Autonomys Network: Definition, Mission, Roadmap, and Tokenomics

The worlds of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to evolve, and one exciting project that merges these two technologies is Autonomys Network and its native token, AI3. This article will delve into what Autonomys Network is, the role of the AI3 token, its roadmap, and tokenomics.

What is Autonomys Network?

Autonomys Network is the culmination of the Subspace Protocol, a project developed over three years through intensive research and development by its founders, Jeremiah Wagstaff and Nazar Mokrynskyi. 

The Subspace Protocol succeeded in enabling permanent decentralized storage for Web3. Building upon this innovation, Jeremiah and Nazar integrated modular and decoupled computation, resulting in the creation of Autonomys Network. The official rebranding from Subspace Protocol to Autonomys Network was announced on June 14, 2024.

Also Read: The FDUSD Depeg: Insolvency Claims, Market Chaos, and Legal Showdown

Mission of Autonomys Network

The project raised $32.9 million in funding, led by Pantera Capital, with significant participation from Coinbase Ventures, Crypto.com, KR1, GSR Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Hypersphere Ventures, and Stratos Technologies.

Autonomys Network has launched seven testnets, involving over 100,000 participants (Farmers) who have committed more than 180 PiB of storage space. 

Phase 1 of the Mainnet officially launched on November 6, 2024, through a Proof-of-Time ceremony, where the hash of Bitcoin block #869146 was chosen as the network's universal genesis point. 

Within two weeks of the Phase 1 launch, over 2,000 nodes joined the network, contributing more than 140 PiB of storage. The network’s native token, AI3, is used for staking, governance, block rewards, and transaction fees.

Autonomys Network Roadmap

Following the launch of Mainnet Phase 1, Autonomys Network plans to roll out Phase 2 in Q1 2025. This phase will introduce the Domain Layer, Nova EVM (currently live on the Tarus testnet), and enable token transferability and vesting mechanisms.

Mainnet Phase 3, scheduled for 2026, will focus on achieving scalability goals, including the implementation of data sharding.

Autonomys Network Tokenomics (AI3)

AI3 is the native token of the Autonomys Network, with a maximum total supply of 1 billion tokens. Approximately 65% of the total supply was minted at the launch of Mainnet Phase 1 in November 2024.

The token will only become transferable following the official Token Generation Event (TGE), which is scheduled to coincide with the launch of Mainnet Phase 2 in Q1 2025.

Token Distribution to Investors

A total of 494.5 million AI3 tokens (around 76.08% of the initial supply, or 49.45% of the total maximum supply) was allocated to Investors, Team members, Autonomys Labs (Developer Treasury), Subspace Foundation (Long-Term Treasury), and Partners. This distribution is subject to a 12-month cliff followed by a 36-month vesting schedule, with tokens released monthly.

After the cliff period ends, 25% of the allocated tokens will be unlocked, with the remaining 75% released over the next 36 months, at a rate of 1/36 per month.

Initial AI3 Token Supply

155.5 million AI3 tokens (around 23.92% of the initial supply, or 15.55% of the total supply) were allocated to Autonomys Labs (Operational Activities), Subspace Foundation (Short-Term Operations and Treasury), Ambassadors, and Testnet/Stake Wars participants.

These tokens are not subject to vesting, though some participants—such as Ambassadors—may have specific vesting terms based on program requirements.

Also Read: Top AI Agent Coins with 13x Potential Growth

Technology Behind Autonomys Network

Autonomys Network utilizes a modular blockchain architecture composed of four key components:

1. Decentralized application (dApp) layer
   
    
2. Separate execution domains
   
    
3. Consensus layer
   
    
4. Storage layer
   
    

Key Features of Autonomys Network

The modular design of Autonomys Network includes features like:

• Decoupled Execution (DecEx)
  
   
• Domains
  
   
• Interoperability
  
   
• Data Sharding
  
   
• Open-source AI directory
  
   

DecEx separates transaction execution from consensus, allowing the independent scaling of throughput and storage while maintaining decentralization.

Custom Blockchains on Autonomys

The domain architecture enables developers to build application-specific blockchains with tailored functionality, supporting a wide range of AI applications without overburdening the core protocol.

The network's interoperability across different state transition frameworks and execution environments—such as EVM and WASM—eases integration with existing blockchains.

Scalable Data Sharding

Data sharding splits data into shards distributed across various nodes. This allows parallel processing, reducing the load on individual nodes and enhancing the network's ability to handle large datasets—critical for AI model training and deployment.

The open-source AI directory encourages collaboration and innovation in the AI3.0 ecosystem, promoting knowledge sharing and protecting valuable AI resources from censorship.

Data Sharding & Scalability Framework

Autonomys Network aims for high throughput through its scalability framework, which includes:

• Data Sharding for parallel transaction processing
  
   
• A Beacon Chain using Proof-of-Archival Storage (PoAS) consensus
  
   
• The utilization of execution domains
  
   

Currently, blockchain storage remains limited and lacks scalable capacity. Autonomys Network's framework aims to support not just storage, but also bandwidth and compute power at levels comparable to Web2 infrastructure.

Conclusion

Autonomys Network provides the foundational infrastructure, while the AI3 token acts as the “fuel” that powers various activities and interactions within the network. 

AI3 enables value transfer, service access, and participation in governance—each playing a crucial role in the growth and sustainability of the Autonomys ecosystem.

FAQ

What is Autonomys Network?

Autonomys Network is a decentralized blockchain platform designed to support the development and deployment of AI-powered decentralized applications (dApps).

What is the primary function of the AI3 token?

AI3 is the native utility token of the Autonomys Network, serving as a medium for transaction fees, governance, access to AI services, staking mechanisms, and incentives for users and developers.

How does Autonomys Network combine blockchain and AI?

Autonomys Network provides a secure and transparent blockchain infrastructure for developers to integrate AI models and services into their decentralized applications.