# Protocol Changes

Recent and upcoming protocol-level changes on Bittensor, each with a full explainer.

_Source: https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes_

_Last reviewed: 2026-10-16_

Recent and upcoming protocol-level changes on Bittensor, each with a full explainer.

To see every runtime change with the date its pull request opened, merged, reached testnet and went live on mainnet, use the [protocol change tracker](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/change-tracker).

- [Protocol change tracker](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/change-tracker) — Every runtime change from pull request to testnet to mainnet, with dates and open proposals.
- [Root Reborn](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/root-reborn/tldr) — Root dividends held in the validator's basket of subnet alpha, rebalanced by trading.
- [eTao](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/etao) — Subnet owners set their own owner / validator / miner split; root TAO stakers keep their baseline share (spec 480).
- [Null consensus](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/null-consensus) — Subnet owners can replace Yuma with Null: the top-stake validator sets miner pay, dividends follow stake (spec 474).
- [The emission gate](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/emission-gate) — Emission gating mechanics (spec 440).
- [Miner collateral](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/miner-collateral) — Collateral requirements for miners (PRs #2953 + #2960).
- [Superellipse pools](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/superellipse-pools) — Pools move to a bounded ellipse curve; balances no swap can reach fund a per-subnet lending vault (PR #3211).
- [Shorts and longs](https://beta.taostats.io/docs/concepts/protocol-changes/shorts-and-longs) — Borrow alpha against TAO (short) or TAO against alpha (long) from the lending vault (PR #3211).