Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) Explained - What It Is, How It Works & Market Data

Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) Explained - What It Is, How It Works & Market Data
Jul, 9 2025

FORTH Governance Power Calculator

Governance Voting Calculator

FORTH
Current price: $2.40 (Oct 2025)
Voting Power 0.00%
Based on 11.5M circulating supply
Participation Rate 0.00%
Current voting participation: 15-20% of supply

Your Voting Power

$100 FORTH = 0.87% of total voting power

Requires staking to activate voting power

How It Works

Voting power is calculated based on your staked FORTH relative to the total circulating supply.

Important: You must stake your FORTH in the governance contract to activate voting power. Voting power is based on staked amount, not wallet balance.

Current parameters: Total circulating supply: 11.5M FORTH 20% voting participation

Quick Takeaways

  • Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) is a fixed‑supply ERC‑20 token that lets holders steer the Ampleforth protocol.
  • FORTH was created in April 2021 to solve the governance problem caused by AMPL’s rebasing supply.
  • As of Oct 2025 the token trades around $2.4, has a circulating supply of ~11.5 M and a max supply of 15 M.
  • Participation involves acquiring FORTH, staking it in the governance contract, then voting or delegating.
  • Compared with other governance tokens (MKR, COMP, UNI) FORTH is niche, tied directly to AMPL’s elastic‑supply model.

What is FORTH?

When you hear about Ampleforth Governance Token (FORTH) is the native governance token of the Ampleforth protocol. Launched on April 20 2021, FORTH gives holders the right to propose, vote on, and implement changes to the protocol’s parameters. Unlike the main AMPL token, which constantly rebases to chase a CPI‑adjusted $1 price, FORTH has a static balance-making it suitable for counting votes.

Technical Specs

FORTH lives on the Ethereum blockchain as a standard ERC‑20 token. Its contract address is 0x77fba179c79de5b7653f68b5039af940ada60ce0. The token’s supply is capped at 15 million, with ~11.5 million currently circulating.

Key attributes:

  • Fixed supply - no rebasing, no inflation beyond the 15 M cap.
  • Governance‑only utility - value derives from voting power, not from price stability.
  • Full compatibility with Ethereum wallets (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, hardware wallets).
  • Staking contract enables holders to lock tokens for voting weight and modest rewards.

How Governance Works

The governance flow is a three‑step process:

  1. Proposal: Community members post ideas on the official Discord or forum.
  2. Discussion: Proposals are refined, often with technical input from developers.
  3. Voting: FORTH holders cast votes directly or delegate to a trusted representative. Votes are counted by the number of tokens locked in the staking contract, not by wallet balances that would change after a rebase.

Delegation is a popular feature; about 30 % of token holders have delegated their voting power, allowing active participants to amplify influence without holding massive amounts of FORTH.

Getting Started: Acquiring and Staking FORTH

If you’re new, follow these steps:

  1. Buy FORTH on a major exchange (Binance, Bitget, HTX). The token’s 24‑hour volume hovers near $10 M, so liquidity is ample.
  2. Transfer the tokens to an Ethereum‑compatible wallet you control.
  3. Visit the official governance portal on governance.ampleforth.org, connect your wallet, and stake the amount you wish to use for voting.
  4. Choose to vote directly on active proposals or delegate to a representative you trust.

Most users report a two‑to‑three‑week learning curve before they feel comfortable navigating proposal details and delegation options.

Group of anime characters vote with floating FORTH tokens around a holographic ledger.

Comparison with Other Governance Tokens

FORTH vs. Major Governance Tokens
FeatureFORTHMKR (MakerDAO)COMP (Compound)UNI (Uniswap)
Supply modelFixed 15 MFixed 1 MFixed 10 MFixed 1 B
Primary utilityProtocol governance (delegation, voting)Stability fee & governanceInterest‑rate governanceLiquidity‑pool governance
Rebasing?NoNoNoNo
Tied tokenAMP L (elastic‑supply)DAI (stablecoin)cTokens (wrapped assets)ETH/USDC pools
Current price (Oct 2025)$2.4$650$45$7.5
Market cap rank#686#68#55#13

FORTH’s niche role stems from its partnership with AMPL’s elastic‑supply design. While MKR, COMP, and UNI govern broader ecosystems, FORTH only influences parameters that affect how AMPL behaves.

Market Data & Outlook

As of October 2025, FORTH trades between $2.27 and $2.71, with a 24‑hour volume just under $10 M. The circulating supply sits at 11.5 M, giving a market cap of roughly $31 M. Analysts split on the token’s future:

  • Optimistic forecasts (Stealthex, Apr 2025) see a peak near $5.6 if AMPL adoption surges.
  • Conservative outlooks (Swapspace, Apr 2025) expect the price to hover around $2.8-$3.3 through 2026.
  • Messier projects a 40 % value rise if AMPL’s collateral usage climbs 25 % in DeFi.

The biggest growth driver is the Ampleforth protocol’s integration with lending platforms. If AMPL becomes a popular collateral asset, demand for FORTH governance (to tweak parameters) will rise, potentially lifting token value.

Risks & Community Sentiment

Community surveys show mixed feelings. Voting participation typically reaches only 15‑20 % of total supply, indicating low engagement compared with larger protocols. Smaller holders often feel their influence is limited unless they stake sizable amounts, creating a perceived barrier to entry.

Regulatory uncertainty also looms. U.S. and EU regulators have yet to clarify how rebasing tokens like AMPL-and by extension, FORTH-fit into securities law. A crackdown could hamper adoption and depress token price.

