> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.berachain.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What's New

> Proof of Liquidity changes over time.

## May 2026 - PoL Next

The May 2026 Proof of Liquidity Next upgrade deeply simplifies Berachain token model.

BGT added friction. Two tokens, boost mechanics, and a governance layer that confused traditional allocators more than it helped.

PoL Next consolidates everything into \$sWBERA. All emissions become BERA. Boost and BGT are phased out. All incentives accrue into \$sWBERA. One token, one yield path, one value sink.

Businesses integrate once. Users don’t need to learn PoL-specific concepts. Value flows through a single, predictable rail.

**LST Staker Vault owners gain new powers from this upgrade.** They now have a direct, pro-rata, on-chain claim on the entire incentive-auction WBERA flow via the collector split. With an approved LSTStakerVault registered with the fee collector, WBERA paid during incentive auctions is automatically split pro-rata to their vault.

**High-growth teams** receive guaranteed, multi-month dedicated emission streams sized to their stage and plan. For a validator operator who is also a business owner or partner in an ERA cohort, this changes the model from “bid every epoch for yield” to “underwrite and finance a company with protocol capital." It is closer to a growth-equity financing round than pure validator operations.

This upgrade will deploy to the network approximately 24 hours before the [Fusaka upgrade](/nodes/operations/fusaka).

### BGT is deprecated

BGT no longer has a user-facing role in Proof of Liquidity. It no longer influences validator reward allocation weight, block rewards, or governance. The Hub UI helps users to redeem their BGT.

**Reward emissions are paid in WBERA.** WBERA is the per-block emission token. Stakers see accrued rewards on the vault read in WBERA terms.

**Stakers in reward vaults can claim rewards as \$sWBERA or native BERA.** The default reward token is \$WBERA, but a permissionless helper converts it atomically on claim so stakers receive \$sWBERA or native \$BERA without extra steps.

**Incentives, net of validator commission, are auctioned for BERA and accrue into \$sWBERA.**

**The boost curve is gone.** Per-block emission splits into fixed **`baseRate`** (**0.4 WBERA**) to the validator’s operator and **`rewardRate`** (**1.305 WBERA**) to the distributor for Reward Vaults. Per-block emission no longer scales with boosted BGT.

**Residual BGT on existing vaults is settled automatically.** Any BGT allowance left on a vault from before the upgrade is converted to WBERA on the next claim from that vault, transparently to the staker. No vault-owner action is required, no claim is missed, no balance disappears.

**Staking pools:** adjusted to correspond to the BGT deprecation; see [Staking pools — Post-BGT Deprecation](/nodes/staking-pools/overview#post-bgt-deprecation).

References: [BGT](/general/tokens/bgt), [Reward vaults](/general/proof-of-liquidity/reward-vaults), [BERA and WBERA](/general/tokens/bera), [Partial reward claims](/build/pol/partial-reward-claims), [RewardVaultHelper claim flow](/build/pol/reward-vault-helper-claim-flow), [\$sWBERA](/general/tokens/swbera), [Block rewards](/general/proof-of-liquidity/block-rewards).

### What's next

**Timeline**: These changes to Proof of Liquidity will launch 24 hours before the upcoming [Fusaka hardfork](/nodes/operations/fusaka) - activating May 26 (Bepolia) and June 23 (mainnet).

| User / Actor         | Expected Action                                                                                                                                        |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| BGT holders          | Redeem BGT directly or migrate through the [Hub](https://hub.berachain.com) UI, after the fusaka fork activates ([timeline](/nodes/operations/fusaka)) |
| Reward vault stakers | No action needed. Continue using eligible reward vaults. Rewards will shift to BERA and be claimable as either \$BERA or \$sWBERA                      |
| Vault owners         | No action needed. Existing vaults do not require owner-side migration                                                                                  |
| Validators           | Per-block emissions will become fixed, and boost mechanics will be removed.                                                                            |
| Integrators          | Update integrations to remove dependencies on BGT LSTs, boost dynamics, and BGT-based reward assumptions                                               |

### Source code & audits

* [**PoL Next ABIs**](https://github.com/berachain/abis/tree/main/bepolia/)
* [**PoL Next contract source**](https://github.com/berachain/contracts/tree/bepolia)
* [**PoL Next Audit by Zenith**](https://github.com/berachain/security-audits/blob/main/20260508-PoLNext-Zenith.pdf)
* [**PoL Next Audit by Cantina**](https://github.com/berachain/security-audits/blob/main/20260425-PoLNext-Spearbit.pdf)

