Say Goodbye to the Batch Balancer and Hello to Streamlined Data Onboarding

Filecoin’s data onboarding model is getting a major upgrade. FIP-0100 removes outdated fee structures and protocol constraints, replacing them with a clear, per-sector daily fee and simplified batching rules. The result: cheaper, more predictable onboarding—with no sacrifice to network value capture.

What’s Changing?

FIP-0100 introduces three key changes:

Batch balancer fees are removed

These previously kicked in when base fees were low, making large batches or proof aggregation unpredictable.

A per-sector daily fee replaces one-time charges

The new fee is calculated using circulating supply and quality-adjusted power. It spreads the cost across the sector’s lifetime, capped at 50% of expected block rewards.

Protocol constraints on batch size are eliminated

Gas usage now serves as the main throttle for message size, making hard-coded limits obsolete.

Why It Matters

1. Less Gas Friction, More Flexibility

Previously, using large batches during low base fee periods triggered batch balancer penalties.

With those removed:

• PreCommit and ProveCommit batching becomes viable under any gas conditions
• Aggregated proofs are now rational at all times

This reduces gas costs and simplifies onboarding logic for Storage Providers.

2. Predictable Per-Sector Costs

Rather than a single unpredictable fee at commit time, Filecoin now applies:

• A daily charge based on circulating supply × sector QAP
• Payments that spread across the sector’s lifetime
• A hard cap at 50% of daily block rewards

This change improves economic clarity—essential for modeling long-term commitments and DeFi integration.

3. Protocol Simplification

Limits on batch size and fault declarations were originally used to manage network load. With robust FVM gas rules in place, those constraints are no longer necessary:

• Gas costs now naturally discourage oversized messages
• Removing limits enables higher throughput and reduces admin overhead

How It Works

🧾 No More Batch Balancer

Once FIP-0100 activates:

• Penalties tied to base fee thresholds disappear
• If your miner has the gas, you can batch sectors and proofs freely
• Gas usage drops by up to 30% for large ProveCommit operations

📆 Daily Per-Sector Fee

For new sectors onboarded after nv25 (and updated ones as of nv25), a daily fee is applied:

• Calculated using circulating supply and sector QAP
• Charged daily until the sector’s final deadline
• Capped at 50% of daily expected rewards

🕒 Grace Period for Extensions

Existing sectors that are extended within 90 days of nv25 avoid the new fee. After that:

• Extensions trigger daily fee activation
• Fee is calculated using conditions at the time of extension

Looking Ahead

More Batching, Higher Throughput

Without artificial penalties, miners can batch efficiently and aggregate proofs under all conditions. This reduces base fee volatility and improves overall chain stability.

Clearer Economic Signals

Daily per-sector fees give Storage Providers better visibility into long-term economics. Planning and risk modeling become more straightforward.

Adaptive and Fair

Because the fee is tied to circulating supply, it automatically adjusts to broader network conditions—preserving balance between cost and utility without manual intervention.

FIP-0100 removes friction without weakening incentives. With simpler rules, predictable charges, and fewer constraints, Filecoin is ready for the next wave of onboarding scale.