IOTA Gas Station v0.2-Alpha Launches With Advanced Sponsor Filtering Features

• Gas Station v0.2-alpha adds control layers like gas caps, package filters, and live updates.
• Rego rules, PTB limits, and off-chain checks give sponsors a better grip over contract use.

IOTA Network announced the release of Gas Station v0.2-alpha on its official X account on June 18. The update includes six expanded features intended to give sponsors more control over smart contract operations. It is built for infrastructure providers, campaign organizers, and public dApp developers, aiming to reduce misuse while maintaining open access.

IOTA Adds Gas Caps and Command Limits to Curb Abuse

A new gas usage control now lets sponsors define exactly how much gas an individual address can consume within a given time. The time window is fully customizable, and each sender is tracked independently. The update even allows isolation to specific smart contract packages, which is expected to help developers offer freemium access with more effective abuse prevention.

Another feature, command count filtering, allows sponsors to set hard limits on the number of commands permitted per programmable transaction. That change blocks complex hidden batches that might otherwise exploit sponsorship policies. The result is simpler, more enforceable rule sets that reduce hidden consumption and provide clearer oversight.

PTB Command Count Filtering:
🔹 Limit the number of commands per programmable transaction.
🔹 Block hidden batched logic
🔹 Simpler policy enforcement 3/8

— IOTA (@iota) June 18, 2025

The version also includes package filtering, a new tool that lets sponsors specify which exact Move packages can be supported. By filtering based on specific package IDs, users can lock their sponsorships to trusted deployments. This step is likely to bring tighter control over which programs get gas backing.

Rego Rules and Live Reloading Bring Smarter Sponsorship Control

For even more tailored sponsorship strategies, this version includes support for Rego expression-based rule creation. Sponsors can now write complex logical filters, apply them to programmable transaction fields, and even load rules from external sources like Redis, local files, or HTTP connections. These capabilities allow policies to evolve without redeployment, which can be critical when adjusting to new threats.

Policy enforcement has also been made faster with a new live access rule reloading feature. With this, administrators can immediately apply updates—such as adding a malicious address to a deny list—without restarting any process. This change enables instant reaction to misuse, saving both time and resources.

♻️ Live Access Rules Reloading:
Deny-list malicious addresses and reload rules instantly.
🔹 No restart required
🔹 Instant policy updates 6/8

— IOTA (@iota) June 18, 2025

Furthermore, external hooks now allow the IOTA Gas Station to query outside systems before greenlighting any transaction. These hooks are usable with third-party policy engines or other data like user account age, external risk scores, or any off-chain context. These additions allow sponsors to take real-world conditions into account before funding execution.

IOTA positions Gas Station 0.2 as a backbone for builders, infrastructure groups, and campaign organizers who demand predictable spending and policy control.