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Staking and the alpha hold

Last updated

SN21 — Staking & alpha hold
Version 1.1
Audience Miners
Status Authoritative for stake / hold requirements during and after cutover
Last updated 2026-08-04
Update independently of SN21_SCORING.md · SN21_REWARDS.md · SN21_TRANSITION_PLAN.md

This document explains the alpha stake (hold) requirement. It does not explain scoring or the emission curve.

In one line

To remain eligible for emissions under the daily stream, you must hold a published amount of subnet alpha on your miner. There is no upfront buy-in — the requirement ramps on a published schedule, and earnings can fill the hold as you start winning.

Why this exists

Skin in the game: earning slots should be backed by stake so inactive / squatting UIDs do not siphon emissions. Existing scoring miners are carried onto this path; you are not asked to buy a ticket to enter.

Alpha hold ramp (published)

Amounts are SN21 alpha (subnet token), not TAO, unless a later notice says otherwise.

Effective from Minimum alpha hold
Through Sunday 9 August 2026 0
Monday 10 August 2026 150 (start of ramp)
Tuesday 18 August 2026 300
Tuesday 25 August 2026 450
Tuesday 8 September 2026 700
Tuesday 15 September 2026 onward 1,000 (terminal floor)

Cutover behaviour (who is paid if you miss the hold) is in SN21_TRANSITION_PLAN.md.

How the hold works

  • No upfront buy-in. You can start predicting without locking 1,000 alpha on day one.
  • Ramp. The required hold steps up on the dates above.
  • Earnings path. As your model earns, incentive can be directed into meeting the floor (capture / escrow path) until the published hold is met; then normal payouts resume.
  • Zero weight freezes obligation growth from earnings. If you are not earning, nothing drains from a lock you never filled — but you also do not receive emissions until you meet the then-current hold and other eligibility rules.

Native chain enforcement

Bittensor is rolling out native registration / collateral mechanisms. SN21 will use those when available. Until then, the subnet applies the published hold as an eligibility rule for emissions (soft bookkeeping → hard gate as announced). When native min_locked (or equivalent) activates, the same published floors apply; miners will be given clear notice of the switch.

What staking does not change

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