### PoL Contract changes

#### Functions

| Interface added | What                                                |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `IWBERA`        | New interface for WBERA (`deposit()`, `withdraw()`) |

| Functions Added                                | Location                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| `getMaxEmissionPerBlock()`                     | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController`         |
| `burnExceedingBalance()`                       | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController`         |
| `baseRate()`                                   | `BlockRewardController` (was a setter; now a pure getter) |
| `rewardRate()`                                 | `BlockRewardController` (was a setter; now a pure getter) |
| `setEmissionToken()`                           | `IDistributor`, `Distributor`                             |
| `emissionToken()`                              | `IDistributor`                                            |
| `setIncentiveTokensCollector(address)`         | `IRewardVaultFactory`, `RewardVaultFactory`               |
| `incentiveTokensCollector()`                   | `IRewardVaultFactory`                                     |
| `setSWBERA(address)`                           | `Distributor`                                             |
| `claimAllRewards(address[], address, address)` | `IBGTIncentiveDistributor`, `Distributor`                 |
| `deposit()`                                    | `Distributor`                                             |
| `withdraw(uint256)`                            | `Distributor`                                             |
| `initialize()` (reinitializer)                 | `Distributor`                                             |
| `rewardToken()`                                | `StakingRewards`, `RewardVault`                           |

| Functions Removed                                  | Location                                          |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `setBaseRate(uint256)`                             | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `setRewardRate(uint256)`                           | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `setMinBoostedRewardRate(uint256)`                 | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `setBoostMultiplier(uint256)`                      | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `setRewardConvexity(int256)`                       | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `computeReward(uint256, uint256, uint256, int256)` | `IBlockRewardController`, `BlockRewardController` |
| `minBoostedRewardRate()`                           | `IBlockRewardController`                          |
| `boostMultiplier()`                                | `IBlockRewardController`                          |
| `rewardConvexity()`                                | `IBlockRewardController`                          |
| `setBGTIncentiveDistributor(address)`              | `IRewardVaultFactory`, `RewardVaultFactory`       |
| `setBGTIncentiveFeeRate(uint256)`                  | `IRewardVaultFactory`, `RewardVaultFactory`       |
| `setBGTIncentiveFeeCollector(address)`             | `IRewardVaultFactory`, `RewardVaultFactory`       |
| `bgtIncentiveDistributor()`                        | `IRewardVaultFactory`                             |
| `bgtIncentiveFeeRate()`                            | `IRewardVaultFactory`                             |
| `bgtIncentiveFeeCollector()`                       | `IRewardVaultFactory`                             |
| `getIncentiveFeeAmount(uint256)`                   | `IRewardVaultFactory`, `RewardVaultFactory`       |

| Function renamed from          | Renamed to                      | Location                                                  |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| `getBGTIncentiveDistributor()` | `getIncentiveTokensCollector()` | `FactoryOwnable`                                          |
| `getMaxBGTPerBlock()`          | `getMaxEmissionPerBlock()`      | `BlockRewardController` (both exist; old name deprecated) |

#### Events

| Events Added                                                                               | Location                   |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------- |
| `ExceedingBalanceBurnt(uint256 amount)`                                                    | `IBlockRewardController`   |
| `EmissionTokenSet(address indexed emissionToken)`                                          | `IDistributor`             |
| `IncentivesCollected(bytes pubkey, address token, uint256 rewardsEmitted, uint256 amount)` | `IRewardVault`             |
| `IncentivesCollectionFailed(...)`                                                          | `IRewardVault`             |
| `RewardTokenMigrated(address oldToken, address newToken)`                                  | `IRewardVault`             |
| `IncentiveTokensCollectorUpdated(address newAddress, address oldAddress)`                  | `IRewardVaultFactory`      |
| `SWBERASet(address sWBERA)`                                                                | `Distributor`              |
| `RewardsClaimed(uint256 amount, address receiver, address outputToken)`                    | `IBGTIncentiveDistributor` |

| Events Removed                                   | Location                 |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------ |
| `MinBoostedRewardRateChanged(uint256, uint256)`  | `IBlockRewardController` |
| `BoostMultiplierChanged(uint256, uint256)`       | `IBlockRewardController` |
| `RewardConvexityChanged(uint256, uint256)`       | `IBlockRewardController` |
| `BGTBoosterIncentivesProcessed(...)`             | `IRewardVault`           |
| `BGTBoosterIncentivesProcessFailed(...)`         | `IRewardVault`           |
| `BGTIncentiveDistributorSet(...)`                | `IRewardVaultFactory`    |
| `IncentiveFeeRateUpdated(uint256, uint256)`      | `IRewardVaultFactory`    |
| `IncentiveFeeCollectorUpdated(address, address)` | `IRewardVaultFactory`    |

