beneficiary

- PolkaBiz helps Web3 startups grow on Polkadot.  
- They picked 15 teams from 30+ applications for a special grant program.  
- They held a fun pitch contest for these teams.  
- Made a new website called Founders Portal for builders to connect.  
- Over 30 people signed up on the portal.  
- They helped teams even after the program ended.  
- Asking for $62,000 for their work from May to July 2025.

Executed

medium_spender

# Introduction

The first PolkaBiz retroactive proposal for January-April 2025 (ref [1544](https://polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1544)) was already approved by the community. 

The current, second,  retroactive proposal is for the months of May to July. 

PolkaBiz fills a critical gap in the Polkadot ecosystem by scouting, curating, and accelerating early-stage Web3 startups. Where other ecosystems often throw money at the problem, PolkaBiz brings structure, quality, and hands-on mentorship to unlock real potential.

At the end of this quarter, PolkaBiz reviewed over 30 startup applications for the founders' grant for the Web3Foundation, selected 15 promising teams for intensive support, and concluded the program with a high-energy pitch contest judged by industry experts.

Beyond mentorship, PolkaBiz also introduced post-program follow-ups and successfully launched the [Founders Portal](https://app.polkabiz.eu/signup?to=450)  -  a dedicated space for builders to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

To date, over 30 individuals have signed up and created accounts, with several already showcasing their startups on the platform. The goal is simple: create a dynamic hub where founders building on Polkadot can discover synergies and share progress.

<img height="335" width="602" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXffdd6AumYZ4tIA0TO7CQc4MKddeHdXTw0HjFfBOCxrzo6YPTPtD8QJGw2kPy4E35JCMuX3FNbq0ul34wNxsZSgf9fCjDXXQJ6g6Cnups43gf6-ef9tQpi8mnairHH3hbJG9MJbSQ?key=vjcfykHWMOfkrUpGiwqYcw" />

<img height="325" width="602" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXclbLHHK1I2DfRNyCMtameyFLZYowx_RopJ2W1KE_HG19qF1Sqy6hkAgqaSXN9_phr9DNeQkQadhNpZlnKqcb2k1i4w59T8Y3e9W4GnoMvhf2dVfgxNEuqVrjagt-yIs1IEjJnrLQ?key=vjcfykHWMOfkrUpGiwqYcw" />

PolkaBiz plays an essential role in strengthening the Polkadot ecosystem by mentoring founders, guiding startups, and supporting flagship initiatives such as PBA, PBA-X, Web3 Foundation's Founders Grant Program etc.

The results speak for themselves: we consistently receive strong feedback from both partners and the startups we work with. Our team is deeply passionate about driving ecosystem growth and remains committed to this mission.

This proposal seeks retroactive compensation for the significant efforts and outcomes delivered during this period,  recognizing both the operational execution and the direct impact made.

## Work Completed (May–July 2025)

1. **Web3 Foundation Founders Program**
 * Reviewed over **30+ applications** for the invite-only Founders Grant
 * Selected and mentored **15** promising teams
 * Organized a professional **pitch event** with community judges. See snippets of all the pitches here: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL\_8FVl5sQhnffeXoiG7He6KjkCykiQQhK](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_8FVl5sQhnffeXoiG7He6KjkCykiQQhK)&#x20;
2. **Portal Development - now live!**&#x20;
 * Launched the[ **PolkaBiz Founders Portal**](https://app.polkabiz.eu/signup?to=450), an open-access hub where founders connect, learn, and showcase their projects
 * Between May and July, we developed and fine-tuned this. It required significantly more work than anticipated.&#x20;
 * Over **30 registered builders**, with multiple startups already listed
3. **Continued 1:1 Mentorship**
 * Provided **post-program support** to selected teams
 * Helped startups iterate, refine, and prepare for grants and accelerators

All of this, including the administrative efforts to manage startup cohorts and program logistics,  was delivered **without upfront funding**, to prove our impact and create a **long-term value funnel for Polkadot**.

## Requested Budget

In the [original proposal](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1504), we outlined a retroactive compensation model of **$62,000 per quarter**. Based on that structure, this request covers the months of May, June, and July 2025, totaling $62,000 for the work delivered during that period. 

**Here is the full document:** [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D0FfnsJpQwx\_Evap4vwjOI2cQhwzBR7PB57PTFDLijE/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D0FfnsJpQwx_Evap4vwjOI2cQhwzBR7PB57PTFDLijE/edit?usp=sharing)&#x20;

PolkaBiz Retroactive Treasury Request May - July 2025.

- **Problem:** Polkadot has 240+ projects, but updates are scattered across many social channels, making it hard for users to stay informed.  
- **Solution:** **web3rdy** is a simple website that gathers all Polkadot events, airdrops, and learning opportunities in one place.  
- **Features:**  
  - Easy-to-use calendar showing upcoming events.  
  - Clear instructions on how to join.  
  - Friendly reminders to keep users engaged.  
- **Benefits for Projects:** Helps teams reach more interested users.  
- **Funding Request:** 1,000 DOT for hosting, partnerships, and user growth.  
- **Goal:** Help 500+ new users join Polkadot events easily.  
- **Website:** [www.web3rdy.com](https://www.web3rdy.com)

TimedOut

big_tipper

When someone leans in and asks, “**What’s up on Polkadot?**”, will you know where to look—or are you still lost in a whirlwind of scattered channels?

Entering the Polkadot universe shouldn’t feel like decoding a maze. Today, over 240 projects blast a constant stream of updates—airdrops, governance votes, community meetups—each splintered across its own social channels. New users jump from Telegram to Twitter to Discord, chasing scattered links and risking scams or outdated information. Social media only grabs a few seconds of attention, and no one truly knows who’s interested or who follows through.

**Problem statement:**

&#x20;As social feeds age without fresh newcomers, conversations stall and posts become repetitive—driving even more people away. With fewer new voices, algorithms hide stale content, creating a downward spiral of engagement decay.

**Solution:**

**web3rdy** solves this by gathering every Polkadot event, incentive, and learning opportunity onto a single, user-friendly and clutter free website:

* **Simple Event Calendar:** See all upcoming airdrops, hackathons, incentive, workshops, and important voting deadlines in one glance—no more endless scrolling.
* **Clear Next Steps:** Each listing gives you all links, when it happens, and where to participate, so newcomers spend their time joining events, not hunting for instructions.
* **Stay Engaged:** Get friendly reminders—turning one-off visits into lasting involvement.

Projects benefit too: instead of shouting into a crowded social feed, teams reach a motivated audience actively browsing **web3rdy**. Organizers get simple feedback, so they can optimize incentives and grow stronger communities.

**Funding Request:** We ask the Polkadot Treasury to grant **1,000 DOT** for **six months** of operational support. This will cover:

1. **Platform Hosting & Maintenance:** Keep **web3rdy** fast, secure, and up-to-date.
2. **Content Curation & Partnerships:** Onboard top Polkadot teams and learning partners to seed quality events.
3. **User Outreach:** Promote **web3rdy** through ambassadorships and co-marketing with ecosystem projects, aiming to welcome at least **500 new participants** for the initial growth phase.

