Since KYVE’s start in early 2021, the project has gone through a few significant transitions to best accommodate its widespread growth and capabilities. First, starting as a smart contract on Arweave, then in Fall 2021 switching to an EVM-compatible setup on Moonbeam, eventually pivoting to an application-specific Cosmos SDK Layer 1 blockchain in Spring 2022.
With scalability limitations now behind us, we were able to rethink our tokenomics strategy to provide even more advanced and beneficial token utility possibilities.
The $KYVE Token
KYVE’s native token, $KYVE, is an essential part of the blockchain, permitting decentralization, chain and protocol security, network incentivization, and more. The more $KYVE tokens staked on the KYVE chain and protocol, the higher the network security will be.
- On the chain level, $KYVE is used for staking and delegating, securing the network through Proof of Stake;
- On the protocol level, $KYVE is used for funding, staking, and delegating, providing security for uploaded data.
- On the governance level, $KYVE is used for submitting and voting on proposals, allowing stakeholders to have a say in the evolution and growth of KYVE.
Chain Level
Inflation
The KYVE chain is secured through a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, allowing node runners to earn staking rewards and transaction fees in $KYVE. With this, $KYVE tokenomics must promote high utility to encourage high activity, maximizing overall network stability. Therefore, we’ve decided on the following: Inflation is introduced to incentivize node runners in the case of low activity within the network. However, if there’s high network activity, inflation is counterbalanced by fee burning. Let’s explain…
Usually, PoS networks come with capped or uncapped inflation schedules over time. The Cosmos SDK promotes uncapped inflation schedules to ensure continuous incentives are available for validators, promoting the network stability we are aiming for.¹ However, stakeholders tend to prefer the idea of capped token supply models.
To get the best of both worlds, we decided to go with uncapped inflation schedules over time, providing validator incentivization in the case of low activity while also referencing the “EIP-1559” standard for the (partial) burning of transaction fees.
Furthermore, seeing that our end goal is to maintain maximum network security, our tokenomics are optimized toward the bonded ratio. For those unfamiliar, the bonded ratio is the ratio between locked tokens and liquid tokens. The higher the bonded ratio is, the higher the security of the network is.
Initially, we expect the network to be backed by a high bonded ratio as we will be pushing for optimal staking and delegation as well as the inclusion of locked-up tokens in the bonded ratio. To create liquidity and reward validators, the team has decided to start with higher inflation, then proposes to lower the inflation rate over time when transaction fees cover the validator’s costs. A higher maximum inflation rate is also chosen to incentivize users to re-stake their tokens thus preventing being diluted by inflation in case the Goal Bonded is not held.
On genesis, the network will start with the following parameters, which are modifiable via governance at any given time:
Protocol Level
Uploaded Data Secured via PoS
In order to participate on the protocol level, protocol node runners must stake $KYVE tokens on the chain. Once running, their proof for uploading valid data is submitted to the chain and voted on by the other nodes. It’s important to note that nodes can participate in multiple pools at once (via inter-pool security, a feature to be released at the beginning of November 2022). However, if they misbehave, their tokens will get slashed.
Protocol Rewards
Protocol nodes receive rewards via pool funding which gets paid out for each data bundle produced. The amount of $KYVE paid out can be determined by the governance per pool (Operating Cost). If a pool runs out of funding, it pauses until it has been refunded. This creates an incentive for projects that depended on the data to keep funding the pool, meaning that the network utility drives the protocol level.
Since protocol nodes currently relay the data to Arweave, they pay in $AR. To compensate for the $AR payment, node runners receive a storage cost payment in $KYVE depending on the data size. Seeing that KYVE can upload data onto any permanent data storage solution, these same mechanics will apply to any future storage backend supported by KYVE.
On both the chain and protocol levels, there are community taxes being paid to the treasury. These taxes can be adjusted by the governance.
Pool Security Precautions
To prevent pools from being taken over by malicious, hefty token holders, they will automatically pause if the total stake is too low. This provides security for the validated data.
Governance
To ensure that these parameters get configured over time in the spirit of the network, KYVE is determined to introduce an effective governance mechanism.
On genesis, the network will start with the following parameters which are modifiable via governance at any given time:
Token Distribution
Release Schedule
Given the persistent demanding market and macro conditions and the fact that we closed our last round at the end of the bull market cycle, we updated our token release schedule to better prepare for possible sell pressure from earlier round participants.
A “DEX first”-approach additionally emphasizes the relevance of this consideration. Thus, the KYVE team answered this inherent sell pressure with a decaying cliff and a block-based token release schedule for the token buyers.
Consequently, it takes up to four years to fully release first-round participants’ tokens, compared to only one year for the round three participants. These measures ultimately serve the network stability and the smooth launch of the protocol into the market.
Liquidity Update
To secure a minimum level of liquidity at launch, the team has decided to expand its DEX reserve from 1.15% to 2.5% of the genesis supply of tokens. In light of the above-stated intention to achieve the highest level of network security at launch, the team has decided to carve out 10% of the genesis network supply for the Foundation Delegation Program from the Ecosystem endowment.
This carve-out serves two aspects:
- Creating an attractive size for the Foundation Delegation Program to attract Cosmos’ leading validators to our network;
- Limiting the number of community $KYVE subject to the slashing and other network validation risks to amount under this program.
Bonded Ratio and PoS Participation
Seeing that locked tokens affect the Bonded Ratio, it’s important to include some baskets in the bonded ratio. However, they won’t participate in the PoS. Any tokens transferred from the baskets and turned into liquidity will not be counted in the bonded ratio unless they are actually staked or delegated.
For the Korellia Incentivized Testnet Rewards, 1% of $KYVE tokens will be rewarded to the users, and 1% will be used for protocol-level foundation delegation. See the breakdown of these token rewards in our recent Korellia article.
Contributing to a Trustless Future
KYVE’s mission is to revolutionize customized access to on- and off-chain data by providing fast and easy tooling for decentralized data validation, immutability, and retrieval. Doing so will greatly improve the overall trustlessness of Web3 data and enforce stronger, faster, and more secure builds.
With this token being a key piece to the KYVE puzzle, all of the above-stated measures were thoroughly examined and thought through in the best interest of our early investors as well as, of course, the full decentralization and network security of KYVE.
With a few more milestones ahead before the $KYVE TGE, we greatly appreciate all who continue testing KYVE’s testnet. Doing so allows our team to best evaluate the current features and ensure that the chain and protocol are as secure as possible for launch. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey towards mainnet!
More About KYVE
KYVE, the Web3 data lake solution, is a protocol that enables data providers to standardize, validate, and permanently store blockchain data streams. By leveraging permanent data storage solutions like Arweave, KYVE’s Cosmos SDK chain creates permanent backups and ensures the scalability, immutability, and availability of these resources over time.
KYVE’s network is powered by decentralized uploaders and validators funded by $KYVE tokens and aims to operate as a DAO in the near future. This past year KYVE has gained major support, currently backed by top VCs, including Hypersphere Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Distributed Global, Mechanism Capital, CMS Holdings, IOSG Ventures, and blockchains such as Arweave, Avalanche, Solana, Interchain, and NEAR.
[1] At the moment, the Cosmos Hub community is discussing a revision of its original tokenomics. However, this might still take some time until this is properly implemented. Therefore we are continuing with the current preferred uncapped inflation schedules.
Written by Margaux Stancil, Head of Marketing at KYVE.