| Events Renamed                                                     | Change                          |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| `IncentivesProcessed`                                              | `bgtEmitted` → `rewardsEmitted` |
| `IncentivesProcessFailed`                                          | `bgtEmitted` → `rewardsEmitted` |
| `IncentiveFeeCollected` → `IncentivesCollected`                    | Full rename + parameter rename  |
| `IncentiveFeeCollectionFailed` → `IncentivesCollectionFailed`      | Full rename + parameter rename  |
| `IncentiveFeeCollectorUpdated` → `IncentiveTokensCollectorUpdated` | Full rename                     |

#### Errors

**Removed** (all from `IPOLErrors`):

* `ZeroPercentageWeight`
* `InvalidIncentiveFeeRate`
* `InvalidBaseRate`
* `InvalidRewardRate`
* `InvalidMinBoostedRewardRate`
* `InvalidBoostMultiplier`
* `InvalidRewardConvexity`
* `NotRewardDurationManager`
* `RewardDurationCoolDownPeriodNotPassed`

### [GraphQL API](https://api.berachain.com) changes

**Reward vault dynamic data**

* **Deprecated:** `apy`, `projectedApy`, `lastDayReceivedBGTAmount`, `allTimeReceivedBGTAmount`, `bgtCapturePercentage`, `bgtCapturePerBlock`.
* **Added:** `apr` (`Float`), `projectedApr` (`Float`), `lastDayRewards`, `allTimeRewards`, `rewardCapturePercentage` (`Float!`), `rewardCapturePerBlock` (`Float!`). `apr` and `projectedApr` return the same values as the deprecated `apy` / `projectedApy`; the rename is cosmetic.

**Reward vault ordering (`GqlRewardVaultOrderBy`)**

* **Deprecated:** `last24hBGTReceived`, `bgtCapturePercentage`.
* **Added:** `apr`, `projectedApr`, `rewardCapturePercentage`, `activeIncentivesValueUsd`, `activeIncentivesRateUsd`.

**Validator dynamic data**

* **Deprecated:** `allTimeDistributedBGTAmount`, `bgtCapturePercentage`, `bgtCapturePerBlock`, `boostApr` (prior POL boost APR model).
* **Added:** `allTimeDistributedRewards`, `allTimeEarnedRewards`, `lastDayDistributedRewards`, `lastDayEarnedRewards`, `rewardCapturePercentage` (`Float!`), `rewardCapturePerBlock` (`Float!`), `rewardRate` (`String!`, per-validator reward rate), `commissionOnIncentives` (`Int!`). Existing `allTimeEarnedBGTAmount`, `lastDayDistributedBGTAmount`, and `lastDayEarnedBGTAmount` remain without deprecation in this schema revision; prefer the new `…Rewards` fields for updated integrations.

**Validator (`GqlValidator`)**

* **Deprecated:** `rewardAllocationStartBlock`.
* **Added:** `incentives: [GqlValidatorIncentive!]!` (aggregated, per-validator), `valStats: GqlValidatorStats` (active-boost and staked-BERA percentages of the total). `valStats` is computed against a network-wide total, so select it only when you need the share-of-total figures.

**Validator allocation weights (`GqlValidatorRewardAllocationWeight`)**

* **Deprecated:** `percentageNumerator` (use `percentage`), `receivingVault`.
* **Added:** `percentage` (`Float!`, equal to `percentageNumerator / 1e4`).

**Validator ordering (`GqlValidatorOrderBy`)**

* **Added:** `rewardRate`, `commissionOnIncentives`.

**Global info**

* **Deprecated:** `totalDistributedBGTAmount`, `annualizedBGTEmission`, `annualizedBGTInflation`.
* **Added:** `totalDistributedRewards`, `annualizedPoLEmissions` (`Float!`), `annualizedInflation` (`Float!`).

**Reward vault snapshots**

* **Deprecated:** `bgtCapturePercentage` on snapshot rows.
* **Added:** `rewardCapturePercentage` (`Float!`).

**Pool sorting (`GqlPoolOrderBy`)**

* **Deprecated:** `bgtApr`.
* **Added:** `polApr`.

**New queries and types**

* **Queries:** `polGetTopVaultDeposits(chain, vaultAddress, top)`; `polGetSWberaVaultSnapshots(chain, range)`; `polGetSWberaVaultMetadata(chain, resolution)`.
* **Types:** `GqlValidatorIncentive` (per-validator aggregated incentive, `incentiveRate`/`remainingAmount` plus USD-denominated variants), `GqlValidatorStats`, `GqlValidatorCommissionHistory`, `GqlValidatorInList`, `GqlSWberaVaultSnapshot`, `GqlSWberaVaultMetadata`.

