Documentation / Bittensor concepts / Subnets
Root Subnet
Concept
Last reviewed 2026-09-23
The root subnet is netuid 0 — the coordinating subnet at the centre of Bittensor. Staking to root delegates TAO to root validators, who earn dividends from every subnet they validate on.
Key points
- Root uses only TAO — there is no alpha token and your root stake carries no subnet-pool price risk. Unclaimed rewards are held as subnet alpha in your validator's basket until you claim.
- Root staking is the "safe" option, but root's share of total emissions decreases over time by design as subnets mature.
- Under Root Reborn, root dividends are handled through validator baskets and redeemed with a manual
claim_root.