How the rules have changed

Bittensor's rules have changed several times, which is why articles and videos from different dates often disagree. The chain can be upgraded in place, so changes arrive without a fork or a new token.

In February 2025, dynamic TAO gave every subnet its own alpha token and pool. In December 2025, the first halving cut new issuance to 0.5 TAO per block.

From November 2025 to June 2026, subnet emissions followed the flow of TAO into each subnet. In June 2026, they went back to following alpha price.

In July 2026, the emission gate began cutting emissions sharply for low-demand subnets, and Root Reborn changed how root rewards are paid, with dividends building up in validator baskets.

When you read about Bittensor, check the date first. Anything written before mid-2026 may describe rules that no longer apply.