The Aptos Foundation has announced an initiative to enhance the tokenomics of the Aptos project, proposing significant changes to implement a deflationary mechanism and strengthen the long-term financial stability of the ecosystem. Key steps include setting a maximum supply of APT at 2.1 billion, reducing staking rewards, and increasing transaction fees.
This is reported by Finway
Status of the Aptos Network and Reasons for Changes
Aptos is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain that operates on the Move programming language. The network was launched in October 2022. As of February 2026, the total value locked in the network reaches $275.9 million, with blocks processed at a speed of 50 milliseconds. The Aptos ecosystem encompasses over 500 developers and 200 DeFi projects, and the network has reportedly not experienced any significant outages or vulnerabilities.
Over time, Aptos has transitioned from basic blockchain infrastructure to launching scalable products on its platform, including the decentralized exchange Decibel. The team believes this necessitates an update to the tokenomics to shift to a deflationary model, limiting supply and gradually reducing it through coin burning.
Key Proposals from the Aptos Foundation
Among the proposed changes:
- Reducing staking rewards from 5.19% to 2.6%, with the possibility of increasing this rate for long-term stakers and implementing a new structure for validators.
- Increasing gas fees tenfold, while keeping transaction fees among the lowest in the industry.
- Increasing the volume of token burning due to the rise in high-frequency trading, which boosts TPS.
- Establishing a supply cap of 2.1 billion APT, which, according to developers, will serve more as a protective barrier than a hard ceiling, with the possibility of further reductions through burning.
- Implementing “evergreen” staking of 210 million APT from the treasury to fund network support without selling assets.
- Issuing grants based on achieved KPIs and distributing funds according to results.
- Exploring the possibility of launching a token buyback program.
At the beginning of the network’s operation, the maximum supply was set at 1 billion APT, and the staking reward was 7%. Currently, approximately 779.1 million APT are in circulation, which is about 65% of the total supply, creating potential market pressure.
Community Opinions and Market Impact
The announcement of changes has divided the community into two camps. Some users support the idea of transitioning to a deflationary model, considering it necessary for stability and price growth in the coming years. Others view such steps as essential for the long-term “survival” of the project.
“Aptos is transitioning from ‘inflation for launch’ to ‘performance economics.’ This is painful for stakers now, but necessary for price growth in 2026-2027.”
At the same time, other market participants fear that a significant reduction in staking rewards will lead to an exodus of small validators and centralization of the network. There is also criticism regarding the established cap of 2.1 billion APT, which remains too high for some in the community.
Following the news announcement, the APT price dropped by 1.6% over the day and currently stands at $0.86.
Previously, Aptos Labs CEO Avery Ching stated the need for regulatory clarity in the U.S., calling it a key prerequisite for the country’s leadership in digital innovation.