GalaChain has come a long way. What started as a gaming-focused Layer 1 has grown into a full ecosystem, with real volume flowing through GalaSwap and GalaPump every day, and a community that helped build it every step of the way.
The momentum is clear. Thousands of users are transacting on GalaChain every day, and thanks to the friction-reduction work across the ecosystem, even AI agents are now able to operate natively on the chain. Shrapnel is migrating its entire economy onto the chain. A partnership with China’s Trusted Copyright Chain is opening a compliant pathway to 600 million gamers. The foundation is live, and there’s every reason to be proud of how far GalaChain has come.
With that foundation in place, there’s an opportunity to make GalaChain even stronger. The ecosystem has outgrown the economic design it launched with, and the chain is ready for the kind of engine that powers the biggest networks in crypto. Bigger node rewards, real burns, real fee-sharing, and a model built to run forever. This is the moment to set GalaChain up for the next decade.
Next Steps
With the ecosystem in this shape, the natural next step is giving it an economic engine that can carry it forward for the long term. That means bigger node rewards, fee-sharing that pays operators directly, and a model designed to run forever.
The original emission model was built for an earlier phase. It did its job. But GalaChain has grown into a full ecosystem with live DeFi, gaming economies, and AI-driven transactions. The economics need to match.
GalaChain is proposing to adopt the same disinflationary model used by Solana, Ethereum, and Cosmos. Starting at approval, emissions follow a defined rate that decays aggressively each year and settles at a permanent floor. This is the proven standard for Layer 1 blockchains.
What This Means for Node Operators
For node operators, everything changes. Day 1 rewards increase approximately 3.2x from current levels. The permanent floor means no node ever earns zero. Fee-sharing goes live alongside the upgrade: 50% of all gas fees on GalaChain flow directly to node operators. Every swap, every token launch, every in-game trade pays you.
What This Means for the Chain
Under the old model, burning GALA actually triggered more minting. That’s over with this upgrade. Every burned token is permanently removed.
The Vote
Question: Should GalaChain’s emission model be upgraded from the current gap-based system to a disinflationary emission model with fee-sharing for node operators?
Yes — I support upgrading to the disinflationary emission model (15% starting rate, 15% annual decay, 1.5% permanent floor) with 50% of all gas fees distributed to node operators and 50% burned permanently. I understand this replaces the 50 billion hard cap with a declining emission rate, increases Day 1 node rewards approximately 3.2× from current levels, and establishes a permanent income floor.
No — I do not support this change. The current gap model should continue as-is. I understand that under the gap model, emissions will continue declining toward zero within 2–3 years and node operator income will decline accordingly.
Abstain — I choose to abstain from voting on this proposal. I acknowledge the significance of this economic decision but require more information or am neutral on the proposed changes.
How to Vote
Every active Founder’s Node receives one vote. The voting window is open till UTC — April 24, 2026 — 00:00, and all node operators will be able to cast their vote directly at https://node.gala.com/. Review the full proposal and economic model before voting.
Vote ends in UTC — April 24, 2026 — 00:00 Washington (EDT) — April 23, 2026 — 8:00 PM Los Angeles (PDT) — April 23, 2026 — 5:00 PM
In a huge leap forward toward operator freedom and control, Gala Founder’s Nodes can now be tokenized on GalaChain and transferred from one user to another.
Founder’s Node Licenses
Until now, Founder’s Node ownership has been tied to an account-locked license to both operate a node and receive rewards for doing so. Users of the Gala ecosystem can purchase Nodes for their account, but there has never been any way to transfer Founder’s Node licenses to other users in the ecosystem.
In April 2023, Founder’s Node operators approved a proposal to move toward tokenization of Founder’s Nodes, promising an eventual path to transferability of Node licenses.
As the culmination of several months of hard work from our platform, legal and node teams, this update makes that proposal a reality.
How It Works
Nodes as GalaChain Allowances
All Founder’s Node licenses will be issued as GalaChain allowances within the licensed account. Therefore, the node owner will have the ability to redeem their Node NFT onto GalaChain. At the time of this blog’s publication, the process of issuing Founder’s Nodes as GalaChain allowances is already underway. It will be completed within the next couple days.
