tl;dr
VeChain is launching a $15 million StarGate staking program on July 1, allowing holders with as few as 10,000 VET to stake directly via the VeChainThor blockchain using NFT technology for enhanced rewards through an upgraded Weighted Delegated Proof of Stake system. This program is part of VeChain’s...
VeChain announced the upcoming launch of its $15 million StarGate staking program on July 1, marking one of the largest incentive initiatives amid growing industry interest in staking after the SEC provided clear guidance. The program allows holders with as few as 10,000 VET to participate in direct-from-protocol staking via the VeChainThor blockchain, utilizing NFT technology to facilitate higher rewards through its upgraded Weighted Delegated Proof of Stake system.
This initiative is part of the VeChain Renaissance roadmap, the blockchain’s most significant technical overhaul to date, incorporating enhanced tokenomics, EVM equivalence, and a revamped staking structure aimed at attracting developers and institutional investors. To accelerate early adoption, VeChain has allocated 5.48 billion VTHO tokens, worth approximately $15 million, to fund a six-month bonus rewards pool that increases APY for participants migrating nodes or staking VET during the program’s initial phase.
Staking tiers in the program range from the Dawn tier requiring 10,000 VET to the Mjolnir X tier requiring 15.6 million VET. The structure offers escalating rewards for larger stakes while ensuring smaller holders still receive incentives under the new system. This launch follows the SEC’s landmark clarification that protocol staking is not a securities offering, eliminating registration requirements for various forms of solo, self-custodial, and custodial staking based on the application of the Howey test.
VeChain’s CEO and Founder, Sunny Lu, praised the SEC’s ruling, emphasizing that it validates VeChain’s development of a compliant, accessible staking model that treats rewards as compensation for network participation rather than investment returns. He highlighted the company’s innovative use of NFTs to represent staking participation, ensuring simplicity for users along with full regulatory compliance.