By unifying event discovery in one place, **web3rdy** ensures that every newcomer finds their path and every project finds its audience. With your support, we’ll transform how users explore and engage with Polkadot—driving real growth, participation, and long-term network strength.

Our MVP: [**www.web3rdy.com**](https://www.web3rdy.com/ "www.web3rdy.com")

**web3rdy** serves as one essential “Discovery Pillar” of Polkadot onboarding, centralizing all ecosystem events into one clear hub that transforms curious newcomers into active participants.

“What’s Up on Polkadot?” – Your One-Stop Hub for Polkadot Events, Airdrops and Learning Opportunities by web3rdy

- Polkadot is planning a big 3-day conference in Buenos Aires in November 2025.  
- It will have 2 main stages, 18 themed rooms, and a 24-hour hackerspace.  
- Around 3,000 people will attend, with many from outside Polkadot.  
- There will be hackathons with prizes and fun activities like gaming and art.  
- The event is free, with food and drinks included.  
- It will happen just before Devconnect, a major Web3 event in the same city.  
- The budget is $738,749, but they hope to save money and return some to the treasury.  
- The goal is to show Polkadot’s strength and bring the community together.

**Main prop:** [**sub0 - BA 25 Flagship Conference**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12A0cjXGTNsyzLCk7wW_tWJEpA0_hXm-cNzoUaGF2gMo/edit?usp=sharing)

Polkadot is stepping into a new era. 

That’s why we’re proposing a new flagship Polkadot conference in Buenos Aires this November: a 3-day, deeply immersive edition of sub0 that includes a main product stage and grows into a annual global flagship conference for the ecosystem.

Set against the backdrop of Devconnect, in one of the most vibrant Web3 regions in the world, this is Polkadot’s chance to open its doors to the global ecosystem and show what we’re really made of.

This proposal falls outside the scope of ecosystem bounties because of scale. We are happy to bring Polkadot's flagship event to OpenGov!

**Check out the full 35-page proposal** [**here**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12A0cjXGTNsyzLCk7wW_tWJEpA0_hXm-cNzoUaGF2gMo/edit?usp=sharing)**.**

**Review the detailed budget** [**here**](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PDB62sjXFX-8wW5zqYKG4TZmYvN9N9Tx/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=112447013957930173689\&rtpof=true\&sd=true)**.**

**The plan:**

 - 3,000 attendees over 3 days

 - 2 main stages (Product + Development), plus 18 immersive rooms

 - 24/7 hackerspace, 2 hackathons with min. $15K in Polkadot bounties (plus sponsor bounties) 

 - Major activations across gaming, governance, identity and art

 - 70% of attendees expected from outside the Polkadot ecosystem

**We’re ready for it.**

This conference will bring the whole ecosystem together to build, collaborate and move the Polkadot mission forward. All of it free to attend, fully catered, and designed for maximum real-world impact.

We’re inviting the community to help shape this event from the ground up. The proposal is now live.

**Location:** Bubble Studio

Before Devconnect, BA, Argentina

**Dates:** 14th, 15th, 16th November 2025

| What | 3 days, 2 stages: a product stage and a development stage, 18  highly immersive themed rooms,  24hr hackerspace & full catering, morning, noon and into the evening activities.  |
| ------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Where | Bubble Studio12 minutes from the main tourist area, Palermo.15 minutes from the Devconnect venue, La Rural.Regular shuttle buses to and from the conference. |
| When | 14, 15 & 16 November 2025.24 hours, with main conference times from 10 am to 6 pm, plus an evening agenda and hackathon.  |
| Guests | 3,000 guests over three days, including students, Polkadot eco and ecosystem outsiders.  |
| Themes | Resilient infrastructure,  Polkadot Hub, Bringing the world to Polkadot, JAM |
| Budget | Total budget: 738,749.00 USDC - Tickets will be free of charge and include access to a 24-hour hackerspace, side events, immersions, food and beverages, morning, lunch and PM. |

**FAQS**

**Why not go to the Events Bounty?**

Flagships have been historically community-driven initiatives, and a proposal of this size should be as transparent as possible.

**Why do you have a success fee?**

The budget accounts for 19.5% for WebZero agency fee & salaries, including the success fee if targets above 60% are met. It’s important to add that WebZero salaries are also key functions that save us from outsourcing: social media & content manager, DevRel and hackathon coordination, logistics, set design, creatives & agenda management.

**Why Devconnect?**

Devconnect is set to be the most significant Web3 conference of the year with 25,000 visitors descending upon Buenos Aires from Nov 10. Timing sub0 during Devconnect captures an already-assembled, highly technical audience, multiplies media reach, and makes travel logistics easier for speakers and sponsors who plan to attend both weeks. This offsets speaker costs to zero, as many high-level figures will be in town.

By running concurrently with Devconnect, we gain significant leverage. This approach amplifies our attendance and allows us to focus our budget on enhancing the event experience, rather than on extensive marketing. Crucially, we still deliver a powerful, uniquely Polkadot-branded presence.

For Polkadot's senior leadership, attending Devconnect is essential, even with many of our representatives based in Europe. Devconnect stands as the world's largest developer conference in web3 and attracts thousands of teams. Therefore, it's strategically vital for our key players to converge during the initial three days to solidify connections, then fan out to capitalise on those relationships within the broader ecosystem.

**sub0 Bangkok cost less than 500k, why the price increase?**

We're upgrading the experience to include concert-grade immersions, professional-grade livestreaming that will reach thousands globally, new scholarship initiatives, and a refined focus on one of the biggest hackathons on Polkadot. This will be extraordinary and unprecedented.

sub0 Bangkok was our first time organizing a major conference, which severely impacted team health due to a lack of staff and resources. Done in just eight weeks end-to-end, several corners were cut to make the event a success. Agency fees were not included. The venue was an abandoned warehouse without toilets or electricity. Police were called multiple times.&#x20;

It’s important to add that Argentina is significantly more expensive than Bangkok due to inflation dramatically impacting the country; therefore, costs are much higher.

All quotations have been heavily negotiated, with multiple quotes requested from different vendors per budget item for a full assessment.

Please note that we are aiming to send 10% or more back to the treasury via sponsorship revenue and aim to be well under budget.

sub0 25 Polkadot Flagship Conference in Buenos Aires

- A proposal was resubmitted after being rejected  
- No changes were made to the original idea  
- The creator wants more time for review  
- Some groups supported it before  
- Others are asked to review or change their votes  
- The creator is answering questions in chat groups  
- Available to talk with more communities  
- Thanks everyone for their time

small_tipper

Re-submission of 1678: 6-month renewal | Alan B. Levan - NSU Broward Center of Innovation Membership

Rejected

big_spender

Update Aug 5th: We have created a new proposal that addresses much of the feedback for this proposal here: [https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/3313](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/3313)

Please check out our new proposal

Replaced by: https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1695

- Polkadot wants to work with Hong Kong's OASES to grow its Web3 projects.  
- PolkaPort East (PPE) will help Polkadot set up a company in Hong Kong.  
- The partnership will help Polkadot get support like money, rules, and new friends.  
- Polkadot will help other projects move to Hong Kong for benefits.  
- The plan costs about $35,700 to start the new company.  
- Extra money not used will go back to Polkadot.  
- Projects interested can talk to PPE for help moving.

small_spender

Instruct the PCF to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with Hong Kong’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES)

- SubWallet is a popular wallet for Polkadot and Kusama, working on browsers, phones, and web.  
- It has over 1 million active users and supports 150+ networks.  
- Key features include staking, swapping tokens, and managing multiple accounts easily.  
- The team improved usability with one-click swaps and easier fiat-to-crypto conversions.  
- They completed many updates, like unified accounts and better notifications.  
- Future plans include multisig wallets and support for new Polkadot upgrades.  
- The team is asking for funding for past work from August 2024 to March 2025.  
- SubWallet is active in the community with AMAs and partnerships.

