# 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: 2026-09-23_

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

- [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.
- [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 (spec 474).
- [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).
- [Superellipse pools](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/superellipse-pools) — Pools move to a bounded ellipse curve; balances no swap can reach fund a per-subnet lending vault (PR #3211).
- [Shorts and longs](https://taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/shorts-and-longs) — Borrow alpha against TAO (short) or TAO against alpha (long) from the lending vault (PR #3211).