VeChain’s latest protocol upgrade, StarGate, introduces a new staking model designed to change how value flows through the network. It moves rewards from legacy node structures to self-custodied staking NFTs, ties participation directly to contribution, and lowers the barrier to entry for users holding as little as 10,000 VET.
But is it just a technical shift, or does it mark a deeper change in how VeChain operates? In this edition of VeChain Faces, the team behind StarGate lays out the intent and the infrastructure behind one of the protocol’s most consequential upgrades to date.
From Nodes to NFTs: VeChain Resets the Rules of Network Contribution
Unveiled in July, StarGate arrives with a six-month, $15 million bonus pool and a staking system built around Delegator NFTs. The change comes amid renewed regulatory clarity in the United States, where the SEC has signaled that protocol-level staking is not considered a securities offering. For VeChain, this opens the door to a broader range of participants, including institutions eyeing compliant staking models.
The technical overhaul is part of what VeChain calls its “Renaissance” era, a roadmap centered on tokenomics, governance, and infrastructure upgrades. This phase is marked by major hard forks, Hayabusa and Galactica, that set the groundwork for a more decentralized network architecture. Antonio Senatore, VeChain’s CTO, described StarGate as a gateway into that next phase.
“StarGate introduces multiple staking NFT tiers, making participation accessible and inclusive to all. […] After the Hayabusa hard fork, only those who actively contribute to the network by staking VET will be rewarded.”
That shift away from passive holding reflects more than just a change in mechanics. Rosa Simeoli, Product Manager for StarGate, emphasized that the redesign is also about governance and empowerment.
“It’s how we turn infrastructure into empowerment and ensure our community is not just included, but truly equipped to lead,” she explained.
Under the new system, rewards are issued based on staking tiers that range from 10,000 to over 15 million VET. The previous node structure is phased out, and eligibility now depends on whether users self-custody and commit their tokens directly to the network.
This architecture supports flexible participation through NFT-based staking, offering tiers like Dawn, Lightning, Flash, and Mjolnir X. The system is designed to accommodate a broad spectrum of stakeholders while reinforcing decentralization and security.
In addition to altering who earns rewards, StarGate updates VeChain’s underlying consensus design. The new Weighted Delegated Proof of Stake mechanism aims to strengthen the link between user contribution and protocol performance, maintaining low-cost throughput while encouraging more meaningful engagement.
Scaling Participation Through Purpose-Driven Design
These updates come as VeChain works to build platforms focused on real-world utility. One example is VeBetter, a platform that has logged over 20 million tokenized actions since launch. It connects on-chain incentives to everyday decisions, encouraging users to participate in sustainable behavior through trackable, rewarded actions.
Vineet Singh, Head of Product, sees StarGate as a structural layer that strengthens this direction.
“This upgrade strengthens the foundation for VeChain to become the go-to platform for building valuable sustainability-oriented applications, where sustainable actions are not just encouraged, but rewarded.”
Sunny Lu, VeChain’s CEO, added that StarGate is also intended to amplify that momentum.
“StarGate provides an attractive investment vehicle, which will unlock further growth alongside the millions of users tokenizing real-world actions on our VeBetter platform.”
Marketing Director Anthony Day echoed the broader opportunity. He framed StarGate as an invitation to both retail users and builders to revisit the project with fresh eyes.
“The ecosystem has advanced from working with top-tier brands to now bringing millions of users to apps on the VeBetter platform. With a more rewarding staking program, there’s never been a better time to join the VeChain community.”
Laying the Groundwork for Institutional Appetite
While StarGate redefines how users engage with the protocol today, it also sets up VeChain for longer-term alignment with institutional markets. Johnny Garcia, Head of Institutional Growth, pointed to the upgrade’s economic significance.
“An upgrade to existing tokenomics to sustainably align incentives with security stakeholders, a removal of barriers to foster adoption by developers, enterprises, and community stakeholders. It will bring more than the table-stake matters of improved transparency, governance and scalability, but most importantly, real participation.”
Lu reinforced that positioning with a nod to the broader macro settings.
“Looking at the macro environment, unfolding regulations in the US and EU, particularly around staking, are opening doors to adoption for institutions and financial entities.”
To learn more about the StarGate program and how to participate, visit VeChain’s official page for the latest updates and documentation.