[Retroactive] SubWallet Development from August 2024 to March 2025

- Clarys.AI helps people in Polkadot OpenGov save time and make better decisions.  
- It quickly shows important details about proposals so you don’t have to search manually.  
- It can save over 80% of the time spent on research.  
- The AI is trained only on Polkadot data for accurate, trusted answers.  
- It organizes governance information clearly for easy understanding.  
- Clarys.AI checks proposals for trustworthiness and finds similar ones.  
- It helps voters, curators, and DAOs make smart choices faster.  
- The first version was approved by the Web3 Foundation.

## **Why do we need Clarys.AI?**

Do you find OpenGov overwhelming? Too many proposals to review, too much time spent digging through proposals and bounty submissions, comparing data and often finding proposals that aren’t clearly written or lack accountability?

If you're a bounty curator, DV or active OpenGov participant and this sounds familiar, Clarys.AI is built for you.

We aim to reduce governance fatigue, save you time and help you make informed, confident decisions with less effort.

Full Proposal here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2\_7hop5-3FbCNBOHOfYzzn7ZbRKrXfh/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2_7hop5-3FbCNBOHOfYzzn7ZbRKrXfh/view?usp=sharing "Full Proposal here")

Short deck: [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1W\_sX\_sFMIrLkN4Zruhp4IPl2Rkd-6NZW/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=118149997340957465621\&rtpof=true\&sd=true](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1W_sX_sFMIrLkN4Zruhp4IPl2Rkd-6NZW/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=118149997340957465621\&rtpof=true\&sd=true)

## Key Benefits of using Clarys.AI in Polkadot OpenGov:

* **Instant Access to Critical Proposal Data:** Discover and understand on-chain proposals and off-chain bounty submissions in minutes, no more manual digging or fragmented sources.
* **Achieve Over 80% Time Savings:** Streamline your governance research workflow and reclaim hours, focus on strategy, not information gathering.
* **Trusted Intelligence, Purpose-Built for Polkadot:** Make decisions based on a reliable AI trained exclusively on Polkadot-specific data, your single source of truth for OpenGov.
* **Structured, Actionable Governance Insights:** Receive OpenGov data pre-categorized and organized for clarity, speed and confident decision-making.

## What is Clarys.AI?

[https://clarys.ai/](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/Clarys.AI "https://clarys.ai/")[ ](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/Clarys.AI "https://clarys.ai/")is an AI assistant that supports governance stakeholders by enhancing **decentralized decision-making** within OpenGov, Polkadot’s pioneering decentralized governance platform. 

In summary, [Clarys.AI:](Clarys.AI:)

* Enhances decentralized decision-making by analyzing both on-chain and off-chain data.
* Where off-chain data is being sourced from Bounty submission processes, discussion posts, AAG discussions and more.
* Clarys.AI aims to improve the quality, transparency and accountability of Polkadot’s governance processes.
* It helps OpenGov **stakeholders** (DOT holders, bounty curators, DVs, DAOs) answer key questions such as:
 * Is a proposal accountable and trustworthy?
 * Are there similar proposals to this one?
 * What proposals exist in a specific category?
 * Are there connections between proposals, e.g., via wallet addresses?

Clarys.AI is built to revolutionize the **governance decision-making process by significantly reducing the time and complexity** involved in **sourcing, structuring and analyzing critical data**, enabling stakeholders to make informed, strategic and **high-impact voting decisions** with unprecedented efficiency.

The first version of Clarys.AI **was successful delivered and approved as an MVP by the Web3 Foundation’s Decentralized Futures program**, you can read the[ intro article here.](https://t.co/BhxNc2pure) 


Full Proposal here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2\_7hop5-3FbCNBOHOfYzzn7ZbRKrXfh/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2_7hop5-3FbCNBOHOfYzzn7ZbRKrXfh/view?usp=sharing "Full Proposal here")

Short deck: [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1W\_sX\_sFMIrLkN4Zruhp4IPl2Rkd-6NZW/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=118149997340957465621\&rtpof=true\&sd=true](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1W_sX_sFMIrLkN4Zruhp4IPl2Rkd-6NZW/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=118149997340957465621\&rtpof=true\&sd=true)

CLARYS.AI Beta Product Development

- The proposal extends the membership with the Levan Center for another six months (May–October 2025).  
- The same benefits and terms as the original agreement apply.  
- The center helps Polkadot with low-cost outreach and networking.  
- Plans include co-working sessions and meet-ups at the Levan Center.  
- Membership fees for May–July 2025 have already been paid.  
- The center is in a leadership transition, slowing some Polkadot initiatives.  
- Levan leaders have been invited to Polkadot events at Inter Miami matches.  
- Visitors to South Florida are welcome to tour or host events at the center.

6-month renewal | Alan B. Levan - NSU Broward Center of Innovation Membership

- The **Polkadot Builder Map** is a simple, visual guide for developers to understand Polkadot’s complex system.  
- It shows **60 parts** of Polkadot in **8 languages**, making it easy for people around the world to use.  
- The map is split into **3 layers**: Core Infrastructure, Parachains, and Tools/APIs.  
- It helps developers learn faster than reading long documents.  
- Experts checked and approved the map.  
- The map is **free and open-source**, available on GitHub.  
- People from many countries have used it and given feedback.  
- Future updates will make it even better, like fixing issues and improving the design.

**Introduction**

The **Polkadot Builder Map** is an interactive map that translates the technical complexity of Polkadot into an intuitive visualization (60 components, 8 languages). Validated by experts, it helps developers navigate the ecosystem in less time and with better context than traditional extensive documentation.

![Main-map.JPG](https://i.ibb.co/BVNkX81L/Main-map.jpg)

**Key Features**

✅ Multilingual: 8 languages covering 85% of the global population (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Afrikaans, Chinese, and Hindi).

✅ 60 technical components mapped:

• Clear descriptions + programming languages + links to official documentation.

• Organized into 3 layers: Core Infrastructure, Parachains, and Tools/APIs.

✅ Accessible design: Compatible with mobile and desktop.

So far, these have been the countries from which the most inquiries have been made.

![ranking by country.JPG](https://i.ibb.co/hRvRpp8j/ranking-by-country.jpg)

**Differential vs. Polkadot Wiki**

While the Polkadot Wiki is a comprehensive technical repository, the Builder Map offers:

• Intuitive visualization of relationships between components.

