The Aptos Foundation has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of APT tokenomics, proposing a hard supply cap and a shift away from continuous emissions in a bid to make the network more sustainable and performance-driven.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, the Aptos Foundation said it plans to introduce multiple governance proposals aimed at transitioning the ecosystem from its current subsidy-heavy model to one that ties token issuance directly to network activity.
— Aptos (@Aptos) February 18, 2026
According to the foundation, the new framework would align token supply mechanics with real usage, creating conditions where token burns could eventually outpace emissions as high-throughput applications scale across the network. At the centre of the proposal is a hard cap of 2.1 billion APT tokens. Currently, APT has no maximum supply, with approximately 1.196 billion tokens in circulation.
Lower staking rewards, higher gas fees and long-term lockups
Beyond the supply cap, the foundation is proposing a reduction in annual staking rewards from 5.19% to 2.6%. At the same time, it plans to introduce stronger incentives for longer staking commitments, rewarding participants who lock up tokens for extended periods.
Another headline proposal is a tenfold increase in gas fees. Despite the sharp adjustment, the foundation argues that transaction costs would remain among the lowest globally. Because gas fees paid in APT are burned, higher fees would directly contribute to supply reduction.
The team also suggested permanently locking 210 million APT for staking. While not a direct burn, the foundation described the move as “functionally equivalent,” as the tokens would be removed from active circulation. The staking rewards generated from these locked tokens would help fund foundation operations.
Broader industry trend toward supply discipline
In addition, the foundation plans to tighten its grants program by introducing stricter performance benchmarks before distributing tokens. It is also exploring the possibility of launching a token buyback initiative or establishing an APT reserve to help manage supply dynamics over time.
Aptos is not alone in revisiting token supply mechanics. In January, the governance community behind Optimism Foundation approved a proposal to begin a buyback program funded by 50% of Superchain revenue.
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