Once a Founder’s Node has been redeemed onto GalaChain, it is a token in the user’s account. However, it is not yet transferable.
Whether the Founder’s Node exists as a GalaChain allowance or a redeemed NFT, it can still be online and participate in the daily $GALA distribution until marked as transfer-ready.
Making a Node “Transfer-Ready”
Once a node license has been tokenized (redeemed as an NFT), it can then be made transfer-ready for a fee, payable in $GALA by the owner.
Once a node has been made transfer-ready, it is no longer eligible for the daily distribution of $GALA until it is reactivated. Once it is transfer ready, the node license can be transferred from the owner’s Inventory to any other GalaChain wallet.
Associated Fees
There are several different fees involved with the Founder’s Node tokenization process that users should understand before they begin. All fees are payable in $GALA alone, and all spent $GALA is burned from circulating supply.
Redeem the NFT – A fee of $25 worth of $GALA is charged (in addition to the standard GalaChain transaction fee) when an owner redeems their GalaChain allowance as an NFT on GalaChain.
Making the NFT Transfer-Ready – A fee equivalent to 60 days’ distribution reward* is charged for marking the NFT as transfer-ready. The exact amount of this fee is determined using the average distribution amount of the previous 7 days.
Reactivation Fee – A fee of $10 worth of $GALA is required for a new or existing owner to reactivate a Founder’s Node NFT, removing its transfer-readystatus and making it eligible once again for activity and $GALA reward distribution.
*60 days’ distribution $GALA equivalent is an introductory fee for this new feature and is subject to change.
FAQ
Why would someone want to transfer a Founder’s Node NFT?
The ability to tokenize and transfer Founder’s Nodes represents a new level of freedom for our community. This ability will ensure that we have an effective and reliable group of Founder’s Node operators powering the ecosystem, facilitating an exit for those who no longer wish to operate their nodes.
Where can I buy or sell Founder’s Node NFTs?
There is currently no official Gala-operated secondary market where Founder’s Nodes can be bought or sold, but the beta version of the community-built secondary market at NFT Harbor is prepared to facilitate buying or selling Founder’s Node license NFTs.
Can Founder’s Node NFTs be bridged to Ethereum?
Founder’s Node NFTs are NOT bridgeable to Ethereum. It is possible (but not guaranteed) that this function will be added in the future.
Why is there a fee for making my Founder’s Node NFT transfer-ready?
It should be considered carefully – This fee signifies that while transfer of Founder’s Nodes is accessible, the decision to do so should not be taken lightly. As the backbone of our ecosystem, we value reliability and consistency in our Founder’s Node operators. We strive to have a steadfast and community-driven group of dedicated owners.
$GALA is burned for ecosystem health – 100% of$GALA spent on associated fees is burned from circulating supply, a supportive activity that encourages the long-term health and stability of the Gala ecosystem.
Not meant for speculation – Without a transfer-ready fee, Founder’s Node tokens run the risk of becoming a speculative item whose prices can be manipulated by those who do not recognize Founder’s Nodes for their correct purpose. Part of the transfer-ready fee’s role is to discourage irresponsible speculative trading behaviors, as Gala Founder’s Nodes are not investments.
What can I expect in terms of secondary market value?
We cannot make any predictions or offer any advice about secondary market prices. An important part of the freedom incorporated with this update is a free market for pricing when it comes to secondary market sales.
Can a transferred Founder’s Node NFT be recovered in the event of a mistake?
No, once transferred, the legal right to operate the node is the new owner’s and your node cannot be recovered.
Can Founder’s Nodes still be purchased in the primary sale?
Yes, Founder’s Nodes are still available HERE. GalaChain allowances will be granted for all new Founder’s Nodes purchased in the primary sale going forward.
Can my Founder’s Node be transfer-ready and online at the same time?
