MEXC launches Bittensor TAO staking for 40 million users
Cryptocurrency exchange MEXC now allows its 40 million users to stake Bittensor’s TAO token, a move that could significantly broaden participation in the $1.9 billion decentralized AI network.
MEXC has introduced staking support for Bittensor’s TAO token through an integration with validator Yuma. The partnership opens the artificial intelligence-focused blockchain to the exchange’s reported 40 million global users, allowing them to earn rewards by helping secure the network.
TAO was trading at approximately $199 at the time of reporting, according to CoinMarketCap. This prices the decentralized AI network at a market capitalization of roughly $1.916 billion. Offering staking on a major exchange provides a direct yield-bearing mechanism for this asset to a massive retail audience.
The integration simplifies a technical infrastructure for everyday investors. Bittensor relies on a consensus mechanism where validators evaluate specialized AI applications, known as subnets, and assign weights that dictate how staking rewards are distributed. By using MEXC, users can delegate their tokens to Yuma without managing the underlying node operations themselves.
Bittensor coordinates the development of AI models and services through these subnets, which compete for token rewards based on their actual performance and usefulness. The ecosystem currently encompasses 128 subnets. These specialized networks handle distinct machine learning tasks, ranging from AI inference and model training to coding assistants and financial modeling.
The move to broaden network participation aligns with a wider push to position decentralized AI as a resilient alternative to proprietary systems. Advocates of open networks like Bittensor argue they are inherently less vulnerable to government or corporate restrictions.
This argument has gained tangible momentum following recent regulatory actions. The US Commerce Department restricted public access to certain Anthropic models, citing national security and export control concerns. For market participants tracking the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital assets, MEXC’s integration signals that major exchanges are treating decentralized AI infrastructure as a viable product category.
