This proposal will support Ecosystem Agent Yung Beef to improve Polkadot’s presence in the U.S., discover new integration opportunities, and insert Polkadot into the minds of some of the U.S.’s foremost blockchain policy advocates. This will be accomplished in part through sponsoring the Texas Blockchain Council at the Executive Partner level, creating a stepping stone to further opportunities around the U.S.
Amount requested: $170,000 plus another $17,000 for price volatility for a total of $187,000. Any extra DOT will be returned to the treasury, based on the DOT price when the funds are received.
Many ecosystem members have discussed how Polkadot is lacking a suitable presence in the U.S. As we’ve seen from the results of the U.S. based Bitcoin ETFs launching, results in The United States can and will have an impact around the world.
As an ecosystem member for over 3 years, with an advanced understanding of the Polkadot ecosystem and its needs, I am well positioned to represent Polkadot in the push towards relevance in the U.S., provide education around Polkadot and its strengths, facilitate connections between interested parties and teams in Polkadot, and provide input on policy creation that would benefit the ecosystem.
Partnering with the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) will enter Polkadot into the minds of those working on favorable regulations and provide networking and integration opportunities with teams in Texas, elsewhere in the U.S., and around the world.
I will start by focusing on maximizing the value of our partnership with TBC. Once up to cruising speed, I will also start exploring additional avenues (such as The Blockchain Association, Blockchain Industry Group, Stanford Blockchain Club, etc.) for improving Polkadot’s perception in the U.S., leveraging connections made and lessons learned from working with TBC.
Our Executive Partnership with TBC will provide opportunities for marketing, events (including a free Block 2 Sponsorship for the North American Blockchain Summit worth $30,000), integrations, and more, the majority of which will require active management, which is where I come in.
The total funding for this proposal comes out to $187,000:
| Destination | Amount |
| Texas Blockchain Council | $50,000 |
| Yung Beef | $120,000 |
| Volatility Buffer | $17,000 |
| Total | $187,000 |
Policies & Regulations: Passing regulations that are beneficial for Polkadot, provide legal clarity (for example, do OpenGov voters have any liability?), or enhance DOT’s position as software.
New Ecosystem Teams: Onboarding new developers and teams to build parachains, applications, or tackle other ecosystem needs.
Integrations: Securing partnerships between Polkadot, ecosystem teams, and outside companies, whether they are TBC members or otherwise.
For details, please see the full proposal.