No, when your Founder’s Node is transfer-ready it cannot be operated, nor is it eligible for $GALA distribution. Common Ground World Node operators should note that even though all Common Ground World Nodes will now be marked “Transfer-Ready,” they are still eligible for rewards.
I made my node transfer-ready then decided to start operating it again. Will my transfer-ready fee be refunded?
No, the transfer-ready fee is non-refundable. Additionally, to reactivate your Founder’s Node NFT, you must pay the reactivation fee.
I transfer my node NFT to an accountless web3 wallet and I can’t see the NFT in my inventory.
In order to use your node, it must be in the wallet associated with your Gala account. If you send it to any other wallet, you won’t be able to use it until you send it back to your Gala account’s wallet address which you can copy after clicking your profile image in the top right on games.gala.com.
We’re working hard to build Gala Film bigger and better every day. Today, we want to share the following critical update for Film Node operators:
Starting on Monday, June 3rd in order to receive Distribution Film Nodes must meet the following requirements;
Node Software version v3.6.6 (or higher)
The following ports must be exposed: 4002, 9096, 5443
Each node must have it’s own Public IP Address
System:
Windows, Mac, or Linux (64-bit)
4GB RAM
2 or more CPU Cores
60GB free storage space
A stable internet connection
This includes any Nodes currently running and any new Nodes that come online. Any nodes that do not satisfy all of these requirements by Monday, June 3rd will not be eligible for Film Rewards Distribution until the requirements are met.
Check Your Node Status
Head over to your Node Dashboard (https://node.gala.com/#/). If your Node is on version v3.6.6 (or higher) and you have a GREEN dot next to your node, the various workloads, and the port status icon next to “Running” – you are all good. No action required!
Please be patient with these steps. These requirements empower your Nodes that are running Gala Film workloads to support the Gala Decentralized Content Delivery Network (dCDN). This is still an experimental, emerging technology that requires thousands of Nodes to talk to each other as well as Gala backend services. All of this network communication taking place means things (like port checking and online status updates) may take longer than expected.
If you are interested in more of the technical details of Nodes, please check out the FAQs at the end.
If the Dot Under ‘Node’ Is Orange
Check the following;
Each node runs on its own unique Public IP Address This will generally be an issue if you run multiple nodes from your home network. If your Node runs on a VPS or if you run a single Node at home you likely do not have to worry about this at all.
Your nodes meet the minimum system requirements. With more workloads going through the node ecosystem, if your node does not meet the requirements it may frequently fall offline.
Windows, Mac, or Linux (64-bit)
4GB RAM
2 or more CPU Cores
60GB free storage space
A stable internet connection
You can find multiple guides for setting up, managing and updating your node Software on the Gala Node Support Page:
Issue Fix #1 – Is your node version v3.6.6 (or higher)?
If your node is currently under version v3.6.6, you will need to update your node. This can only be done via your system, and NOT through the Node Dashboard.
You can find guides for updating your node Software on the Gala Node Support Page.
If you find an ORANGE Status on the Node Management Dashboard, hover over the icon to highlight the issue you need to resolve to get your node back online.
Gala Nodes require certain ports to be open for your node to run.
Any nodes running at home will likely be behind a firewall as part of your Internet Service Provider. If you’re a Node Operator running through your home connection and need these ports exposed, you will need to set up port forwarding through your ISP.
Any Nodes running on a VPS probably already have these ports exposed.
The following 3 ports all need to be open; 4002, 9096, 5443.
Check your firewall settings to open these ports if needed.
Previously we required Ports 4002, 9096, and 5080. Please note that the third port number requirement has changed and your Film workload will not be able to run without all three ports exposed.
Try using a free port checking tool (like this one: https://portchecker.co/) to verify that the correct ports are exposed.
Once the ports are available, it could take several hours for your node to recognize that the ports are properly exposed.
Issue Fix #3 – Have you restarted your Node?
Once your Node Software is up to date (v3.6.6 or higher) your Film Workload will automatically update itself to the latest version (v4.1.21 as of this article’s publishing). Once your Gala Film Workload has automatically updated, YOU WILL NEED TO RESTART YOUR NODE.
