The Aptos community member known as MoonSheisty presented a new plan to cut the staking rewards of APT token by about 50 percent.
This recommendation reduces annual yield from 7 percent to 3.79 percent over a three-month period so that the network matches layer-1 blockchain models and ensures long-term financial stability.
Staking cut proposal sparks debate on decentralization
The proposed change will be assessed via development and social media platforms. The community members support the reduction of reward because it enables improved capital management. Various validators remain divided about the proposed amendment since their smaller members expect negative consequences to result from it. ElagabalxNode states on GitHub that removing payment incentives decreases decentralization when validator participation needs supportive mechanisms.
The proposal includes a recommendation to create a community validator program to address this. This initiative would offer grants and stake delegation to smaller contributors, ensuring they remain active in securing and governing the network.
Network performance and reward comparison across blockchains
Aptos was founded in 2021 by former Meta engineers and currently holds a total value locked of $974 million, based on DefiLlama data. About $320 million of this comes from Aries Markets, a lending protocol on the network. While high staking yields have attracted participants, the new proposal suggests that such rewards may limit engagement with riskier but potentially more rewarding DeFi opportunities such as MEV restaking and decentralized infrastructure participation.
Staking reward rates vary widely across blockchains. According to the coin ledger, BNB Smart Chain offers real returns of 7.43 percent, while Cardano delivers just 0.55 percent. Aptos now considers how to strike a balance between attracting validators and supporting ecosystem growth through reward reform.
Staking structure and governance mechanism in focus
Rewards in the Aptos network are distributed through epochs through a validating system that pays validators when they are actively present. Community members with a minimum required network stake can submit proposals leading to decentralized voting processes to establish change within its governance framework.
The Aptos community is engaged in ongoing discussion about creating a validator grant program that will prevent smaller validators from being left out. The proposal’s ongoing review process will determine how Aptos establishes equilibrium between decentralization, sustainability, and the financial effectiveness of its developing staking network.