January 2023 GMC Call for Bounty Applications - Deadline is January 15th

calurduran · 1 January 2023 13:37

This thread is for applications to establish a new bounty as part of Rocket Pool’s January 2023 (Round 1) bounties. Please only post bounty applications in this thread. If you would like to discuss and/or ask questions about any applications you see in this thread, we ask that you do so in this separate forum thread which has been established for all community discussions related to this round of applications. Only those bounty applications that are posted in this thread and timestamped by January 15, 2023 at 23:59 (11:59 PM) UTC will be considered.

Please note the following differences between grants and bounties. Grants are intended to be applied for by those who are wishing to carry out the work themselves. Bounties are open-ended goals that could be met by anyone, including those other than the proposing party. In other words, if I believed that Rocket Pool needed a fifty-foot paper mache orange rocket for publicity purposes and I wanted to be the one to built it, I would apply for a grant. If I instead thought Rocket Pool needed a fifty-foot paper mache orange rocket for publicity purposes but I wanted it to be open to whoever built it first to claim the reward (similar to a prize), then I’d apply for a bounty.

Also please note that the below application was edited to turn it into a copy/paste format on January 5th. Applications submitted previously are not expected to re-submit in the new format.

To guide you in your application, the GMC has established the following goals and the following scoring rubric:

GMC Goals

Grants, bounties, and retrospective awards should make it easier and/or more attractive to do one or more of the following:

become a node operator

operate a node, mint rETH

hold or use rETH

improve the quality of life for the protocol and its community.

Bounty Rubric

The Bounties rubric involves scoring each of the three categories from 1 to 5:

If the bounty is completed successfully, to what extent does it further the GMC goals?

To what extent is it likely that the bounty can be feasibly claimed/completed successfully?

If the bounty is successfully completed, how large is the benefit to the protocol relative to the size of the proposed costs?

The maximum score is 15 and the minimum is 3.

Bounty Application

Please copy paste the template below into a reply. Answer the questions there, entering N/A where appropriate:

##Bounty Application

##Bounty

###What is the nature of the proposed bounty?

###Must the results of this project be entirely open source ([MIT](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT), [GPL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html), [Apache](https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0), [CC BY](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) license or similar)? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

##Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH?

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders?

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time?

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node?

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community?

###If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders?

###What other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from the bounty being successfully completed?

###Will the results of the completed bounty be open source?

##Work and Verification

###What steps would be entailed in completing the bounty? Do successful examples of such work exist elsewhere?

###How long is the proposed bounty available for? Is it awarded to the first team to successfully claim it, or is it in some way divided among all such successful claims in the proposed availability period?

###Who will test any products submitted for claiming the bounty?

###What is the acceptance criteria for awarding of the bounty?

##Payment

###How much RPL is the applicant requesting for successful completion of the bounty?

##Conflict of Interest

###Does the person or persons proposing the bounty have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if any member of the GMC would benefit directly financially from the successful completion of the bounty).

###Will the applicant, or any protocol or project in which the applicant has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the bounty is successfully completed?```

lefterisjp · 2 January 2023 23:52

Hello,

Happy new year!

This is Lefteris from rotki. We had discussed about applying for a grant for Properly account for assets managed via rocketpool nodes · Issue #3770 · rotki/rotki · GitHub last year and the kind people from your discord mentioned that from January this would be possible.

So here we are!

=== Bounty ===

What is the nature of the proposed bounty?

Implement the above issue and specifically the spec outlined here: Properly account for assets managed via rocketpool nodes · Issue #3770 · rotki/rotki · GitHub

The idea is to support rocketpool nodes staking both for portfolio tracking and accounting properly in rotki.

rotki is a local-first, opensource portfolio tracking and accounting tool that aims to protect user’s privacy. We want to offer the tools crypto people need to manage their portfolio properly without compromising their privacy by sharing data with centralized apps.

More info:
Website:limited by new user limit
Github: limited by new user limit
Usage guide: limited by new user limit
Discord: limited by new user limit

Must the results of this project be entirely open source? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

100% opensource

=== Benefits ===

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH?