You should see a “Restart Required” message in the Node Management page next to the restart button if your Node requires a restart. This is a Node restart, not a Film Workload restart.
The restart will need to happen AFTER your Film Workload has updated itself to the latest version (v4.1.21 as of this message going out for the first time), if you restart before the update is complete it will need to be restarted again.
Important Notes
It can take a while for your workload to verify that the ports are exposed so please be patient!
Once you see your Film Workload is up and running according to the Node Management page, it may also take some time for your Node Dashboard to show your node online.
FAQs:
Q: Why does each node require its own Public IP address?
A: The core technology that powers the dCDN uses IPFS, which relies on public IP addresses to identify peers. Our IPFS implementation is technically able to perform NAT (thanks to libp2p) however, the dCDN egress doesn’t (yet). So, for now, we rely on a fixed set of ports and a public IP.
Q: Why do we need to expose those ports both inbound and outbound?
A: We require inbound traffic because your Node isn’t just talking to a backend server, it’s actually talking to A BUNCH of other peers (thus, a decentralized system). If your node can’t be reached by its peers, then your Node can’t participate in the network. Also, if a node doesn’t allow inbound traffic then no client can send a request to stream content from that node.
Q: Why are there more requirements for running a Film Workload on a Gala Node than any other Gala Workloads? A: Film Workloads (and Film-Beta Workloads) are the only Gala Node workloads that facilitate and participate in the Gala Decentralized Content Delivery Network (dCDN) at this time.
It’s almost time for an important update to the Gala Node ecosystem that will enhance rewards for the most active operators.
As the Gala ecosystem was building its infrastructure and first proving viability, Founder’s Node operators were rewarded for operation based on their ability to meet the minimum 6-hour uptime requirement during each 24 hour distribution period. This system should be familiar to all Founder’s Node operators today, as it is the system we have used for several years.
In this current system, 1 point is awarded to each Founder’s Node that has met its minimum uptime requirement for the day. Then the $GALA generated for the day is distributed proportionally to the allocation of the points. This straightforward system provides no incentive for Node operators to support the network by operating their Nodes for longer than 6 hours each day.
We’re looking for node operators who support our vision of building the largest decentralized network in the world, so we devised a solution that would a) remove the minimum uptime requirement,and b) reward those who run their Nodes around the clock.
The Long Term Plan
In 2021, it was first announced HERE (and decided through a decentralized governance vote) that the network would eventually shift to such a system. Amid the excitement of opening GalaChain to external development via tools like the GalaChain SDK and the Gala Creator Portal, as well as the web3 buzz surrounding the March 20-21 GalaChain Hackathon GDC competition, we’re thrilled to announce that the time has come.
These updates will go live soon, switching to the new distribution system and rewarding node operators based on a new point system, described in more detail below.
The Point System
The original point system was “pass or fail” with the operator receiving either 0 points for not meeting the requirements or 1 point for meeting the requirements.
The new point system allows operators to earn partial points, creating a more accurate reward structure based on actual operation time.
Every 6 hour period equals 1 point. Therefore the max points for a 24 hour day is 4.
Another way of phrasing this is through the following formula:
Points = (Seconds Online ÷ 3600) x (4 ÷ 24)
While this point structure is changing, the total amount of $GALA available in the daily distribution will not change, except when a dynamic supply event occurs as described in the Gala Ecosystem Blueprint.
The founders distribution still follows the same formula:
Point Value = Distribution $GALA Amount / Total Points
Reward = Points * Point Reward Value
Founder’s Nodes and Common Ground World Nodes
This change will initially only affect the distribution of $GALA from Founder’s Nodes and $DIRT from Common Ground World Nodes.
For Common Ground World Nodes, the 1 $DIRT received per day for an active node will now be the maximum that a Common Ground World Node will generate when active for 24 hours in a day. A Common Ground World Node that is active for 6 hours will receive .25 $DIRT, and so on.
