+  try {
+    const { data } = await supabase
+      .from('federation_servers')
+      .select('verified, tier')
+      .eq('guild_id', guildId)
+      .maybeSingle();
+    
+    const verified = data?.verified === true;
+    federationCache.set(guildId, { verified, tier: data?.tier || 'free', timestamp: Date.now() });
+    return verified;
+  } catch (e) {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+client.isServerFederationVerified = isServerFederationVerified;
+
+async function getServerTier(guildId) {
+  if (AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS.includes(guildId)) return 'official';
+  
+  if (federationCache.has(guildId)) {
+    const cached = federationCache.get(guildId);
+    if (Date.now() - cached.timestamp < 5 * 60 * 1000) {
+      return cached.tier || 'free';
+    }
+  }
+  
+  if (!supabase) return 'free';
+  
+  try {
+    const { data } = await supabase
+      .from('federation_servers')
+      .select('verified, tier')
+      .eq('guild_id', guildId)
+      .maybeSingle();
+    
+    const tier = data?.tier || 'free';
+    federationCache.set(guildId, { verified: data?.verified, tier, timestamp: Date.now() });
+    return tier;
+  } catch (e) {
+    return 'free';
+  }
+}
+client.getServerTier = getServerTier;
 
 client.on('error', (error) => {
   console.error('[Discord] Client error:', error.message);
@@ -513,17 +572,64 @@ client.on('warn', (warning) => {
 });
 
 client.on('guildCreate', async (guild) => {
-  if (!WHITELISTED_GUILDS.includes(guild.id)) {
-    console.log(`[Whitelist] Unauthorized server detected: ${guild.name} (${guild.id}) - Leaving...`);
+  console.log(`[Guild] Joined new server: ${guild.name} (${guild.id}) - ${guild.memberCount} members`);
+  
+  // Create default server config
+  if (supabase) {
     try {
-      const owner = await guild.fetchOwner();
-      await owner.send(`Your server "${guild.name}" is not authorized to use AeThex Bot. The bot has automatically left. Contact the AeThex team if you believe this is an error.`).catch(() => {});
-    } catch (e) {}
-    await guild.leave();
-    console.log(`[Whitelist] Left unauthorized server: ${guild.name}`);
-    return;
+      await supabase.from('server_config').upsert({
+        guild_id: guild.id,
+        guild_name: guild.name,
+        created_at: new Date().toISOString()
+      }, { onConflict: 'guild_id' });
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('[Guild] Could not create server config:', e.message);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  // Send welcome message to server owner or first available channel
+  const welcomeEmbed = {
+    color: 0x4A90E2,
+    title: '👋 Thanks for adding AeThex Bot!',
+    description: `Hello **${guild.name}**! I'm now ready to help your community grow with XP, leveling, music, and moderation features.`,
+    fields: [
+      {
+        name: '🎮 Core Features (Available Now)',
+        value: '• XP & Leveling System\n• Music Player\n• Basic Moderation\n• Achievements & Quests\n• Welcome/Goodbye Messages',
+        inline: true
+      },
+      {
+        name: '🛡️ Federation Features',
+        value: '• Cross-server ban sync\n• Reputation network\n• Sentinel protection\n• Premium slots\n\n*Requires verification*',
+        inline: true
+      },
+      {
+        name: '🚀 Getting Started',
+        value: '1. Use `/help` to see all commands\n2. Use `/config` to set up your server\n3. Use `/federation apply` to join the protection network'
+      },
+      {
+        name: '📖 Need Help?',
+        value: '[Documentation](https://bot.aethex.dev/commands) • [Support Server](https://discord.gg/aethex)'
+      }
+    ],
+    footer: { text: 'AeThex Bot • Powering Communities' },
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
+  };
+  
+  try {
+    const owner = await guild.fetchOwner();
+    await owner.send({ embeds: [welcomeEmbed] });
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Try to find a system channel or first text channel
+    const channel = guild.systemChannel || guild.channels.cache.find(
+      c => c.type === 0 && c.permissionsFor(guild.members.me)?.has('SendMessages')
+    );
+    if (channel) {
+      try {
+        await channel.send({ embeds: [welcomeEmbed] });
+      } catch (err) {}
+    }
   }
-  console.log(`[Whitelist] Joined authorized server: ${guild.name} (${guild.id})`);
 });
 
 // =============================================================================
@@ -2126,21 +2232,31 @@ const httpServer = http.createServer((req, res) => {
       return;
     }
 