• Condensed information to reduce hours of learning.

• Practical approach: Ideal for developers looking to integrate quickly.

**Open source content available** in the repository: [https://github.com/Themvp07/PolkadotBuilderMap](https://github.com/Themvp07/PolkadotBuilderMap)

**Work done**

Over the past 17 months, I have developed and refined the Polkadot Builder Map, an interactive tool that simplifies the technical complexity of Polkadot. This visual map organizes the key components of the ecosystem (60 elements so far) into intuitive layers, with clear descriptions, programming languages, and links to official documentation. The tool is available in eight languages, covering 85% of the global population, and has been validated by ecosystem experts such as Shawn Tabrizi, the Gossamer and Kagome teams, and others, during events in Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona, and Bangkok.

**Previous Versions (Non-Interactive)**

![versions.png](https://i.ibb.co/v6wNfSYG/versions.png)

**Validation Received**

![b3.png](https://i.ibb.co/mCT2nyZX/b3.png)

**This proposal seeks:**

1\. Compensation for the work already completed, which includes over 200 hours of analysis, development, design, expert validation, translations, and technical implementation.

2\. Resources for ongoing support for 6 months, with the following objectives:

* Technical maintenance: Issue fixes, component updates, and UI/UX improvements.
* Migration to a separate website: To provide a better experience outside of GitHub Pages.
* Implementation of community improvements: Prioritizing user suggestions.
* Active support: Question resolution, additional documentation, and feedback sessions with ecosystem developers.

**Community Responsiveness**

This resource was enabled for community use and consultation 3 weeks ago and also has a forum topic where changes will continue to be communicated.&#x20;

During that time, two specific issues were created and resolved via GitHub.

![issues closed.JPG](https://i.ibb.co/VY1zfw3s/issues-closed.jpg)

A thread was also created on X explaining the map and its creation process. Below are some of the impressions and comments received from the community. X link: [https://x.com/simonxpe/status/1939423647468249106](https://x.com/simonxpe/status/1939423647468249106)

![xcomments.png](https://i.ibb.co/Qvd6005k/xcomments.png)

Currently the map is available here:  [https://bit.ly/PolkadotBuilderMap](https://bit.ly/PolkadotBuilderMap)

Main channel for communicate updates:&#x20;

https://forum.polkadot.network/t/polkadot-builder-map-interactive-tool/13619/2

Polkadot Builder Map – Interactive Tool

- Polkadot needs legal representation in the U.S. and clearer rules for treasury proposals.  
- This proposal funds research to study Polkadot’s legal status and treasury contracts.  
- It will create a public website (Polkadot.law) to share findings.  
- The budget is $50,000 USDC for research and the website.  
- The project will take six months.  
- The research will help Polkadot and other DAOs with legal clarity.  
- The team includes legal experts and a project manager.  
- Future steps may include more legal tools if the community approves.

Polkadot.law – Academic Research to Strengthen Polkadot DAO Legitimacy and Global Reach.

VOTE NAY - WRONG TRACK

- Salvatore Esposito helped organize a blockchain conference at the University of Miami.  
- He planned meetups, tours, and dinners to promote Polkadot.  
- Guests included university leaders and business professionals.  
- He hosted events at Inter Miami soccer games to build connections.  
- Salvatore spent many hours preparing and attending the conference.  
- He is asking for $1,500 to cover some of his time.  
- The event was shared on social media by attendees.

Justification for Tip Request - Salvatore

- Polkadot helped at a big blockchain conference in Miami.  
- James Slusser spoke at the event and met important people.  
- The team went on tours and hosted guests at soccer games.  
- They worked for many hours over five days.  
- Polkadot paid for the event but not for personal time.  
- James asked for $1,500 for his time.  
- People shared posts about the event on social media.

Justification for Tip Request - James

- Shortened time from original plan to 6 months  
- Added success goals (KPIs) in milestones  
- Changed payment and team size based on feedback  
- Kept same goals but will start small and grow  
- Asking to vote "no" on current plan  
- New plan coming soon

We have reflected on the feedback on this current proposal, and we will put out an updated proposal with the following parts updated:

* **Shortened duration:** We will be requesting 6 months of activities instead.
* **Success metrics/KPIs:** Some members wanted to see an overview of KPIs. This will now be available in the milestones section.
* **Updated compensation:** Some members were concerned about compensation, and others are concerned about the team size. We will make adjustments accordingly.

**Scope:** Some community members were worried that the scope is too big, and others said it's too small.
The scope will remain intact; however, we will take smaller steps and increase them gradually. These will be reflected in the KPIs.

We are putting out a new proposal soon and have pulled out the pre-image on this one. We request you vote nay on this one.

Based on community feedback, pls vote nay

This referendum doesn't have an amount included in it. Pls vote nay.&#x20;

Pls vote nay

- A new app called Pixelproof is being built on Polkadot.  
- It will store photos securely and privately, like Google Photos but decentralized.  
- Users can log in with a wallet and upload photos without needing passwords.  
- The app works on both web and mobile.  
- People can pay for extra storage using regular money (fiat).  
- The budget for the first version is $225,000.  
- The goal is to show how Polkadot can make real apps for everyday people.  
- The team listened to feedback and made the plan simpler and cheaper.

[Over the past two weeks](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1631), we’ve listened closely to the community, reviewed feedback from delegates and DVs, and re-evaluated our priorities. This updated proposal reflects that input with a **substantially reduced budget and a tighter, clearer scope**.

Our goal remains the same: to build the first flagship consumer-facing dApp on Polkadot, a decentralized alternative to Google Photos that puts user ownership and privacy at its core.

This version focuses exclusively on delivering a **lean, functional MVP**. Core features include decentralized photo storage, embedded wallet authentication, and basic sharing and access controls—everything needed to prove real-world adoption and lay the groundwork for future development.

We’ve also strengthened the technical clarity and business logic, adding a detailed Design Document outlining architecture, budgeting, and delivery milestones.&#x20;

This proposal is a first, concrete step to show what Polkadot-native infrastructure can achieve. We’re excited to help set the stage for the next generation of decentralized apps.

![PixelProof.jpg](https://i.ibb.co/rGW7vXGK/Pixel-Proof.jpg)Apillon, in collaboration with Parity Technologies and R0gue, is proud to submit this proposal for **Pixelproof** - a fully decentralized, production-grade photo storage application built on the Polkadot ecosystem. Our goal is simple yet bold: to create the **first flagship consumer-facing dApp** on Polkadot that rivals mainstream solutions like Google Photos, but with **true user ownership, privacy, and decentralization** at its core.

Despite Polkadot’s maturity in infrastructure and protocol-level innovation, the ecosystem still lacks powerful, user-first applications that resonate beyond crypto-native circles. Pixelproof fills that gap.