Next Steps
This update is an important step in the process toward making tokenized licenses called Node Workload NFTs, which will allow Node operators to transfer their Node licenses to other users. Shortly after the start of this new distribution structure, we will convert Common Ground World Node licenses to the ecosystem’s first Node Workload NFTs. The tokenization of Founder’s Node licenses will follow shortly after.
Running the Newest Client
With a future update to this system, modifiers will be implemented that reward additional points to operators who run the newest version of the Node client or reduce points for running a deprecated version of the Node client. These details are still being fine tuned and we will share updates as they become available.
Thank you for supporting the decentralized Gala ecosystem, and we look forward to many more years of building and innovating through the power of GalaChain!
Following extensive conversation with the community and having hosted an AMA in the Founders Node Owner channel, the originally posted proposal has been modified in several ways.
Currently, this will apply to all existing referrals, but eventually there will be a point at which they must be “written to chain” via a burn. This will ensure that in the long-term, only those who are active in the ecosystem continue to benefit from the referral system
In the end state, referrals will be temporary unless written to chain by a burn. This means that a web2 user can refer a friend and benefit from that referral, but that it will expire unless they “claim” it via a burn in the social dashboard.
The time to implement the full version of this is 90 days, rather than the initial 7, due to the added lift on engineering and design for the ability to write all referrals to chain.
Rollout will be phased:
Two Weeks: Burn rebates for referrers based on burns on ETH.
One Month: Burn rebates for referrers based on GalaChain.
Two Months: Referral Dashboard v1
Three Months: Referral Dashboard v2 + Write Referrals to Chain
After this phased rollout, non-chain referrals will begin to count-down towards expiration.
The remainder of the proposal remains the same.
The core of this proposal introduces a referral system designed to incentivize ecosystem supporting actions. By engaging in token burn activities, users contribute to the ecosystem’s sustainability and incentivize the long-term Founder’s Node support of the ecosystem. In recognition of the importance of community-driven growth, the proposal outlines that when a user (USER C) initiates a burn, the account that referred USER C (USER B) will receive a reward equivalent to 8% of the burned amount. The account that referred USER B (USER A) will receive the equivalent of 2% of the burned amount. This initiative aims to foster a more engaged and collaborative community, encouraging wider participation in the ecosystem’s development.
This will not impact the Founder’s Node emission rate, but can be looked at as a referral burn rebate for ecosystem supporting actions.
In the event that there is no referring party, then there would be no referral burn rebate.
Example:
User A refers User B.
User B refers User C.
User C initiates a burn of 1000 $GALA
User B receives a mint allowance for 80 $GALA
User A receives a mint allowance for 20 $GALA
Actions which would qualify:
Purchase by burn
Gas fees
Channel establishment fees
Note: All previous referrals would still remain part of this system. If you have referred a user previously and they are a part of your account, then you would still receive the referral bonus based on their gas burning actions.
Key Highlights:
Referral Rewards: The introduction of a referral reward mechanism encourages existing ecosystem participants to bring new users onboard, enhancing the network’s robustness and activity level.
Incentive Structure: Focusing on on-chain actions, excluding bridging activities, ensures the incentive mechanism is transparent and straightforward. This clarity is crucial in maintaining the integrity and purpose of the incentive system.
Implementation Timeline: With a commitment to agility and responsiveness, the proposed system is slated for implementation within 90 days following approval. This rapid deployment timeline underscores the ecosystem’s dedication to innovation and timely enhancement.
Community and Governance Engagement:
Consistent with the ethos of transparency and collective decision-making, this proposal will undergo thorough discussion within the Founder’s Node Operator. There will be at least one AMA on this topic, with extended engagement, to gather feedback ensuring that the proposal is refined and aligned with the community’s vision and needs.
Voting Options:
The voting options are currently as follows, though they may be modified by discussions prior to a governance vote:
Vote Question:
Should the Referral Incentive System be implemented to enhance ecosystem sustainability and community engagement?
Yes: I support the implementation of the Referral Incentive System as proposed, recognizing its potential to enhance ecosystem sustainability and community engagement through incentivized token burns.
No: I do not support the proposal as it stands. I believe that the proposed referral system and token burn incentives may not align with the ecosystem’s long-term growth and engagement goals.
