RFC - Extending Ethereum's Public Goods Impact into the Real World

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Proposal: Extending Ethereum’s Public Goods Impact into the Real World

Overview

Gitcoin, as a long-standing institution in the Ethereum ecosystem, has consistently demonstrated the power of Ethereum in funding public goods ($65m so far). As part of our continued evolution, we propose an initiative to bring Ethereum-powered public goods funding into real-world communities. This project aims to showcase Ethereum’s technology and culture as a beacon of positive impact while addressing concerns about the community’s perception on Ethereum’s marketing.

Background

In 2024, Ethereum’s sentiment in the broader market faced challenges due to factors like price underperformance, high fees, and competitive pressures from other blockchains. These dynamics highlighted a need for Ethereum to amplify its narrative and demonstrate its real-world utility.

Public goods funding offers a compelling, marketable use case to counter these challenges. Deploying mechanisms like Quadratic Funding (QF), RetroFunding, and Conviction Voting in real-world scenarios can highlight Ethereum’s transformative potential while reinforcing its culture of innovation and community support.

Proposal

We propose to run public goods funding rounds in towns and cities across the world, leveraging Ethereum technology to address local needs and priorities. This initiative builds upon Gitcoin’s proven model, such as the successful Downtown Stimulus program in 2020.

Gitcoin Grants is evolving and taking big strides in 2025; heading into a multi-mechanism future, funneling more funding towards its builders, and placing larger bets on supporting builders in a more robust way. There’s an opportunity for the EF & Gitcoin to join forces to step into a new era together.

Key Features:

  1. Diverse Mechanisms:

    • Use a mix of Quadratic Funding, RetroFunding, Conviction Voting, and other participatory
      budgeting models to tailor rounds to specific community needs.

  2. Operational Approach:

    • Host $500k rounds in selected cities in Gitcoin’s quarterly GG rounds…
    • Leverage local citizen recruitment and GreenPill chapters to drive engagement and outreach.
    • Highlight Ethereum’s technology and culture as the backbone of these efforts.

  3. Decentralization Plan:

    • Start with Gitcoin-led rounds.
    • Gradually decentralize the initiative into a DAO to align with the Ethereum Foundation’s values of neutrality and broad-based impact.

  4. Marketing and Brand Awareness:

    • Collaborate with top brands for sponsorships, logo placements, and public acknowledgments.
    • Position these rounds as exemplars of Ethereum’s role in solving real-world problems.

Budget:

  • $1 million from Gitcoin.*pending treasury & community approval
  • $1 million from the Ethereum Foundation.
  • Additional funding from outside sponsorships.

Impact Goals:

  • Showcase Ethereum as a leader in innovative public goods funding.
  • Strengthen Ethereum’s market narrative by directly addressing real-world challenges.
  • Inspire further adoption of Ethereum’s technology through tangible, relatable use cases.

Next Steps:

  1. Secure $1 million in funding support from the Ethereum Foundation.
  2. Select initial cities and communities for the pilot rounds.
  3. Launch rounds in 2025, incorporating learnings to refine and expand the initiative.

Proposed Names:

  • EthereumForGood.xyz
  • EthereumMarketing.xyz
  • EthereumExportsPublicGoods.xyz
  • EEPG (Ethereum Exports Public Goods)

This initiative represents a pivotal opportunity to redefine Ethereum’s narrative and demonstrate its profound value to the world. We invite the Ethereum Foundation to partner with us in this endeavor to amplify Ethereum’s impact and legacy.

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