Pixelproof is more than a technical showcase - it is a usable, polished, multi-platform application designed for everyday users. It leverages:

* **Decentralized Storage Integration:**
  Users can upload and store photos on IPFS, pinned via Crust Network, with clear ownership and verifiable hashes.
* **Embedded Wallet Authentication:**
  Simple, non-custodial wallet login and account creation for seamless onboarding, avoiding seed phrase complexity.
* **Clean Web Interface:**
  A web application allowing users to sign in, upload, browse, and manage photos.
* **Foundational Mobile Experience:**
  A lightweight mobile app to support uploads and viewing (based on Immich foundations), but without all advanced features.
* **Stripe Integration for Payments:**
  Enabling fiat payments for premium storage or features, with transparent routing of revenue back to the Polkadot Treasury.
* **Documentation & Governance:**
  Clear setup guides, user instructions, and transparent reporting on revenue flows.

This proposal outlines a **MVP Development** with the total requested funding of **$225,000**, covering infrastructure, smart contract development, wallet integration, UX, DevOps, and open-source tooling.

We invite the Polkadot community to review the [full proposal PDF](https://bafybeic3shfujlp3srje5na2be7ow7epjfqml65n6glfoomkwbdmmztyca.ipfs.web3approved.com/?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJjaWQiOiJiYWZ5YmVpYzNzaGZ1amxwM3NyamU1bmEyYmU3b3c3ZXBqZnFtbDY1bjZnbGZvb21rd2JkbW16dHljYSIsInByb2plY3RfdXVpZCI6IjRiZDI1NDZiLTY3MTQtNDU3Ni1hZTAxLWY4NmUxZWE5NjVlNiIsImlhdCI6MTc1MjI5OTg5MSwic3ViIjoiSVBGUy10b2tlbiJ9.IlP5TTTtc2tnBff8p41yQHa0kgDSzjIMXa-s1AUNgHM "full proposal PDF") for an in-depth breakdown of architecture, and the strategic value Pixelproof brings to the ecosystem.

Together, let’s show the world what a real Web3 app can look like.

***

*Backup Google Doc link:*
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qgcyStHirRj2wT-hnzJYKDV0WqDMKuwK39EfdBOnKVU/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ctwwp53pk42](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qgcyStHirRj2wT-hnzJYKDV0WqDMKuwK39EfdBOnKVU/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ctwwp53pk42)

Pixelproof V2 Proposal: Decentralized Photo Storage dApp

UI bugged out and requested DOT instead of USDC

Vote Nay

- **Who:** Subsquid Lab  
- **What:** Helps Polkadot and Kusama with data storage  
- **Why:** Supports important apps and tools  
- **Growth:** More data and workers in Q4 2024  
- **Improvements:** Better indexing and new features  
- **Cost:** $308,704 USDC for services and work  
- **Data Served:** Over 11 TB for Polkadot chains  
- **Workers:** 1,600 nodes storing 900 TB

Summary

**Proponent:** [Subsquid Lab Official](https://polkadot.subscan.io/account/13bfKSQXoBn3AMLtZaW6BKv797fqZzsD3PYF6xpJDir3tdoE) - 13bfKSQXoBn3AMLtZaW6BKv797fqZzsD3PYF6xpJDir3tdoE

**Beneficiary:** [Subsquid Lab Official](https://polkadot.subscan.io/account/13bfKSQXoBn3AMLtZaW6BKv797fqZzsD3PYF6xpJDir3tdoE) - 13bfKSQXoBn3AMLtZaW6BKv797fqZzsD3PYF6xpJDir3tdoE

**Contact Details:** 

Subsquid Labs GmbH

6300 Zug, Switzerland

[mf@subsquid.io](mailto\:mf@subsquid.io) 

**Short description:** Ongoing development and maintenance costs for public SQD Archives, providing critical data infrastructure for Polkadot and Kusuma and other public Substrate-based chains in Q4 2024.  

**Archive raw data:** [Archive Infrastructure metrics](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rj_-4KqM2BZ7pHptIBryLZqcOmiQqi7PdFjBLcN25w4/edit?usp=sharing) - October, November, December

**Requested amount:**  **$308,704 USDC**

**Previous proposals:** [https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1526](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1526)


Motivation
==========

**A) Archives** 

SQD Archives are a vital component of the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystem’s data infrastructure, offering scalable access to historical on-chain data for public Substrate-based chains. These archives serve as performant data pipelines for major dApps, APIs, and developer tools, supporting critical ecosystem projects such as:

* Tanssi Network
* Talisman Wallet
* Polimec
* Polkassembly
* Apillon
* Hydration
* Giant Squid API (maintained by LimeChain, see details below)
* SubWallet 
* FiDi
* KodaDot
* RMRK
* ChainSafe (in particular the Multix multi-sig, as well as other projects)
* Phala Network
* Stellaswap
* Polkascan 



By providing free indexing services for the following public chains, SQD lowers barriers for developers and projects building on Substrate, fostering innovation and adoption:



* polkadot
* kusama
* asset-hub-kusama
* asset-hub-polkadot
* bridge-hub-polkadot
* collectives-polkadot
* Westend

Despite transitioning to a fee-based model for private data services to ensure sustainability, SQD remains committed to covering infrastructure costs for public archives, ensuring open access to indexed Substrate Events, Extrinsics, Storage Items, and EVM logs. This commitment aligns with Polkadot’s vision of a decentralized, accessible ecosystem.



**B) Contribution**

During Q4’2024, we made significant contributions to the Polkadot ecosystem: 

* Infrastructure Scaling: Expanding archive capacity to meet growing data demand. 
* Squid SDK Enhancements: Introducing advanced indexing features, including support for new Substrate pallets and improved error-handling mechanisms. 
* Decentralized Network Growth: Increasing SQD Worker Node participation to enhance network resilience. 



# Achievements

**Growth in Archival Data Demand, Network Expansion and Further Decentralization**

In Q4 2024, demand for archival data grew steadily, rising from 11.35 TiB to 11.68 TiB. At the same time, the number of active Worker Nodes in the SQD network increased from 1,139 in October to 1,600 by the end of December—a 40.47% increase. This expansion strengthens the SQD network’s infrastructure, contributing to greater decentralization and resilience across the Polkadot ecosystem.


By the end of 2024, the SQD network had scaled to approximately 1,600 active Worker Nodes, securely storing around 900 TB of data and serving roughly 11 TB daily. This robust, decentralized infrastructure significantly enhances data processing and storage capabilities, delivering improved security, fault tolerance, and scalability for the Polkadot network.



**Squid SDK improvements empowering Polkadot Developers:**

* **Additional unique support for Revive pallet:** Enabling the tracking of contracts deployed to the PolkaVM. 
* **Indexing efficiency upgrades:** Implementation of a novel mechanism to skip and log problematic blocks-those containing invalid or non-decodable data on Substrate based chains, ensuring uninterrupted indexing and improved resilience of the data pipeline. 


# Statistics and data

# <img height="300" width="506" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXda1vvLuOKXie21IM_SFp3-hpyGOgBOpFgnvro0LUpZ_h8cP2mebYkvRF09fLj0nygGv-LKRBQkfQqn_nG8aap9Xtb3HrM3vL15id14SlJ30MGY6S-W_YrkFSvrzO_jEIkMQYjrJg?key=OtINmgDGvVWqK5axEzaXJs4e" />

Over the course of Q4 2024:

* Served a total of **11,668,177,888,249**  (\~10.06 TiB) of data from substrate based chains.
* Served **2,336,249**  archive requests from substrate based archives.
* The highest daily total data transfer recorded for Substrate was **382.57 GiB** within a single 24-hour period (2024-10-05).