Abstain: I choose to abstain from voting on this proposal. While I acknowledge the importance of community-driven initiatives and ecosystem sustainability, I require more information or am neutral on the impact of the proposed referral incentive system.
This vote will end next Monday, March 18th, 2024 at noon PT.
Conclusion:
This proposal represents a strategic step towards leveraging the Gala Founders Node Ecosystem’s full potential, encouraging active participation, and rewarding contributions that drive the ecosystem forward. Through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to innovation, the ecosystem can continue to evolve, offering increased value and opportunities for all participants.
In the spirit of fostering innovation and collaboration within the Gala Founders Node Ecosystem, a new proposal is presented for consideration. This proposal is a direct response to the community feedback, emphasizing our collective journey towards enhancing network growth and engagement.
Proposal Overview:
A view of the topic to be discussed below.
The core of this proposal introduces a referral system designed to incentivize ecosystem supporting actions. By engaging in token burn activities, users contribute to the ecosystem’s sustainability and incentivize the long-term Founder’s Node support of the ecosystem. In recognition of the importance of community-driven growth, the proposal outlines a mechanism by which the actions taken by a user can potentially benefit those who brought them into the ecosystem.
Using the flow chart above, USER A refers USER B to the ecosystem, at which point USER B refers USER C.
If the proposal is confirmed by the Founder’s Nodes, when USER C initiates a burn, the account that referred them (USER B) will receive a mint allowance equivalent to 8% of the burned amount. The account that referred USER A will receive the equivalent of 2% of the burned amount. This initiative aims to foster a more engaged and collaborative community, encouraging wider participation in the ecosystem’s development.
This will not impact the Founder’s Node emission rate, but can be looked at as a referral burn rebate for ecosystem supporting actions.
In the event that there is no referring party, then there would be no referral burn rebate.
Example:
User A refers User B. User B refers User C.
User C performs an action which initiates a burn of 1000 $GALA User B receives a mint allowance for 80 $GALA User A receives a mint allowance for 20 $GALA
Actions which would qualify:
Purchase by burn
Gas fees
Channel establishment fees
Note: All previous referrals would still remain part of this system. If you have referred a user previously and they are a part of your account, then you would still receive the referral bonus based on their $GALA burning actions.
Key Highlights:
Referral Rewards: The introduction of a referral reward mechanism encourages existing ecosystem participants to bring new users onboard, enhancing the network’s robustness and activity level.
Incentive Structure: Focusing on on-chain actions, excluding bridging activities, ensures the incentive mechanism is transparent and straightforward. This clarity is crucial in maintaining the integrity and purpose of the incentive system.
Implementation Timeline: With a commitment to agility and responsiveness, the proposed system is slated for implementation within 7 days following approval. This rapid deployment timeline underscores the ecosystem’s dedication to innovation and timely enhancement.
Community and Governance Engagement:
Consistent with the ethos of transparency and collective decision-making, this proposal will undergo thorough discussion within the Founder’s Node Operator. There will be at least one AMA on this topic, with extended engagement, to gather feedback ensuring that the proposal is refined and aligned with the community’s vision and needs.
Voting Options:
The voting options are currently as follows, though they may be modified by discussions prior to a governance vote:
Yes: I support the implementation of the Referral Incentive System as proposed, recognizing its potential to enhance ecosystem sustainability and community engagement through incentivized token burns.
No: I do not support the proposal as it stands. I believe that the proposed referral system and token burn incentives may not align with the ecosystem’s long-term growth and engagement goals.
Abstain: I choose to abstain from voting on this proposal. While I acknowledge the importance of community-driven initiatives and ecosystem sustainability, I require more information or am neutral on the impact of the proposed referral incentive system.
Conclusion:
This proposal represents a strategic step towards leveraging the Gala Founders Node Ecosystem’s full potential, encouraging active participation, and rewarding contributions that drive the ecosystem forward. Through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to innovation, the ecosystem can continue to evolve, offering increased value and opportunities for all participants.
