How Internet Computer (ICP) Plans to Cut Inflation, Burn Supply, and Scale Like a Real Business

The Internet Computer (ICP) ecosystem has unveiled a new long-term economic framework called Mission 70, a whitepaper introduced by Dominic Williams, founder of the DFINITY Foundation. The document outlines a concrete plan to reshape ICP’s token economics while accelerating real network usage, marking a shift away from inflation-driven growth models that dominate much of the crypto industry.

Rather than focusing on short-term incentives or speculative activity, Mission 70 centers on execution, sustainability, and measurable demand.

A Clear Push to Reduce Inflation

One of the core pillars of Mission 70 is a sharp reduction in ICP’s inflation rate. According to the proposal, annual inflation is targeted to fall from roughly 9.7% today to below 3% by the end of 2026. This would represent one of the most aggressive inflation reductions among large smart-contract networks.

The plan achieves this primarily through supply-side adjustments. These include shorter neuron dissolve delays, which reduce long-term reward liabilities, and significantly lower node provider rewards. Combined, these changes are designed to cut effective token issuance by more than 40% over time.

The intent is straightforward: reduce structural sell pressure and align token issuance with actual network growth, rather than subsidizing participation indefinitely.

Supply Cuts Paired With Demand Expansion

While many networks focus solely on limiting supply, Mission 70 places equal emphasis on increasing demand for ICP. The paper projects roughly 26% growth in token demand, driven by expanded AI tooling, enterprise adoption, and broader use of on-chain compute.

A key metric highlighted in the proposal is the network’s cycle burn rate. Cycles are the computational fuel of the Internet Computer, and Mission 70 targets an increase in burn rate from approximately 0.05 XDR per second to 0.77 XDR per second. This reflects an expectation of significantly higher real usage across applications and services.

In addition, the plan proposes routing 20% of network revenues toward ICP token burns. This introduces a direct feedback loop between network activity and token supply, a structure more commonly associated with traditional businesses than crypto protocols.

Infrastructure Built for Enterprise and AI Workloads

On the infrastructure side, Mission 70 outlines upgrades designed to support sustained demand rather than speculative spikes. These include SEV-optimized subnets to improve compute efficiency and so-called “cloud engines” tailored for enterprise workloads.

The emphasis here is reliability and performance. By targeting applications that require persistent uptime, predictable costs, and scalable compute, ICP aims to position itself as an alternative to centralized cloud providers, not just another smart-contract platform.

This approach aligns with ICP’s broader vision of on-chain compute, where applications, data, and logic live entirely on the blockchain rather than relying on off-chain infrastructure.

A Shift Toward Execution-First Tokenomics

Perhaps the most notable aspect of Mission 70 is its execution-focused framing. The proposal does not rely on vague promises or undefined future upgrades. Instead, it lays out mechanisms, timelines, and economic levers designed to be adjusted as the network evolves.

In a sector often criticized for inflationary token models and incentive structures that fail to translate into real usage, Mission 70 represents a deliberate attempt to treat the network economy like an operating business. Supply is constrained, demand is cultivated, and revenue is partially recycled back into the system through token burns.

Whether these changes will translate into sustained adoption remains to be seen. However, the framework itself signals a maturing approach to blockchain economics—one that prioritizes long-term viability over short-term growth metrics.

As the Internet Computer ecosystem moves forward with Mission 70, market participants and developers alike will be watching closely to see whether execution can match ambition.