Key Takeaway Checklist

  • FORTH is a fixed‑supply ERC‑20 governance token for the Ampleforth ecosystem.
  • It solves the voting problem caused by AMPL’s rebasing supply.
  • To participate: acquire, stake, then vote or delegate.
  • Price volatility is high; value is tied to AMPL’s broader success.
  • Compared to MKR, COMP, and UNI, FORTH is niche but essential for Ampleforth’s unique design.
Heroine looks at a city skyline with a FORTH price chart and looming regulatory clouds.

What is the main purpose of FORTH?

FORTH lets token holders propose and vote on changes to the Ampleforth protocol, such as supply‑adjustment parameters, fee structures, and integration decisions.

How does FORTH differ from AMPL?

AMPL is an elastic‑supply token that constantly rebases to stay near a CPI‑adjusted $1. FORTH is a fixed‑supply ERC‑20 token used solely for governance, avoiding the balance‑shifting issue that would make voting impossible with AMPL.

Where can I buy FORTH?

Major exchanges like Binance, Bitget, and HTX list FORTH. After purchase, transfer the tokens to an Ethereum‑compatible wallet (MetaMask, Ledger, etc.) to participate in governance.

Do I need to stake FORTH to vote?

Yes. Voting power is calculated on the amount of FORTH you lock in the governance contract. Staking also lets you delegate your vote if you prefer.

What are the biggest risks for FORTH holders?

Low voter turnout, concentration of voting power among large holders, and regulatory ambiguity around rebasing tokens are the main concerns. Price swings tied to AMPL’s market performance add financial risk.

14 Comments

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    rachel terry

    October 20, 2025 AT 22:41
    FORTH is just AMPL’s emotional support token. Like, congrats you made a governance token for a coin that changes its supply like a mood ring. Meanwhile MKR is literally saving DeFi from itself and you’re over here debating whether to adjust the rebase curve by 0.3%. 🤡
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    Susan Bari

    October 21, 2025 AT 04:08
    The fact that anyone still thinks this is a real project is wild. FORTH isn’t governance-it’s a spectator sport for people who missed the 2021 meme coin train. $2.40 for voting rights? I’d rather buy a lottery ticket. 🤷‍♀️
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    Sean Hawkins

    October 21, 2025 AT 21:34
    Technically, FORTH’s design is elegant in its simplicity. By decoupling governance from the volatile, rebasing AMPL supply, it solves a real structural problem. The ERC-20 implementation is clean, the staking contract is audited, and delegation mechanics reduce voter fragmentation. The real challenge is adoption velocity-not technical merit.
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    Marlie Ledesma

    October 22, 2025 AT 06:57
    I just want to say I appreciate how much effort went into explaining this. I’m new to DeFi and I actually understand what FORTH does now. Thank you for not talking down to people who are learning.
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    Daisy Family

    October 23, 2025 AT 00:53
    forth? more like forth-coming disappointment lmao
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    Paul Kotze

    October 23, 2025 AT 10:16
    Interesting that FORTH’s market cap is so low compared to others. I wonder if the real value isn’t in the token price but in the long-term stability it brings to AMPL’s ecosystem. If AMPL becomes a reliable collateral asset, FORTH could quietly become critical-even if no one notices until it’s too late.
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    Jason Roland

    October 24, 2025 AT 09:12
    I get why people dismiss FORTH, but let’s not ignore the innovation here. Most governance tokens are just voting rights attached to a speculative asset. FORTH is a governance token attached to a *mechanism*. That’s different. It’s not trying to be UNI or MKR-it’s trying to make AMPL work. That deserves respect.
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    Niki Burandt

    October 25, 2025 AT 07:52
    Low voter turnout? That’s because 90% of FORTH is held by 3 wallets. Also, regulators are watching. If AMPL gets flagged as a security, FORTH gets dragged down with it. 📉💸 Don’t be that guy holding it when the axe drops.
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    Chris Pratt

    October 25, 2025 AT 17:50
    I’m from the US but I’ve been following Ampleforth since 2020. The team’s commitment to decentralization is rare. FORTH might not be flashy, but it’s honest. I’ve seen too many projects promise democracy and then centralize everything. This one? They actually let people vote. 🙌
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    Karen Donahue

    October 26, 2025 AT 07:35
    I’ve read the entire post and honestly? It’s just another crypto project pretending to be revolutionary. You think you’re building a new kind of money but you’re just creating another layer of complexity for people who don’t understand what they’re investing in. And now you’re selling them a ‘governance token’ like it’s a magic wand? Wake up. This isn’t finance. It’s theater.
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    Bert Martin

    October 26, 2025 AT 10:14
    If you’re thinking about staking FORTH, start small. Learn the governance portal. Read the proposals. Don’t just delegate to the first name you see. It’s not a set-and-forget thing. This is your voice in a decentralized system-use it wisely.
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    Ray Dalton

    October 26, 2025 AT 17:10
    The real question isn’t whether FORTH is valuable-it’s whether AMPL will ever gain real DeFi adoption. FORTH is only as good as the protocol it governs. Right now, AMPL is a curiosity. If it becomes a collateral asset on Aave or Compound, then FORTH becomes essential. Until then? It’s a nice experiment.
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    Peter Brask

    October 27, 2025 AT 10:33
    FORTH is a trap. The entire Ampleforth ecosystem is a front for a centralized team to pump and dump. They control the staking contract. They control the proposals. They control the Discord mods. The ‘decentralized governance’ is a joke. They’re just using blockchain to make it look legit. I’ve seen this script before. Don’t get played.
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    DINESH YADAV

    October 28, 2025 AT 04:49
    This is why the West keeps losing in crypto. You people waste time on tokens like FORTH while China builds real infrastructure. AMPL is just a toy for rich Americans who think they’re smart. In India, we build systems that work-no governance tokens needed. FORTH? More like FORTH-lose.

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