-    // GET /whitelist - Get whitelisted servers and users
+    // GET /servers - Get official AeThex servers and all connected servers
     if (req.url === "/whitelist" && req.method === "GET") {
-      const whitelistedServers = WHITELISTED_GUILDS.map(guildId => {
+      const officialServers = AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS.map(guildId => {
         const guild = client.guilds.cache.get(guildId);
         return {
           id: guildId,
           name: guild?.name || 'Not Connected',
           memberCount: guild?.memberCount || 0,
           connected: !!guild,
+          official: true,
         };
       });
       
+      const allServers = client.guilds.cache.map(guild => ({
+        id: guild.id,
+        name: guild.name,
+        memberCount: guild.memberCount,
+        connected: true,
+        official: AETHEX_OFFICIAL_GUILDS.includes(guild.id),
+      }));
+      
       res.writeHead(200);
       res.end(JSON.stringify({
-        servers: whitelistedServers,
+        officialServers,
+        allServers,
         users: whitelistedUsers.map(id => ({ id, note: 'Whitelisted User' })),
         timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
       }));
diff --git a/aethex-bot/listeners/federationProtection.js b/aethex-bot/listeners/federationProtection.js
index 021a2b6..c5f66c8 100644
--- a/aethex-bot/listeners/federationProtection.js
+++ b/aethex-bot/listeners/federationProtection.js
@@ -8,14 +8,19 @@ module.exports = {
     if (!supabase) return;
     
     try {
+      // Check if server is federation-verified (uses cache for performance)
+      const isVerified = await client.isServerFederationVerified?.(member.guild.id);
+      if (!isVerified) return;
+      
       const { data: serverConfig } = await supabase
         .from('federation_servers')
-        .select('tier, status, trust_level, reputation_score')
+        .select('tier, status, trust_level, reputation_score, verified')
         .eq('guild_id', member.guild.id)
         .eq('status', 'approved')
         .maybeSingle();
       
-      if (!serverConfig) return;
+      // Double-check verification at database level
+      if (!serverConfig || serverConfig.verified !== true) return;
       
       const { data: ban } = await supabase
         .from('federation_bans')
diff --git a/replit.md b/replit.md
index cce8b5c..e6d0316 100644
--- a/replit.md
+++ b/replit.md
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 The AeThex Unified Bot is a comprehensive, production-ready Discord bot powering the entire AeThex ecosystem. It provides enterprise-level security, cross-server federation, community engagement features, and multi-purpose server management—all unified into a single powerful instance.
 
 ### Current Status
-- **Servers:** 7 official AeThex servers (Corporation, Main, Nexus, GameForge, LABS, DevOps, Foundation)
+- **Access:** Open to all Discord servers (tiered feature access)
+- **Official Servers:** 8 AeThex servers (Corporation, Main, Nexus, GameForge, LABS, DevOps, Foundation, Lone Star Studio)
 - **Commands:** 76 fully implemented slash commands
 - **Database:** Supabase (PostgreSQL) with 30+ tables
 - **Music:** Dual Lavalink nodes for high-availability streaming
@@ -14,6 +15,43 @@ The AeThex Unified Bot is a comprehensive, production-ready Discord bot powering
 
 ---
 
+## Tiered Access Model
+
+The bot is now **publicly available** for any Discord server to add. Features are organized into tiers:
+
+### Free Tier (All Servers)
+All servers get immediate access to core features:
+- XP & Leveling System
+- Music Player (YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud)
+- Basic Moderation (warn, kick, ban, timeout)
+- Achievements & Quests
+- Welcome/Goodbye Messages
+- Polls, Embeds, Announcements
+- Daily Rewards & Shop System
+
+### Federation Tier (Verified Servers)
+Servers can apply to join the Federation network for advanced protection:
+- Cross-server ban synchronization
+- Global reputation tracking
+- Sentinel threat detection
+- Trust level progression
+- Cross-server role sync
+- Server directory listing
+
+**How to Join:** Use `/federation membership apply` to submit an application.
+
+### Premium Tier ($50/month)
+Verified federation servers can upgrade for enhanced protection:
+- Auto-kick/ban for ALL severity levels (not just critical)
+- Featured server slots
+- Priority support
+- Advanced analytics
+
+### Official Tier
+AeThex-owned servers have full access to all features automatically.
+
+---
+
 ## Core Capabilities
 
 ### 1. Unified XP & Leveling System