Avalanche Retro9000 initiative's C-Chain phase goes live for builders

The Avalanche Foundation is moving forward with the latest phase of its $40 million Retro9000 initiative. Starting in March 2026, the program begins its first "C-Chain Round," a monthly cycle designed to provide retroactive funding to developers. This specific round marks a change in how the Foundation evaluates projects, moving away from wallet-based community voting toward a system based on actual network usage.

The goal of this round is to reward teams that drive genuine activity on the Avalanche C-Chain. This impact is measured through the amount of $AVAX tokens burned during transaction fees. In the digital asset world, "burning" refers to removing tokens from circulation. Under the new rules, the more an application is used, the more $AVAX it burns, which serves as a verifiable signal of demand for that project.

The mechanics of the leaderboard

This round marks a shift in how projects are evaluated. Previous rounds relied on wallet-based voting. The C-Chain Round uses a usage-based scoring model driven by real transactions.

Every transaction on the Avalanche C-Chain burns $AVAX. The more an application is used, the more $AVAX it burns. This creates a transparent and verifiable signal of demand. Projects are ranked on a public leaderboard. Points are based on $AVAX burned through their smart contracts. At the end of each round, the top 40 projects become eligible for rewards.

The first Avalanche C-Chain Round will distribute a total of 11K in $AVAX. Future round allocations may vary at the discretion of the Avalanche Foundation.

Understanding reward limits

To maintain a fair distribution of funds, the Foundation has established several financial boundaries for all participating teams:

Burn Restrictions: No project can receive a grant larger than 90% of the total $AVAX it burned during that month.

• Share caps: A single project is limited to 25% of the total monthly prize pool.
• Funding ceilings: There is a $200,000 lifetime cap per project across all participating rounds.
• Minimum payouts: Projects must earn a share worth at least $500 in $AVAX to qualify for a reward.

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What is Retro9000

The Retro9000 is an ongoing retroactive grant initiative offering up to $40 million in funding.

The program originally launched in November 2024 as a way to support builders making meaningful contributions to the Avalanche ecosystem. Since its inception, the program has grown to include 195 projects.

The program’s first major milestone occurred in June 2025, when the Foundation awarded over $1 million in grants to 19 projects based on their technical delivery and value to the network.

This current move into C-Chain specific rounds is part of an ongoing effort to automate and streamline how funding is distributed to high-impact developers.

Community members can also participate through a referral program. Individuals who refer a project that successfully receives funding can earn up to $3,000 in $AVAX. As with all Foundation initiatives, final funding decisions remain at the sole discretion of the Avalanche Foundation, and participation in the program does not guarantee a grant.