peaq turns on phase-1 of Economics 2.0

peaq, the layer-1 blockchain built for decentralized physical infrastructure networks, has switched on the first phase of Economics 2.0, a redesigned token model that ties machine activation directly to $PEAQ bonding.

How Machine Bonding Works

Under the new system, every machine that activates on the network is required to bond $PEAQ, with the cost denominated in dollars and settled at an oracle rate. Activation is split across three tiers, running from roughly $0.20 at the low end to around $40 per machine, according to @peaq. A base-tier machine such as a low-value sensor bonds a minimal amount, while higher-value machines engaging in cross-chain commerce or capital-intensive workflows bond proportionally more, scaling with their economic risk surface.

This tiering ensures that accountability scales with economic activity at every level of participation. The bonds themselves are held in the MachineSubscription contract. PEAQ bonded by machines under Economics 2.0 counts as part of the circulating supply.

51,513 machines were live on day one. The exit mechanism adds another layer of supply tightening: machines that stop renewing burn half their remaining bond, meaning departures from the network reduce available supply rather than simply releasing tokens back into circulation.

Scale of the Rollout

Around 1 million machines are expected to activate during the first week, with the remaining machines from a total network of 3.3 million set to follow over the coming weeks, per @peaq. peaq is the leading layer-1 blockchain for DePIN and Machine RWAs, and as of early 2026 the ecosystem hosted over 60 DePINs across 22 industries.

The project describes Economics 2.0 as designed to turn real machine adoption into omnichain revenue and structural demand for $PEAQ, with a tighter supply through bonding and burn. Bonding requirements are denominated in PEAQ but calibrated dynamically based on network participation and total bonded capital, meaning the number of tokens required per machine can adjust gradually as the network evolves.

The rollout marks a significant shift in how peaq's token model operates, moving away from straightforward transaction-fee utility toward a system where physical machine activity generates persistent, locked demand for $PEAQ. Whether the burn path for exiting machines is fully active from day one remains a point to watch. The runoff burn will reduce total supply once a native burn path exists, though as of the latest documentation the burn address was unset, meaning total supply does not fall yet.

Sources
peaq Tokenomics Documentation
peaq Purple Paper: Robot Money
peaq (PEAQ) on CoinMarketCap