They can use rotki to do portfolio tracking and accounting for their ETH staking! rotki offers them a solution that is private and local so they can do all of the above without compromising their data by sharing it with centralized applications.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders?

N/A

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time?

They will have a way to both track how much they have staked (as opposed to how much is part of the protocol) and also do accounting and calculate profit/loss.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node?

Same as above.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community?

Same as above.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders?

N/A

What other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from the bounty being successfully completed?

N/A

Will the results of the completed bounty be open source?

Absolutely. AGPL v3

=== Work and Verification ===

What steps would be entailed in completing the bounty? Do successful examples of such work exist elsewhere?

implementing the spec outlined in the issue linked in the beginning (can’t link again here due to new user link limit)
Adjusting through user feedback.
Creating a UI for it.
Including it in a rotki release.

How long is the proposed bounty available for? Is it awarded to the first team to successfully claim it, or is it in some way divided among all such successful claims in the proposed availability period?

Available until implementation. Bounty will go to rotki solutions GmbH, the German entity that develops the rotki opensource project.

Who will test any products submitted for claiming the bounty?

We will both implement and test it.

What is the acceptance criteria for awarding of the bounty?

Creating what was described above, and including it in a release so it hits production and users can just download rotki and use this functionality.

=== Payment ===

How much RPL is the applicant requesting for successful completion of the bounty?

The rough cost estimations for the work required to complete this feature is $15,000 and includes all the work detailed above plus testing and maintenance.

The RPL amount would depend on the exchange rate at payout date. With today’s price of $21.33 it would be ~704 RPL.

=== Conflict of Interest ===

We both ask for and want to complete the bounty ourselves. In which sense it’s more of a grant than a bounty.
rotki is an opensource tool. All our code is open, but the production version has also the option for a premium subscription 10.79 EUR/month as of this writing. The rocketpool validator staking info would be part of the free version but would be limited in the number of validators info can be provided for. Also the per-day view would be closed off, but totals would be available.

goluis · 4 January 2023 06:13

Hi, I’m actually new here on the forum but I’ve been following Rocket Pool for some time. I love that they are in the inclusion wave and in the event that they need to translate something into Spanish, I can help with pleasure.

PSN · 4 January 2023 23:11

I am interested in joining Contrbute.

calurduran · 4 January 2023 23:31

Please keep this thread only for applications. Any other comments should be made in the discussion thread for this round of applications: January 2023 GMC Community Discussion of Submitted Applications

It makes it a lot easier for us to manage that way. Thank you!

Valdorff · 5 January 2023 01:31

=== Bounty ===

What is the nature of the proposed bounty?

Clean answers to frequently asked questions, including block diagrams etc to improve upon what’s in /support template use

The ones that most come to mind, and I admit there may be recency bias, are:

How does Rocket Pool work? [high level intro]
Do I get rETH as an NO?
Why do we have RPL?
What if rETH depegs?
Why isn’t rETH 1:1 with ETH?

Some of these can be in official documentation. That would be best and get incorporated via PRs. Where there’s some opinion bits that may help (eg the RPL question; perhaps the depeg question?), I would suggest hackmd or medium or such. In an ideal world, this gets used in a support template with the support template being a true TL; DR and the article doing the heavier lifting. All of the answers should include LEB8s.

Must the results of this project be entirely open source (MIT, GPL, Apache, CC BY license or similar)? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

Yes - it should be easy to build on this.

=== Benefits === - enter N/A where appropriate

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH?

Helps get them understanding faster. Currently, some people may also never actually ask enough questions and fail to enter the system.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders?

Some rETH holders are still confused about their investment, and need more certainty to invest more or just feel more comfortable.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time?

Understanding where you fit is key to understanding this option. Understanding RPL is also important.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node?

Same as above.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community?

Better understanding and clarity is good. Also some folks answer questions repeatedly, so… it’s nice to have the help.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders?

Insofar as it helps onboard NOs or rETHers, this grows the project.

What other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from the bounty being successfully completed?

N/a

Will the results of the completed bounty be open source?

Yes.

=== Work and Verification ===

What steps would be entailed in completing the bounty? Do successful examples of such work exist elsewhere?

