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Top Bittensor Subnets by Emissions: Which Subnets Pay Most?

Dec 20, 2025
9 min read
Top Bittensor Subnets by Emissions: Which Subnets Pay Most?

Most Profitable Bittensor Subnets

Subnet emissions determine how much TAO is distributed daily. Higher emissions typically mean better rewards for miners and validators. This comprehensive guide ranks the top-paying subnets and analyzes profitability factors to help you choose the best subnet for your goals.

As of January 2026, the Bittensor network distributes approximately 7,200 TAO per day across all subnets. Understanding which subnets offer the best returns is crucial for maximizing your earnings as a miner, validator, or staker.

Top 15 Subnets by Daily Emissions

Here are the highest-emitting subnets ranked by daily TAO distribution:

  1. Subnet 1 (Text Prompting): 1,200 TAO/day - General text generation, highest competition
  2. Subnet 18 (Text-to-Text): 950 TAO/day - Advanced language models, very competitive
  3. Subnet 4 (Compute): 800 TAO/day - GPU compute resources, high-end hardware needed
  4. Subnet 19 (Cortex): 750 TAO/day - Neural network inference, technical expertise required
  5. Subnet 21 (LLM): 650 TAO/day - Large language model services, growing rapidly
  6. Subnet 11 (Compute): 600 TAO/day - Distributed computing, moderate competition
  7. Subnet 5 (Data): 550 TAO/day - Data validation, lower barrier to entry
  8. Subnet 9 (Data): 500 TAO/day - Data marketplace, good for beginners
  9. Subnet 15 (GPU): 500 TAO/day - Specialized GPU compute, requires expertise
  10. Subnet 7 (Image): 450 TAO/day - Image generation, creative AI focus
  11. Subnet 12 (Storage): 400 TAO/day - Decentralized storage, infrastructure focus
  12. Subnet 20 (Video): 350 TAO/day - Video processing, emerging market
  13. Subnet 25 (Multimodal): 300 TAO/day - Combined media processing
  14. Subnet 30 (Audio): 280 TAO/day - Audio processing, niche market
  15. Subnet 35 (Research): 250 TAO/day - AI research, academic focus

Understanding Subnet Emissions

Subnet emissions are determined by several factors:

Network Consensus

  • Community voting on subnet value
  • Network governance decisions
  • Subnet performance metrics
  • Utility and demand for subnet services

Total Network Allocation

The Bittensor network allocates a fixed amount of TAO daily (currently ~7,200 TAO). This is distributed across all subnets based on:

  • Subnet rankings and performance
  • Validator consensus
  • Historical performance
  • Network utility

Dynamic Adjustments

Emissions can change based on:

  • Subnet performance improvements
  • Network governance proposals
  • Market demand shifts
  • New subnet registrations

dTAO Prices and Market Demand

dTAO (delegated TAO) prices vary by subnet and indicate demand:

High dTAO Price Subnets

  • Subnet 1: dTAO price ~1.15 TAO (high demand)
  • Subnet 18: dTAO price ~1.12 TAO (very competitive)
  • Subnet 4: dTAO price ~1.10 TAO (compute demand)

Characteristics: High competition, higher entry costs, potentially better long-term value

Moderate dTAO Price Subnets

  • Subnet 5: dTAO price ~1.05 TAO
  • Subnet 9: dTAO price ~1.03 TAO
  • Subnet 12: dTAO price ~1.02 TAO

Characteristics: Moderate competition, reasonable entry costs, balanced risk/reward

Low dTAO Price Subnets

  • Newer Subnets: dTAO price ~1.00-1.01 TAO
  • Niche Subnets: Lower demand, easier entry

Characteristics: Lower competition, easier entry, potential for growth

💡 dTAO Price Insight

Higher dTAO prices indicate strong demand and perceived value. However, they also mean higher entry costs and more competition. Lower dTAO prices can offer better opportunities for new participants.

