Kaia adds JPYC to Contribution Reward recognized assets (Epoch 4)

On October 21, 2026, the Kaia DLT Foundation will add the Japanese yen-pegged stablecoin JPYC to the list of assets recognized in its Contribution Reward program, starting with Epoch 4. JPYC held in Unifi wallets will count toward contribution performance for KAIA rewards, alongside USDT.

What is happening

Beginning with Epoch 4, which starts on October 21, JPYC deposited in Unifi wallets will be counted as contribution to the network. Until now, only Tether (USDT) was recognized. JPYC deposits will be converted into USDT value using the epoch average price from the on-chain oracle Orakl. After conversion, the existing 1:10 ratio applies, meaning 10 KAIA staked per $1 of stablecoin. The foundation states that this ratio is a contribution recognition standard and does not act as a reward multiplier.

The change is not retroactive: JPYC deposits made in earlier epochs will not be counted. JPYC is a yen-pegged stablecoin issued as an electronic payment instrument under Japan's Payment Services Act.

The announcement was made on October 14 together with a separate measure: the foundation plans to burn 4,905,146 KAIA of unpaid rewards from the first two settlement periods. The first tranche of 2,463,579 KAIA is due to be burned on-chain on October 21, with a second tranche of 2,441,567 KAIA to follow in November. The Contribution Reward system itself was introduced after the on-chain governance vote GP-21 in July and has a fixed monthly budget of 2.5 million KAIA.

Why it matters

Adding JPYC extends reward eligibility beyond USDT to a yen-denominated stablecoin. The foundation has said it intends to continue this approach after USDT, expanding recognition to stablecoins from various Asian countries as part of a payment and settlement network for the region. For JPYC holders, it creates a way to have deposits counted toward KAIA rewards within the program's rules.

For KAIA holders and traders, the related burn mechanism is worth following. Under the program, tokens left undistributed because contributions were not recognized are burned instead of being kept by the foundation, and burn amounts are to be confirmed on-chain at each epoch settlement. Burn transactions and cumulative volumes are to be disclosed in monthly operating reports on the governance forum. What to watch: the Epoch 4 settlement, how much JPYC is deposited in Unifi wallets, and any further stablecoins added to the recognized list.

Key details

• Date: October 21, 2026 (start of Epoch 4)
• Project: Kaia DLT Foundation
• Coins: KAIA, JPYC
• Category: Product Release
• Status: Confirmed
• Source: https://finance.biggo.com/news/ed7b6f7c-c499-461d-8c2e-771fe7cb6187