DoraHacks and Atom Economic Zone (AEZ) Background
DoraHacks: A Global Web3 Innovator DoraHacks is a prominent global hackathon organizer and a vital multi-chain Web3 developer platform. Known for fostering innovation, it connects hackers globally through various initiatives like BUIDLs, hackathons, grants, and quadratic funding rounds. It has supported over 5300 projects with more than $40 million in grants and contributions, making it a significant player in the Web3 development sphere.
The Atom Economic Zone (AEZ) The AEZ, within the Cosmos network, is a collection of partially sovereign blockchains that leverage the security of the Cosmos Hub. These blockchains maintain partial autonomy but align their economic models with the Cosmos Hub, benefiting from its security and innovations and promoting collaboration within the ecosystem.
ATOM Economic Zone Quadratic Grant
Launched in 2023, the AEZ Quadratic Grant marks a pivotal moment for the Cosmos Hub. This initiative is a cornerstone of the Public Good Staking (PGS) program, designed to bolster the Atom Economic Zone (AEZ) by fostering the creation of public goods and appchains. It invites a plethora of diverse projects contributing to the Interchain ecosystem, with a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and the development of sustainable projects.
Quadratic Funding: A New Approach to Ecosystem Support
The grant adopts the Quadratic Funding (QF) model, an innovative departure from traditional voting models. By increasing the cost of each vote, QF aims to balance and democratize the distribution of funds, promoting active community engagement. This method is an improvement on the 1-person-1-vote and 1-dollar-1-vote models, designed to prevent disproportionate influence and ensure equitable support for diverse initiatives.
Grant Timeline and Phases
- Application Phase (Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 19, 2024): The period for project applications, including a kick-off talk and a judging phase to prepare for the QF round.
- Quadratic Funding Phase (Jan 22 – Feb 9, 2024): This phase features a live stream talk, project presentations during demo days, and community talks, culminating in an anti-sybil check and the announcement of results on February 18th.
Application Criteria and Evaluation
Projects seeking the grant must provide:
- Must-haves: Open-source GitHub repositories, a video demo, submission by the deadline, and a clear link to the Cosmos Interchain ecosystem.
- Nice-to-haves: Detailed team information, a usable demo, and a smart contract address if already deployed.
Projects are rigorously evaluated based on innovation, originality, the level of public good, practicality, user experience, completeness, and potential for future growth. This comprehensive evaluation ensures that only the most promising and impactful projects are supported.
Supporting the Cosmos Community
Dora Factory and DoraHacks, as pioneers of the QF implementation, are at the forefront of this initiative. They aim to empower the new generation of PoS networks, open-source communities, and decentralized organizations through groundbreaking solutions like Public Good Staking infrastructure and specialized voting and governance blockchain solutions.
Get Involved and Stay Informed
Interested parties can contact the DoraHacks team via Discord and Telegram, or stay updated on the event’s progress through DoraHacks’ social media channels. This program represents a significant step in fostering a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive ecosystem within Cosmos, supporting a wide array of projects and ideas through this novel funding approach.
Closing Thoughts
The ATOM Economic Zone Quadratic Grant by DoraHacks represents a significant advancement in fostering innovation and collaboration within the Cosmos ecosystem. Through its inclusive and innovative approach, the grant aims to enhance the development and growth of the AEZ, supporting a diverse range of Web3 projects.
