# Protocol Changes

Recent and upcoming protocol-level changes on Bittensor, each with a full explainer.

_Source: https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes_

_Last reviewed: 2026-11-05_

Recent and upcoming protocol-level changes on Bittensor, each with a full explainer.

To see every runtime change with the date its pull request opened, merged, reached testnet and went live on mainnet, use the [protocol change tracker](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/change-tracker).

- [Protocol change tracker](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/change-tracker) — Every runtime change from pull request to testnet to mainnet, with dates and open proposals.
- [Root Reborn](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/root-reborn/tldr) — Root dividends held in the validator's basket of subnet alpha, rebalanced by trading.
- [eTao](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/etao) — Subnet owners set their own owner / validator / miner split; root TAO stakers are paid their baseline share off the top.
- [Null consensus](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/null-consensus) — Subnet owners can replace Yuma with Null: the top-stake validator sets miner pay, dividends follow stake.
- [The emission gate](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/emission-gate) — Emission gating mechanics (spec 440).
- [Miner collateral](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/miner-collateral) — Collateral requirements for miners (PRs #2953 + #2960).
- [Shorts and longs](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/shorts-and-longs) — Lock TAO to short a subnet's alpha or alpha to go long; loans are lifted from the subnet's own pool (PR #3268).
- [Quantum-resistant wallets](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/quantum-wallets) — ML-DSA and Falcon wallets, rotating hashed accounts, and quantum-safe multisig and proxy addresses (spec 488, waiting to be switched on).
- [Gamma](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/gamma) — Dollar-valued credits for a subnet's service, minted by burning its alpha and charged as you use it (spec 488, waiting to be switched on).