The Aptos Foundation has unveiled a comprehensive set of tokenomics proposals on February 19, aiming to transition the network from perpetual token emissions to a performance-driven model with a hard supply cap.
Currently, APT is trading near $0.88, reflecting a decrease of approximately 4.5% on the day and showcasing a stark contrast to its value from late 2025, when it soared to new heights.
In its announcement on social media, the Aptos Foundation indicated plans to formally submit governance proposals to the community. Central to the proposed changes is the introduction of a hard supply cap of 2.1 billion APT tokens; as of now, there is no limit on the maximum supply. At present, there are around 1.196 billion APT tokens in circulation.
The Foundation explains that the existing model continually mints new tokens to support development, grants, and staking rewards, which they believe must change as the network matures. They emphasized, “Without reform, emissions continue indefinitely with no hard ceiling, no performance requirements, and no connection between issuance and network activity.” This call for reform may signal a pivotal point for APT as it seeks stability in its economic model.
Staking Rewards and Gas Fee Changes
Among the proposed adjustments, the Foundation plans to halve annual staking rewards from 5.19% to 2.6%. Adjustments to staking lengths will offer users relatively better returns under the new framework.
Moreover, a significant 10x increase in gas fees has been suggested. These fees, which are paid in APT and subsequently burned, are designed to progressively reduce the circulating supply over time. Even with the proposed increase, the Foundation asserts that stablecoin transfers would still cost around $0.00014, maintaining a competitive edge as one of the lowest fees globally.
Additionally, the Foundation aims to lock and stake 210 million APT tokens permanently, ensuring they will never enter the market while enhancing the network’s security.
Unlock Cycle and Institutional Context
A noteworthy milestone is on the horizon in October 2026, marking the end of a four-year token unlock cycle for early investors and core contributors. The Foundation anticipates that this will reduce annualized supply unlocks by approximately 60%.
Moreover, grant distributions are projected to diminish by over 50% between 2026 and 2027, reflecting a more restrained approach to resource allocation.
The Foundation has pointed to institutional participations from financial giants such as BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Apollo as evidence that Aptos has matured beyond its initial phase. They are also exploring stricter KPIs for grant recipients and a potential token buyback program, hinting at a proactive stance in strengthening the token’s value.
Despite the ambitious nature of these proposals, market reaction has remained relatively subdued, with APT displaying consistent lower highs and a lack of momentum as mid-February approaches.
For now, APT continues to hover near the $0.88 mark, raising questions on the market’s confidence as the Aptos Foundation gears up for a transformative phase in its tokenomics strategy.
