How TAO Emissions Work
Every ~12 seconds, the Bittensor network creates new TAO tokens and distributes them across subnets, validators, and miners. This process — called emission — is how the network pays its participants and how your staking rewards are generated.
What Are Emissions?
Emissions are newly created TAO tokens released on a fixed schedule, similar to how Bitcoin miners earn block rewards. The Bittensor network mints approximately 0.5 TAO every block (roughly every 12 seconds). That works out to about ~3,600 TAO per day.
Unlike Bitcoin, where rewards go to a single miner, TAO emissions flow to an entire ecosystem: subnet validators, miners, and subnet creators — and ultimately to stakers who delegate to validators.
At a Glance
~0.5 TAO
Per block
every ~12 sec
~3,600 TAO
Per day
after halving 1
21M TAO
Max supply
same as Bitcoin
Note: The daily emission rate was ~7,200 TAO/day before the first halving in December 2025, and will drop to ~1,800 TAO/day at the next halving (~Dec 2029). See the halving schedule →
Two Stages: Injection → Distribution
Emissions happen in two distinct phases. Understanding both helps you see why rewards don't land in your wallet instantly.
Injection — every block (~12 sec)
Each new block injects ~0.5 TAO into the network's subnet pools. Think of it as filling buckets — each subnet has its own bucket, and the amount going into each bucket is determined by the Taoflow model (explained below). The TAO sits in these pools, not yet distributed.
Distribution — every tempo (~72 min)
Once per tempo(~360 blocks ≈ 72 minutes), Yuma Consensus runs within each subnet. It evaluates how well each miner is performing, scores validators, and distributes the accumulated TAO in the subnet's pool to validators and miners based on their contribution. Stakers receive their cut from the validators they delegated to.
The Taoflow Model
Before November 2025, subnet emissions were allocated based on validator votes at the root subnet. Since November 2025, Bittensor switched to Taoflow — an emission model based on actual capital flows, not votes.
How Taoflow Works
- →The network tracks net TAO staking inflows for each subnet over the past ~87 days, using an exponential moving average (EMA).
- →Subnets with positive net inflows (more TAO staked in than withdrawn) receive a proportional share of daily emissions.
- →Subnets with net outflows receive zero emissions until capital flows reverse.
In plain English: subnets earn emissions by attracting new stake, not by lobbying voters. This makes emissions a direct signal of market confidence in each subnet.
Within-Subnet Split
Once a subnet has earned its share of daily emissions, those TAO are split three ways on every distribution cycle (tempo):
Miners run the actual AI compute workloads that the subnet is designed for. Validators evaluate miner output and decide who gets paid how much (via Yuma Consensus). The Subnet Creator owns the subnet and earns 18% as a royalty for launching and maintaining it.
What Stakers Actually Earn
As a TAO staker (delegator), you don't earn from the miner or creator cut — you earn a slice of the validator's 41%.
Subnet earns emissions
Your staked subnet earns its share of the ~3,600 TAO/day based on Taoflow.
41% goes to validators
Out of the subnet's earned TAO, 41% is allocated to the validator pool.
Validator takes their cut
Your validator keeps their "take" (default ~18%). The rest is shared among all delegators.
You earn proportionally
Your share = (your stake ÷ total delegated stake to that validator) × (validator's delegated emissions after take).
Example
A subnet earns 100 TAO in a day. Validators get 41 TAO. Your validator has an 18% take → keeps 7.4 TAO, distributes 33.6 TAO to delegators. You own 10% of the delegated stake → you earn 3.36 TAO that day.
Want to calculate your expected earnings? See the Staking Calculator →
Emission Flow Diagram
How newly minted TAO travels from the network to your wallet:
Bittensor Network
~0.5 TAO per block
every ~12 seconds
Subnet Pool
TAO accumulates each block
distributed every tempo (~72 min)
18%
Subnet Creator
41%
Validators
41%
Miners
Your Wallet
proportional to your stake
paid in TAO (classic staking)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many TAO are emitted per block?
~0.5 TAO per block after the first halving in December 2025. A new block is produced approximately every 12 seconds, adding up to ~3,600 TAO per day across the entire network.
What is a 'tempo'?
A tempo is the distribution cycle used by Yuma Consensus. One tempo is ~360 blocks, which is roughly 72 minutes. Rewards are distributed to validators and miners once per tempo.
What is Taoflow?
Taoflow (active since November 2025) is the emission model where each subnet's share of emissions is determined by its net TAO staking inflows over the past ~87 days (an exponential moving average). Subnets that see net outflows receive zero emissions.
Can a subnet receive zero emissions?
Yes. Under the Taoflow model, a subnet with net TAO outflows (more unstaking than staking) receives zero emissions. Only subnets attracting new stake earn a share of the daily emission.
What does the validator take mean for stakers?
When you delegate your TAO to a validator, the validator keeps a percentage of the emissions they receive on your behalf — this is the 'take'. The default take is 18%. If a validator earns 100 TAO for the pool, they keep 18 TAO and distribute 82 TAO proportionally among all delegators.
Is there a maximum TAO supply?
Yes. TAO has a hard cap of 21 million — the same as Bitcoin. The emission rate halves approximately every 4 years, meaning the total supply approaches but never exceeds 21 million.