Bittensor v440 Shifts Emissions Toward High-Demand Subnets

The Bittensor network has rolled out an upgrade to version 440 (v440), which introduces significant changes to its TAO emission system. The Emission Gate, a new mechanism, alters how rewards are distributed across the network.

Under the previous model, every registered subnet earned a share of TAO emissions, regardless of demand. However, with v440, subnets must now meet a minimum demand threshold to receive full rewards. Lower-demand networks will earn only a fraction of their previous emissions.

The upgrade affects various stakeholders, including subnet owners, alpha stakers, builders, and node operators. The network's focus on demand means that subnets need to attract more users and activity to earn higher rewards.

According to the Bittensor team, around 94 subnets below the threshold now receive only 12.5% of total emissions, down from 38.4%. In contrast, the top eight subnets increase their combined share from 32.8% to 52.7%.