**Removed**

* The **`GqlUserBGTBalance`** type (chain, user address, BGT balance breakdown) is no longer exposed.

## February 2026

**[Staking pools released](/nodes/staking-pools/overview)** — Validator-operated liquid staking went live. Validators can deploy a pool, offer **stBERA** liquid shares to their community, and earn commission on Proof of Liquidity incentives that flow through their validator. Stakers deposit any amount of BERA, receive auto-compounding stBERA, and withdraw via a shared `WithdrawalVault` with on-chain finalization delay.

Alongside the contracts, Berachain ships an example operator stack in the [`berachain/guides`](https://github.com/berachain/guides/tree/main/apps/staking-pools) repo: a [React frontend template](https://github.com/berachain/guides/tree/main/apps/staking-pools/frontend) you can fork as a staking UI, and [install helpers](https://github.com/berachain/guides/tree/main/apps/staking-pools/install-helpers) — bash scripts and a Python `smart-operator-manager` CLI — that generate the `cast` commands, configuration, and frontend env you need to bring a pool online and operate it day-to-day.

See [Staking Pools Overview](/nodes/staking-pools/overview), [Operator Guide](/nodes/staking-pools/operators), and [Smart Contract Reference](/nodes/staking-pools/contracts).

## December 2025

**[Reward allocation documentation updates](/nodes/guides/manage-reward-allocations)** — Introduced automated BeraChef reward allocations for validators

## October 2025

**[Safe integration for reward vault incentives](/build/guides/proof-of-liquidity/add-incentives-safe)** — Added integration documentation for adding incentives to a reward vault from a Safe (formerly Gnosis Safe) multisig.

**[\$sWBERA token documentation](/general/tokens/swbera)** — Added documentation, including 7-day unstaking period details and integration patterns.

**[PoL integration updates](/build/pol/integration-basics)** — Updated with Incentivize Anything playground examples.

## August 2025

**[Reward vault enhanced functionality](/general/proof-of-liquidity/reward-vaults)** — Two staker-facing additions:

* **Staking on behalf of another account** — Any account can stake tokens directly for another address without that address granting delegation permission. See [Staking for other accounts](/build/pol/staking-for-other-accounts).
* **Partial reward claims** — Stakers can claim a specific amount of accumulated rewards instead of the full balance. See [Partial reward claims](/build/pol/partial-reward-claims).

**[BRIP-0004](https://github.com/berachain/brips/blob/main/meta/BRIP-0004.md) — Enshrine PoL** — Each block automatically includes the reward distribution transaction for the previous block, removing the dependency on external bots to trigger payout. Shipped as part of the August 2025 hardfork.

## July 2025

**BERA staking** — Launched. Earn yield on BERA via [the Hub](https://hub.berachain.com/stake/). The WBERA staker vault and incentive fee collector contracts shipped alongside; PoL incentive fees flow through the collector to BERA stakers.

**[Reward vault rate-based emissions](/general/proof-of-liquidity/reward-vaults#emission-modes)** — Reward vault managers can configure emissions to flow at a target per-second rate; the distribution period is computed automatically from the reward amount and target rate.

**[Validator commission cap](/nodes/guides/manage-incentives-commission)** — Validator commission on incentive tokens is capped at **20%**. Existing validators with rates above 20% are automatically capped.

## June 2025

**[Reward allocation delay](/nodes/guides/manage-reward-allocations#understanding-reward-allocations)** — Reduced from 8,191 blocks to 500.

## April 2025

**[PoL updates](/general/proof-of-liquidity/overview):**

1. New maximum of 3 incentives per reward vault. See [Incentives](/general/proof-of-liquidity/incentives).
2. Block reward emissions modified in line with the targeted inflation rate of 10%. See [Block rewards](/general/proof-of-liquidity/block-rewards).
3. Auto-Incentivizer: fees from default cutting board BEX reward vaults automatically offer incentives.
4. Reward allocations limited to 30% share of emissions per reward vault. See [Manage reward allocations](/nodes/guides/manage-reward-allocations).

## January 2025

**[Proof of Liquidity launch](/general/proof-of-liquidity/overview)** — Public release of the [Honey Paper](https://honeypaper.berachain.com/) and Berachain mainnet.

**BGT minting unlocked** — Beacon Kit v1.1.0 unlocked minting of tokens towards the BGT contract.