## Cost Breakdown

This proposal encompasses the combined costs for running Archives for Polkadot, Kusama, and other public chains, along with the development contributions, amounting to a total of **$308,704 USDC**   [Raw data can be seen here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rj_-4KqM2BZ7pHptIBryLZqcOmiQqi7PdFjBLcN25w4/edit?gid=466566330#gid=466566330)



The proposal is submitted towards the Polkadot treasury. Here is a summary of the running costs for Archives, in a tabular format:

| Service | Cost | VAT 8.1% | Subtotal |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------- |
| Compute Engine (GCE) | $92,630.90 | $100,134.00 | $100,134.00 |
| OVHCloud | $28,419.03 | $30,720.97 | $30,720.97 |
| Networking | $2,963.02 | $3,203.02 | $3,203.02 |
| Kubernetes Engine (GKE) | $436.23 | $471.56 | $471.56 |
| Cloud Storage (GCS) | $63.21 | $68.33 | $68.33 |
| Cloud SQL | $396.38 | $428.49 | $428.49 |
| Cloud DNS | $18.01 | $19.47 | $19.47 |
| Cloud Logging | $13,506.84 | $14,600.89 | $14,600.89 |
| Cloud Key Management Service (KMS) | $2.99 | $3.23 | $3.23 |
| Artifact Registry | $336.01 | $363.23 | $363.23 |
| | | | |
| Engineers & Maintenance\* | $144,000.00 | $155,664.00 | $155,664.00 |
| Total | | | $305,677.20 |

Contribution costs:

| Service | Cost / h | Quantity | VAT 8.1% | Subtotal |
| ---------------------------- | -------- | -------- | --------- | --------- |
| Revive pallet support | $100.00 | 16.00 | $1,729.60 | $1,729.60 |
| Indexing efficiency upgrades | $100.00 | 6.00 | $648.60 | $648.60 |
| Product management | $100.00 | 3.00 | $324.30 | $324.30 |
| Project management | $100.00 | 3.00 | $324.30 | $324.30 |
| Total | | | | $3,026.80 |

SQD (fka Subsquid) - Public Data Indexing Infrastructure for Polkadot and Kusama (Q4 2024)

- A new data structure called Merkle Mountain Belt (MMB) is proposed to improve blockchain efficiency.  
- MMB helps save money (around $1 million per year) for Polkadot users, especially in bridges.  
- It works better than older structures for recent data (1 minute to 1 day old).  
- The team will make a research paper and a Rust library by June 2026.  
- Funding requested: $340,198 upfront, plus extra DOT if savings exceed costs.  
- The team includes experts with Polkadot experience.  
- Changes from the last proposal include lower costs and simpler goals.  
- More details are available in links provided.

> *NEW (24 July):* for a much simpler explanation of MMB than the full proposal, check out Alfonso's blogpost: [https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/Bringing-MMB-to-Polkadot](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/Bringing-MMB-to-Polkadot).
> NEW (31 July): for answers to questions we've received frequently, please see our FAQ: [https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/FAQ](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/FAQ)

## Executive Summary

We propose the Merkle Mountain Belt (MMB) as a novel data structure that improves upon and replaces the Merkle Mountain Range (MMR), such as used in BEEFY. The final deliverables of this proposal are

* a paper preprint on MMB, coauthored with Alistair Stewart (Head of Research at Web3 Foundation), and
* a Rust library implementing MMB.

Once deployed on Polkadot, this library will produce immediate cost savings - [estimated to be in the order of a million USD per year](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#Fee-savings) - for users of bridges like Snowbridge and Hyperbridge, as well as other potential applications within the Polkadot/JAM ecosystem. The preprint will be submitted to the arXiv public repository.

### Timeframe

August 2025 - June 2026 for completion of all milestones.

### Requested Funds

1. 340'198 USDC until completion of all milestones, and
2. an additional 42'187 DOT once the savings accrued by the Polkadot/JAM ecosystem exceed the aggregate cost of the proposal.

See the [funding section in the full proposal for details and rationale](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#Cost-of-Proposal). All requested funds use the [Swiss National Bank USD/CHF foreign exchange rate](https://www.snb.ch/en/the-snb/mandates-goals/statistics/statistics-pub/current_interest_exchange_rates) and the 30-day EMA of USD/DOT via [Subscan](https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/price_converter) at the date of submission (10. July 2025).

Preimage content can be verified against [@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Proposal-Preimage](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Proposal-Preimage-V3), most conveniently using [dev.papi.how/extrinsics](https://dev.papi.how/extrinsics).

## Technical description

The Merkle Mountain Belt (MMB) is a novel type of Merkle structure, from the same family as the hash chain and the Merkle Mountain Range (MMR), which are very common in blockchain protocols, e.g., they are used to commit to block headers in Polkadot and Zcash, respectively. In general, these Merkle structures are used to issue a short public commitment that represents a large database, and then provide a compact proof of the existence of a data entry to a verifier.

To oversimplify, we can say that if most user queries are for data from the latest handful of blocks, the most efficient structure (in terms of proof size) would be a chain, while if most queries tend to be for very old data, the most efficient structure would be an MMR. MMB is "the best of both worlds", with a performance always comparable to the better of these two structures for any query recency. Yet MMB *considerably outperforms* both the chain and the MMR for queried data that was generated *between the last minute and the last day*.

In most real-life applications, we naturally observe that users' queries are heavily concentrated over recent events, in the above-mentioned time window (from one minute ago to one day ago). Hence, MMB is specifically designed to reduce the operational and data access costs for them. Examples of use cases in Polkadot include XCMP messages, and the BEEFY commitment to all finalized blocks, which is used in cross-chain bridges. Our [cost savings analysis](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#Fee-savings) focuses only on the latter use case.

However, we stress that MMB offers potential benefits to light-client protocols of any application, as most of them observe a recency bias in their user queries. In fact, the use of MMB has recently been [suggested](https://github.com/gavofyork/graypaper/issues/47) for JAM, and since mentioned in the [gray paper](https://graypaper.com/graypaper.pdf) to commit to the set of accumulation outputs.

While MMR maintains a well balanced tree in its structure, MMB keeps a slightly unbalanced tree, so that the leaves that correspond to recently generated data are shallower, closer to the root. In a cross-chain bridge, for example, a user's fees for a message are proportional to the size of the accompanying Merkle proof, and this size in turn depends on the depth of the corresponding leaf in the tree. Hence, shallower leaves means lower fees.

Read more on the [MMB features](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#Technical-overview) and [its structure](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#The-MMB-data-structure).

## Timeline & Payment details

Our proposal consists of 5 milestones that we anticipate to deliver until June 2026. We will post regular updates of our progress on [https://ogtracker.io/.](https://ogtracker.io/.)

![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/B1N5qGpSle.png)

We show in the image our projected delivery dates. We establish a conservative staggered payment schedule, wherein the payment for each milestone is executed a few weeks after its expected delivery. Naturally, this payment schedule can be modified in the future, e.g., in case we do not deliver a milestone before its scheduled payment.