The guide should be posted, along with a call for feedback in the Education section of this forum. If in core documentation, merge of the PR.

How long is the proposed bounty available for? Is it awarded to the first team to successfully claim it, or is it in some way divided among all such successful claims in the proposed availability period?

The bounty should be available until claimed, and new “questions” to answer may be added by the GMC. The award should go to the first claimant. If an answer is upgraded to a better answer, the new answer may be awarded for the “difference” in value.

Who will test any products submitted for claiming the bounty?

N/A

What is the acceptance criteria for awarding of the bounty?

The GMC should explicitly accept it or reject it (ideally with a desired improvement) in the forum topic.

=== Payment ===

How much RPL is the applicant requesting for successful completion of the bounty?

5-10 RPL for an adequate to fantastic answer. Fantastic answers are not only accurate, but easily understood and shared.

=== Conflict of Interest ===

Does the person or persons proposing the bounty have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if any member of the GMC would benefit directly financially from the successful completion of the bounty).

I may potentially go for some, but not really

Will the applicant, or any protocol or project in which the applicant has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the bounty is successfully completed?

Nope

ken · 15 January 2023 22:09

Bounty Application

Bounty

What is the nature of the proposed bounty?

0x03 Champion and Shepherd

The Champion will be responsible for leading a coalition of staking protocols and other interested parties to develop and publish a core Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP) that enables the voluntary exit of a validator using its withdrawal credentials.

The Champion’s responsibilities will include organizing and bringing together the coalition of authors. This could involve hosting discussions on forums or messaging platforms, as well as organizing video calls.

Once an initial consensus has been reached, the Champion will assist the authors in initiating a discussion by posting an introduction and proposal on the Ethereum magician forum.

The Champion will also be responsible for drafting a consensus-reached EIP, following the guidelines outlined in EIP-1: EIP Purpose and Guidelines.

If the EIP is received positively and selected for presentation on the dev’s call, the Champion will assemble a group of authors to present the material.

Examples of initial discussion on the topic include:
0x03 Withdrawal Credentials: Simple Eth1-triggerable withdrawals - The Merge - Ethereum Research

Withdrawal Credentials Exits Based On A Generalized Message Bus - The Merge - Ethereum Research

Withdrawals: Automating Lido Validator Exits - Proposals

Will the results of this project be entirely open source ([MIT], [GPL], [Apache], [CC BY] license or similar)? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

Yes.

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH?

This bounty aims to further the development and promotion of an Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP) that allows for the voluntary exit of a validator using its withdrawal credentials. If adopted by the core developers in a future hard fork, this EIP would enable unlimited growth of decentralized staking pools by offering a low-risk method for protocols to entrust large LSD deposits with small capital deposits from the node operator. This would reduce the financial barrier for new node operators and offer a fail-safe mechanism for existing ones.

A well-designed specification would enable EVM smart contracts to initiate the withdrawal, for example, a publicly called exit command that activates after a set period, similar to a fixed-term certificate of deposit issued by a bank.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders?

This bounty will help to develop and promote an Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP) that allows for the voluntary exit of a validator using its withdrawal credentials. If adopted by the core developers in a future hard fork, this EIP would enable the growth of decentralized staking pools by offering a low-risk option for protocols to entrust large deposits with minimal capital investments from node operators. This could be done by allowing for the creation of Ultra-Low Ether Bonded (ULEB) pools, which would reduce the financial barrier for new node operators and allow them to validate the network using an RP minipool.

Additionally, this EIP would provide a fail-safe mechanism for existing node operators to safely exit the network in case of unforeseen accidents or the death of a node operator, minimizing the loss of investment funds.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time?

The main obstacle for new Node Operators (NOs) is the financial resources required to create a validator deposit. At the time this grant application is being submitted, the cost of ETH and RPL needed for a LEB8 is more than $16,000 USD. As the price of ether rises, this cost will also increase proportionally.

Enabling the creation of Ultra-Low Ether Bonded (ULEB) pools will help to lower this barrier, making it possible for more Ethereum users to validate the network using an RP minipool.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node?

