The Bittensor network, a decentralized, open-source machine-learning platform, is approaching its inaugural halving event, expected on or around December 14. This event marks a significant milestone for the project, which launched in 2021 and adopted a Bitcoin-like supply schedule.
The halving will cut the daily issuance of its native TAO token from 7,200 to 3,600 per day, progressing the network toward its fixed supply cap of 21 million tokens, mirroring Bitcoin's model. Grayscale Research analyst William Ogden Moore described the event as a "key milestone in the network’s maturation."
Concurrently, the Bittensor ecosystem is experiencing substantial growth. Over 100 subnets—specialized marketplaces for AI services—are listed on CoinGecko, with a combined market cap exceeding $850 million. Alternative tracking by Taostats shows 129 subnets with a total valuation closer to $3 billion. Major subnets include Chutes, providing serverless compute for AI models, and Ridges, focused on crowdsourcing AI agent development.
This expansion is fueled by growing demand for decentralized AI infrastructure and venture capital interest. Inference Labs recently closed a $6.3 million funding round to support Subnet 2, a Bittensor marketplace for inference verification. DNA Fund's Chris Miglino, whose AI compute fund is heavily involved in the ecosystem, suggested decentralized AI may be blockchain's most significant use case since Bitcoin.
As the halving nears, market attention is focused on its potential price impact. The TAO price has recently rebounded toward the $283 area. Analysts note the event will create a major supply shock, reducing TAO's annual inflation rate to approximately 1.3%—lower than Bitcoin's post-halving rate. The network's future trajectory is also tied to the ongoing rollout of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, which is expected to broaden developer access and enable new DeFi applications like liquid staking and lending markets for TAO in 2026.
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