Notice in particular that 30% of the proposal's cost is only to be paid if and when the library's aggregate savings for the ecosystem have exceeded our proposal's cost. We expect this to occur before May 2028; we have scheduled the corresponding payment for a conservative November 2028 which, again, can be rescheduled if needed.

## The team

The members of our team are highly qualified and have worked in Polkadot since pre-mainnet days. Our principal researcher Alfonso Cevallos has a Ph.D. in mathematics and is a co-author of many Polkadot papers, including the [2020 overview paper](https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13456). Our principal developer Robert Hambrock has been one of the earliest stewards of the Polkadot-Ethereum bridge, going back to its initial W3F grant, design of protocols, and implementation.

More details on ourselves and Cryp GmbH are available [here](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3#Team).

## Changes against previous referendum attempt

Please see [our recent post](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/post/3269), where we explain in detail what's different in this referendum relative to [our previous attempt](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1317).

In summary, the main changes are:

* the commitment to a success reward was removed, and
* the content was significantly reduced, resulting in a 40% cut in the cost of the proposal (measured in our local currency CHF, slighty smaller cut in USD).

The following milestones were removed:

* the publication of the paper in a top computer science conference,
* an analysis of the integration of MMB to other potential use cases in Polkadot beyond bridges, such as XCMP, UTXO-based projects, and FlyClient,
* adding parameters to taylor the structure (and performance) of MMB to any application with a specific distribution of data queries,
* the implementation of increment proofs, which would allow a verifier to detect dishonest behavior from a full node that maintains the MMB, and trigger a slash, and
* the implementation of the "forward-bagged" variant of MMB.

Such milestones may be added to a follow-up referendum in the future. We highlight, however, that the current referendum will deliver very robust milestones: a publication-worthy preprint that fully describes MMB, and an implementation that will start saving transaction fees as soon as it is deployed.

Full version tracking against the previous  proposal is available [here](https://github.com/Cryp-GmbH/mmb-proposal/compare/final-state-original-referendum...main).

We thank in particular the following people, whose feedback had an important impact on our previous and/or current proposal:

* Alistair Stewart (in particular wrt. trimming scope of the latest proposal),
* Raul Romanutti,
* Saxemberg (preproposal feedback prior to last referendum shared with consent [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t02YUwyuPYNZvk9xd4ouQQu8zrLs6A75/view?usp=sharing)),
* Parity Bridge Team (in particular Adrian Catangiu),
* Snowfork Team (in particular Vincent Geddes and Aidan Musnitzky),
* Hyperbridge Team (in particular Seun Lanlege),
* Oak Security, and
* AAG regulars

***

For more details, we strongly encourage reading [the full proposal](https://hackmd.io/@MerkleMountainBelts/MMB-Funding-Proposal-V3), and reaching out to us with questions/feedback either in comments here or in our Telegram group: [https://t.me/+b-a0VFO1NZVhZDE0](https://t.me/+b-a0VFO1NZVhZDE0).

We also recommend studying our [Sub0 2022 MMB overview talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCwXbD9v3ew).

Thank you for reading and happy voting!

Merkle Mountain Belt (MMB)

- A new plan for the IMCF Rewards Program to engage Inter Miami CF fans using Polkadot.  
- The program will give fans special rewards like meeting players and getting signed items.  
- It costs $250,000 to build and run the program for the 2025 season.  
- Lionel Messi’s huge fan base will help promote Polkadot worldwide.  
- The program is approved by Major League Soccer (MLS).  
- A company called SMT will help make the fan app quickly.  
- The plan is smaller than before based on community feedback.  
- It could lead to more sports teams using Polkadot in the future.

## **Overview**

This is a revised proposal for the IMCF Rewards Program, the official fan engagement platform for Inter Miami CF (IMCF), powered by Polkadot. Following the community’s rejection of Referendum 1575, we have scaled back the initial scope to focus on onboarding users and leveraging the partnership’s assets to deliver unparalleled fan experiences. This proposal requests $250,000 paid in USDC to cover platform licensing, development, activation, and deployment, with IMCF and MLS support reducing the community’s financial burden. 

**Background**

The original referendum ([https://polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1575](https://polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1575)) proposed a broader platform, including a predictions market, built with Galactic. The community voted it down, citing concerns over scope and cost. Since November 2024, we have worked with Major League Soccer (MLS) to secure approvals for a blockchain-based fan engagement application. MLS created a new category, “Blockchain Technologies,” recognizing Polkadot’s technological potential beyond finance or crypto. We have now obtained approval to build an application leveraging Polkadot’s blockchain, marking a pivotal moment to act.

We have partnered with Smart Media Technologies (SMT), the industry leader in fan engagement platforms, which has on boarded over 10 million fans for global brands like the Olympics, Manchester City, FIFA, NBA, 49’ers, XGames, Huntington Bank/Live Nation, NY Yankees/NY Life, Visa, and more ([https://www.smartmediatech.io/fan-engagement-solutions](https://www.smartmediatech.io/fan-engagement-solutions)). 

SMT will power the IMCF Rewards Program, ensuring enterprise-grade quality and immediate time-to-value. The SMT fan engagement SaaS platform is a proven turn-key solution that rewards fandom through tokenized rewards and delivers higher ROI for sponsors by enabling Polkadot to easily onboard, engage and reward fans.

## **Revised Scope**

The IMCF Rewards Program will focus on:

* **Onboarding Fans**: Rapid deployment to engage Inter Miami’s global fanbase, leveraging Lionel Messi’s unparalleled reach (third-most-followed person globally).
* **Money-Can’t-Buy Experiences**: Free access to exclusive rewards, such as VIP matchday experiences, player meet-and-greets, and signed merchandise, powered by Polkadot’s blockchain for transparency and security.
* **Scalable Engagement**: A foundation for future features, like fan governance and predictions markets, to be implemented in later phases based on community feedback.

SMT will handle platform development, and IMCF has committed to covering management fees, with additional resource support from the club and MLS, minimizing community costs.

## **Budget**

We request $250,000, allocated as follows:

* **$200,000**: SMT platform licensing and development fees for a fully functional fan engagement app.
* **$50,000**: Activation, user acquisition, and deployment costs to maximize adoption.

This budget covers all upfront costs for the program’s launch and operation through the 2025 season, including IMCF’s playoff run. IMCF retains the option to extend the program into 2026.

## **Strategic Value**

This partnership positions Polkadot as a leader in Web3 fan engagement:

* **Unmatched Exposure**: Messi’s global influence (charges $1-5M per post) amplifies Polkadot’s brand through organic media, training days, and matchday imagery, at no additional cost. Our CPM rates have outperformed.
* **MLS Endorsement**: MLS’s creation of a “Blockchain Technologies” category and approval for this application validate Polkadot’s technological leadership, opening doors to further league partnerships.
* **Scalable Model**: Success with IMCF and SMT, which has onboarded 25 million fans, creates a blueprint for sports clubs, leagues, and entertainment properties to adopt on-chain fan governance and rewards.
* **Ecosystem Synergy**: Polkadot’s ecosystem is thriving—Mythical leads gaming, Hydration dominates DeFi, and Nova secures the wallet space, all funded by the treasury. The IMCF Rewards Program complements these efforts, showcasing Polkadot’s versatility with a high-profile marketing opportunity.

