# Burning

When token is burned - it is no longer accessible and not a part of the circulating supply

_Source: https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/tokenomics/burning_

_Last reviewed: 2026-09-15_

When token is burned - it is no longer accessible and not a part of the circulating supply

> [!NOTE]
> **Recycled vs. burned**
>
> **Recycled tao/alpha** just becomes unissued - ready to be emitted again at a later date
>
> **Burned tao/alpha** is destroyed. This token no longer exists, and cannot be used.

## Tao

* Tao extrinsic (transaction) fees are **recycled**, not burned — the tao is subtracted from total issuance and becomes available to be emitted again later (this defers the [halving](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/tokenomics/halving) slightly). Since runtime **445** the fee is also not paid to the block author. See [Recycling](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/tokenomics/recycling) and the [Runtime 445](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/runtime-445) explainer.

## Alpha

* Mining emission to the subnet owner hotkey is burned.
* Subnet owners can burn alpha
* Subsidized subnets: the validator alpha that would be converted to tao for root emissions is burned.