Governance Proposal: Preparation to Transition the Covalent Network to Base
Purpose of This Proposal
Covalent is introducing a focused set of parameter changes to support the next phase of the network with a higher-commitment operator cohort that can reliably power the Covalent Network. This sets the stage for a later vote on moving operations over to Base—staking remains on Ethereum—which aligns better with current Covalent offerings like the Sub-Second Data Co-Processor, ultra-fast onchain data via GoldRush, and natural language onchain app creation with SpeedRun within the broader Base ecosystem.
This proposal adjusts the minimum and maximum stake requirements so that ~300M $CXT of the total supply remains securely staked, while allowing a tighter, more robust operator set to emerge.
Current Challenges
Over the past year, the Covalent Network has welcomed new operators and more delegated stake. As usage has grown, several patterns have become clear:
Minimum stake levels around ~157k–175k $CXT are challenging for smaller operators to run sustainably.
Participation patterns differ across operators, leading to varying levels of performance consistency.
The protocol is preparing for a broader evolution with a migration of the production layer to Base, which will require additional engineering work, and UI updates.
To move deliberately, this governance vote focuses on stake bounds only. A change that can be implemented now, while outlining a roadmap for the upcoming changes.
Proposal
Increase the minimum stake to 350,000 $CXT, as higher minimum stake levels concentrate participation encouraging committed and properly resourced operators, improving consistency and supporting long-term network performance.
Increase the maximum stake to 1,000,000 $CXT allowing the most committed operators to enhance their returns.
Increase the max multiplier from 45X to 50X to maintain the protocol’s target of ~30–35% $CXT staked and keeps approximately ~300M $CXT securely out of liquid circulation.
Chain parameters, specifically Block Specimen and Results production remain unchanged in this vote.
Path to Next Phase
Passing this proposal establishes the operator foundation required for the next phase of the network, enabling the community to consider a dedicated governance vote on migrating Covalent’s Block Specimen and Block Results production layer to Base in the new year. By increasing stake requirements and concentrating participation among committed operators, the network becomes better prepared for the operational, infrastructure, and coordination upgrades involved in a move to Base. A lot of preparation work still needs to be done before the network can formally migrate to Base—pending a governance vote, but the transition will be worth it.
Base has emerged as one of the most vibrant environments for onchain builders, agents, and high-frequency applications. Its low-cost, high-performance architecture, deep developer ecosystem, and strong alignment with products like GoldRush and SpeedRun make it a natural home for Covalent’s next chapter. A future vote would enable the network to formalize this transition, unlocking better operator tooling, deeper integrations, and a more resilient environment for data consumers and streaming-native apps across the Base ecosystem.
Voting Process
Eligibility
All CXT token holders — staking, delegating, or holding $CXT on Ethereum or Base — are eligible to vote.
How to Vote
Visit the Snapshot page.
Connect your Ethereum wallet.
Vote by signing a meta-transaction.
Quorum
A minimum of 10M $CXT voting weight is required to reach quorum.
Duration
Voting will be open for 3 days after proposal launch.
