After months of operating our on-chain governance system, t3rn is making a deliberate decision to pause and restructure its operations. The Top 33 Committee system—while technically successful—has not delivered the protocol utility we envisioned. Rather than continue a system that looks good on paper but does not actually move the needle, we are suspending it and focusing resources where they create real impact.

Why We’re Suspending the Committee System

An Honest Assessment

The Top 33 Committee, combined with a linear curve distribution, was designed to incentivize active governance participation. In practice, several mismatches became clear.

Voting activity did not translate into protocol contributions. Members voted and received rewards, but governance outputs did not materialize at the expected rate.

In other words, the curve rewarded positioning over impact. The linear distribution, ranging in the latest Governance payour from 2,352 TRN for rank one to 71 TRN for rank thirty-three, created competition for committee placement without corresponding competition to add protocol value.

Therefore, the monthly allocation of 40,000 TRN was not generating equivalent utility. Governance spending should create measurable returns, whether through community growth, protocol improvements, or ecosystem development.

What Worked

• The technical infrastructure performed flawlessly

• Role-based rewards for Moderators and Power Users showed clearer ROI 

• On-chain transparency improved accountability

What Didn’t

• Committee membership became a reward in itself rather than a responsibility

• The system in place optimized for stake accumulation over active contribution

What Changes Immediately?

Suspended:

• Top 33 Committee selection and rewards - November 2025 was the last rewards distribution as per the old governance system

• Linear curve distribution model

• Committee-based voting weight calculations

Continuing & Expanding:

The Ambassador Program: Community engagement is shifting to a model that rewards demonstrated activity over staked capital.

13 Ambassadors via Borged.io: We are selecting 13 ambassadors according to the leaderboard activity, i.e. the most actively contributing participants. This model measures real engagement metrics rather than stake size.

Moderators & Power Users: The current moderator structure remains unchanged. Power Users will continue to be recognized and rewarded based on their activity on socials and sites outside Twitter (Discord, Reddit, etc).

Asset Safety

Staked Assets Are Protected

All govTRN staked in governance contracts remains secure. The suspension affects rewards and voting only, not asset custody. Members may continue holding their positions or exit at their discretion, and all historical records (distribution transactions, member registrations, vote records, and role assignments) remain immutable on-chain.

The Path Forward

Immediate Actions:

• Committee Curve rewards are suspended

• Moderator structure remains unchanged, and current two moderators continue their duties

• Power Users will continue to be noticed, and the main voices will continue to be rewarded

• The t3rn campaign continues on Borged.io

Near-Term (Through February 2026)

• 13 ambassadors selected from the Borged leaderboard 

• Engagement data collected to inform future governance design

• Additional campaigns scheduled post February

Future Governance Direction

• Contribution-based rewards instead of stake-based positioning

• Clear deliverables tied directly to compensation

• Smaller, more accountable governance bodies

• Integration of lessons learned from the ambassador program

Get Involved

Platform: Borged.io
Campaign: t3rn (active through February 2026)
Available Positions: 13 ambassadors, selected based on activity

The committee suspends. The building continues.