## **Why Now?**

The fan engagement market is shifting to Web3, with clubs and leagues adopting blockchain for governance and rewards. MLS’s approval is a green light to act, and SMT’s expertise ensures delivery. Backed by IMCF’s funding and Messi’s global appeal, this is a low-risk, high-reward chance to showcase Polkadot’s technology. If we delay, another chain will seize this opportunity. The Polkadot ecosystem is ready—gaming, DeFi, and wallets are locked in. Now is the time to leverage the world’s most marketable athlete and a committed club partnership to drive adoption.

## **Risks and Mitigation**

* **Risk**: Community skepticism from the prior referendum’s rejection.
 **Mitigation**: Scaled-back scope, clear budget, and IMCF/MLS support demonstrate fiscal responsibility.
* **Risk**: Adoption challenges.
 **Mitigation**: SMT’s track record (10M+ fans onboarded) and Messi’s appeal ensure engagement. Marketing funds will drive acquisition.
* **Risk**: Future feature creep.
 **Mitigation**: Phased approach prioritizes core functionality, with community input for expansions.

## **Call to Action**

The IMCF Rewards Program is more than an app—it’s a gateway to redefining fan engagement on Polkadot. With MLS approval, SMT’s expertise, IMCF’s support, and Messi’s global reach, we have the partnerships, technology, and vision to lead Web3 innovation. The Polkadot ecosystem is flourishing, and this is our chance to showcase its potential through one of the largest marketing opportunities in sports. Will the community seize this moment, or let another chain claim the future of fan engagement?

Vote to fund the IMCF Rewards Program. Let’s build history together.

As a reminder, the vision for this partnership, which was voted on by the community, has always been to move forward to showcase the technology pending the league's approval of a fan engagement application. That approval has now been secured, Inter Miami CF is engaged and excited about a new way to reach their fans, and we are committed to seeing this initiative through as planned. Watch the original vision here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgArBLSbt3o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgArBLSbt3o)

## **About the SMT Fan Engagement Solution**

The **SMT Fan Engagement Platform** is an enterprise-grade, SaaS-based solution designed to transform passive audiences into deeply engaged fan communities that drive real economic impact. Proven across the world’s most iconic sports brands—including FIFA, NBA, the Olympics, and Manchester City—this platform consistently delivers **10x fan engagement**, setting a new benchmark for how sports organizations activate and monetize their audiences.

### **Enterprise-Grade & Proven at Global Scale**

Trusted by global leaders such as Visa and the International Olympic Committee, SMT’s platform has already **onboarded over 10 million fans**, demonstrating the scale, security, and reliability that top-tier clubs, leagues, and sponsors require. Built to handle the demands of the largest sporting properties, it ensures seamless execution and compliance at every level.

### **Lightning-Fast Deployment**

Unlike fragmented tech stacks that take months to integrate, the SMT platform is built for speed. Clubs and partners like Polkadot can launch a fully branded fan engagement app in **a matter of weeks**. With a **two-click onboarding experience**, fans are immediately immersed—reducing friction and maximizing early adoption.

### **Engaging Fans at Home and In the Stadium**

The platform is engineered to reach fans wherever they are—inside the stadium or across the globe. Its features include:

* **AI-powered discovery feeds** that deliver tailored challenges, content, and experiences, keeping fans coming back day after day.
* **Gamified** quests like AR treasure hunts or having it Polkadot Points in AR with every goal and interactions that build emotional loyalty and deepen the connection.
* A **dynamic marketplace** where fans can redeem their Polkadot Points for **priceless experiences** like VIP matchday access, player meet-and-greets, and exclusive merchandise—turning engagement into unforgettable memories.

### **Purpose-Built for On-Chain and Off-Chain Rewards**

SMT’s flexible architecture supports both **on-chain and off-chain loyalty ecosystems**, making it the perfect bridge between the blockchain-powered Polkadot community and traditional sports fans. Whether rewards are recorded on-chain for transparency or delivered through classic digital mechanisms, fans enjoy a seamless, intuitive experience.

### **From Issuing Points to Driving Profits**

While the immediate focus is on scaling fan engagement through Polkadot Points, this program is also **strategically laying the groundwork for the next phase**: driving **ancillary revenue streams by bringing other IMCF sponsors onto the platform.** This evolution turns the app into a powerful commercial ecosystem—transforming it from a pure cost center into a growth engine that can generate millions in potential profits. A portion of these revenues can flow back to the Polkadot community, helping offset the platform’s costs and demonstrating how on-chain loyalty programs can directly benefit token ecosystems both directly through revenue share and indirectly through token appreciation.

## **Why This Matters for Polkadot and MLS**

By deploying SMT’s proven platform, Polkadot can immediately leverage its investment in the Inter Miami CF sponsorship, driving rapid ROI while showcasing its technology to millions of fans inspired by Lionel Messi’s unmatched global influence. It establishes a scalable model that can extend across the entire MLS and beyond, positioning Polkadot as **the blockchain that powers the future of sports loyalty, engagement, and shared economic upside**.

✅ **In essence:** The SMT Fan Engagement Platform turns passive audiences into active, emotionally connected fan bases—moving from simply handing out loyalty points to generating potential tangible profits that fuel both the club’s ambitions and the broader Polkadot ecosystem.

Interview with CEO Tyler Moebius - Smart Media Technologies - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4\_Vo75apyzc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Vo75apyzc)

Co-Founder Reeve Collins - Smart Media Technologies - [https://reevecollins.com/](https://reevecollins.com/)

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Please VOTE NAY

We’ve withdrawn this proposal to implement key upgrades.

- **Project**: UX Bounty for Polkadot  
- **Goal**: Improve user and developer experience  
- **Achievements**:  
  - Did 5 UX audits with 170+ suggestions  
  - 95% satisfaction from teams  
  - Upgraded 5 rollups  
- **Plans**:  
  - More UX audits (8 teams)  
  - New programs for data and help  
- **Budget**: $228,000 total  
- **Why Important**: Better UX = more people use Polkadot!

UX Bounty - Q3 2025 Refill Proposal

root

whitelisted_caller

wish_for_change

staking_admin

treasurer

lease_admin

fellowship_admin

general_admin

auction_admin

referendum_canceller

referendum_killer

OpenGov Referenda

Origin able to dispatch a whitelisted call.

Origin for signaling that the network wishes for some change

Origin able to cancel slashes and manage minimum commission.

Origin for spending up to 10,000,000 DOT from the treasury as well as generally administering it.

Origin for managing the composition of the fellowship.

Origin able to spend around 250 DOT from the treasury at once.

Origin able to spend around 1,000 DOT from the treasury at once.

Origin able to spend around 10,000 DOT from the treasury at once.

Origin able to spend around 100,000 DOT from the treasury at once.

Origin able to spend up to 1,000,000 DOT from the treasury at once.

OpenGov Referenda

Referenda Tracks