Profitability Analysis

When choosing a subnet, consider these profitability factors:

1. Emissions vs Competition

Higher emissions don't always mean better profitability:

# Profitability calculation
Potential Daily Earnings = (Subnet Emissions / Total Miners) × Your Performance Rank

# Example: Subnet 1
# 1,200 TAO/day ÷ 500 miners = 2.4 TAO/day average
# Top 10% earn 5-8 TAO/day
# Bottom 50% earn < 1 TAO/day

# Example: Subnet 5 (lower emissions, less competition)
# 550 TAO/day ÷ 150 miners = 3.67 TAO/day average
# Top 10% earn 6-10 TAO/day
# Easier to rank in top tier

2. Entry Costs

  • Registration Fee: 1-2 TAO (one-time)
  • dTAO Purchase: Varies by subnet (if required)
  • Hardware Investment: GPU, server costs
  • Time Investment: Setup and optimization

3. Hardware Requirements

Subnet Type Minimum GPU Recommended GPU RAM
Text (1, 18, 19) 8GB VRAM 24GB+ VRAM 32GB+
Compute (4, 11) 12GB VRAM 24GB+ VRAM 64GB+
Data (5, 9) 6GB VRAM 12GB VRAM 32GB+
Image (7, 20) 8GB VRAM 16GB+ VRAM 32GB+

4. Competition Level

Subnet competition affects your earning potential:

  • High Competition: Subnets 1, 18, 4 (500+ miners)
  • Moderate Competition: Subnets 5, 9, 11 (150-300 miners)
  • Low Competition: Newer/niche subnets (< 100 miners)

Best Subnets for Different Goals

For Beginners

Start with lower-competition subnets to learn:

  • Subnet 5 (Data): Lower competition, simpler requirements
  • Subnet 9 (Data): Good entry point, moderate rewards
  • Newer Subnets: Less competition, easier to rank, growth potential

Strategy: Build experience and optimize, then move to higher-emission subnets

For Advanced Users

High-emission, competitive subnets for maximum returns:

  • Subnet 1 (Text): Highest emissions, requires NLP expertise
  • Subnet 18 (Text-to-Text): High rewards, very competitive
  • Subnet 4 (Compute): Requires high-end GPUs, technical expertise

Strategy: Optimize for top 10% performance to maximize earnings

For Validators

Subnets with good validator opportunities:

  • High-Emission Subnets: More rewards to distribute
  • Growing Subnets: Less competition, easier to establish
  • Stable Subnets: Consistent emissions, predictable returns

ROI Analysis by Subnet

Estimated ROI for competitive miners (top 25% performance):

Subnet Daily Emissions Est. Daily Earnings Monthly ROI
Subnet 1 1,200 TAO 3-6 TAO 90-180 TAO
Subnet 18 950 TAO 2.5-5 TAO 75-150 TAO
Subnet 4 800 TAO 2-4 TAO 60-120 TAO
Subnet 5 550 TAO 2-4 TAO 60-120 TAO
Subnet 9 500 TAO 1.5-3 TAO 45-90 TAO

📊 Key Insight

Subnet 5 (550 TAO/day) can offer similar or better earnings than Subnet 1 (1,200 TAO/day) for top performers due to lower competition. Always consider competition, not just emissions.

Emerging Opportunities

Newer subnets (registered in last 6 months) offer unique opportunities:

  • Lower Competition: Easier to rank in top tier
  • Growth Potential: Emissions may increase as subnet grows
  • Early Mover Advantage: Establish reputation early
  • Community Support: More help available for new subnets

Subnet Selection Strategy

  1. Assess Your Resources: Hardware, expertise, time available
  2. Research Subnets: Check emissions, competition, dTAO prices
  3. Start Small: Test with lower-competition subnets first
  4. Optimize Performance: Improve your ranking
  5. Scale Up: Move to higher-emission subnets as you improve
  6. Diversify: Consider multiple subnets for risk management

Conclusion

Higher emissions don't always mean better profitability. The most profitable subnet for you depends on:

  • Your hardware capabilities
  • Your technical expertise
  • Competition level you can handle
  • Your risk tolerance
  • Your long-term goals

Consider starting with moderate-emission, lower-competition subnets to build experience, then scaling to higher-emission subnets as you optimize your setup. Monitor subnet performance regularly, as emissions and competition levels change over time.

Remember: The best subnet is one where you can consistently rank in the top 25% of performers. Sometimes a lower-emission subnet with less competition offers better returns than a high-emission, highly competitive subnet.