The Aptos Foundation has committed to permanently locking and staking 210 million APT tokens, representing approximately 18% of APT's circulating supply at the time of announcement. According to reports from AMBCrypto, this decision was announced on October 8, when the Foundation held approximately 37% of Aptos's total APT supply at network launch. The Foundation has pledged never to sell or distribute these tokens, representing a significant reduction in potential selling pressure from the organization's holdings. However, as reported by CoinDesk, the pledge remains a stated intention rather than a verified action, with key details such as enforcement mechanisms, recipient, and timeline remaining unconfirmed. The move aims to enhance network security and ensure long-term funding sustainability for the Aptos ecosystem.
Once locked, the 210 million APT will be staked to support the Aptos network, with the Foundation planning to use staking rewards to supplement its operations rather than selling the underlying tokens. As reported by AMBCrypto, this approach allows the principal amount to remain locked while the income generated continues to circulate. The Foundation has not specified when the lock will take effect and has not provided wallet addresses or on-chain transactions showing the tokens are already locked. The move aligns with Aptos' broader tokenomics strategy, including a proposed supply cap and gas fee adjustments. Under the new plan, staking rewards from the locked tokens will replace treasury sales as the Foundation's primary funding source, marking a significant shift from short-term treasury management to longer-term sustainability.
The Foundation has now proposed a comprehensive tokenomics restructuring that would significantly reduce new token supply entering the market. The plan includes cutting annual staking rewards from 5.19% to 2.6% and establishing a 2.1 billion APT maximum supply cap. Additionally, network gas fees would increase tenfold to boost token burns, with all gas fee payments being burned permanently. These changes aim to reduce new token supply and require approval through Aptos governance before implementation. The governance proposals behind these changes received strong community support, with the full set of changes expected to be carried out by September 2026. The timing is deliberate, aligning with the end of the initial four-year vesting cycle for core contributors and early investors, which will reduce monthly token unlocks by 60%, impacting token supply and staking yields for holders.
The proposal's last-call period ended on March 6, 2026, indicating that the comprehensive tokenomics changes are now moving toward implementation. This permanent locking commitment is part of Aptos' broader strategy to manage APT's supply growth, which includes plans to cut staking rewards, increase transaction fees, and establish a 2.1 billion maximum supply of APT. According to AMBCrypto, many of these suggested changes require further development and governance approval. The 210 million APT lockup represents exactly one-tenth of the proposed 2.1 billion supply cap, with approximately 1.9 million APT already burned since network launch. The move signals a long-term commitment that could significantly reduce circulating supply and influence governance, though investors should await official verification before making investment decisions.