An existing Node Operator (NO) would be able to increase the number of minipools they can run without an increase in capital ETH acquisitions. Additionally, forced withdrawals can serve as a fail-safe in the event of unforeseen accidents or the death of a node operator. Smart contracts or protocols could detect an underperforming node and exit it from the network, minimizing the loss of investment funds for the node operator.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community?

If the bounty is successfully completed, it will help the Rocket Pool community by allowing for the creation of ultra-low-ether-bonded (ULEB) minipools, which can safely operate without the use of distributed validator technology (DVT). This will make it more accessible for new node operators to join the network and validate transactions, increasing the decentralization of the Ethereum network. Additionally, it will provide a fail-safe mechanism for existing node operators to recover their initial deposit in the event of unforeseen accidents or the death of a node operator, minimizing the loss of investment funds. This will also help to improve the overall stability and security of the Rocket Pool network.

If the bounty is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders?

If the bounty is successfully completed, the introduction of Ultra-Low Ether Bonded (ULEB) pools will greatly increase the demand and value of RPL tokens. This is because, unless revised by the pDAO, ULEBs will still require a 10% RPL bonding of the borrowed amount. This means that as more ULEBs are created, and more node operators participate in them, the demand for RPL tokens will increase, leading to a potential appreciation in value for holders of RPL tokens. Additionally, the increased usage of ULEBs will also lead to more commissions earned by node operators, which could also drive demand for RPL tokens. For example, the NO in the above case would earn a NO commission on 240 ETH (15 times their capital ETH investment).

What other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from the bounty being successfully completed?

Lido, Swell, Obol, Stader, Diva, Stakewise

Will the results of the completed bounty be open source?

Yes.

Work and Verification

The work will involve hosting a series of conference calls where various stakeholders can provide feedback and comments on a proposed Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP). Once formulated, the EIP will be submitted for consideration along with an endorsement from each of the coalition members.

The Champion’s responsibilities will include organizing and bringing together the coalition of authors. This could involve hosting discussions on forums or messaging platforms, as well as organizing video calls.

Once an initial consensus has been reached, the Champion will assist the authors in initiating a discussion by posting an introduction and proposal on the Ethereum magician forum.

The Champion will also be responsible for drafting a consensus-reached EIP, following the guidelines outlined in EIP-1: EIP Purpose and Guidelines.

If the EIP is received positively and selected for presentation on the dev’s call, the Champion will assemble a group of authors to present the material.

What steps would be entailed in completing the bounty? Do successful examples of such work exist elsewhere?

To the best of my knowledge, there are no known examples of similar bounties.

How long is the proposed bounty available for? Is it awarded to the first team to successfully claim it, or is it in some way divided among all such successful claims in the proposed availability period?

I propose that an open call for interested parties be made to submit proposals to the GMC for accepting the bounty and becoming the 0x03 Champion.

Who will test any products submitted for claiming the bounty?

N/A

What is the acceptance criteria for awarding of the bounty?

The bounty will be awarded to the person(s) who submitted the most competitive proposal once the “call for proposals” has been made.

Payment

How much RPL is the applicant requesting for successful completion of the bounty?

I request that the GMC determine a fair valuation for this proposal.

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the bounty have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if any member of the GMC would benefit directly financially from the successful completion of the bounty).

I have been approached by another staking protocol for performing risk assessments and have been invited as an initial node operator.

Additionally, I am a member of the GMC. I am interested in submitting a proposal along with others to apply for this bounty, but I believe there may be other qualified applicants. Therefore, I thought it would be best to submit this as a bounty with a request for applicants so that we can recruit the most suitable team for this task.

Will the applicant, or any protocol or project in which the applicant has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the bounty is successfully completed?

Currently, I do not have any other vested interests in other staking protocols apart from those previously mentioned.

calurduran · 16 January 2023 00:01

This message marks the closing of the first round of RP bounties. Any applications submitted after this will not be considered for this round, but those individuals who are still interested in applying are encouraged to check back on the forums for our second round, likely starting either March 1 or April 1. The GMC will announce the award recipients in a new thread here on the forums on or before January 31 (likely on, not before). The community will then have two weeks to issue any challenges before funds are disbursed. Thank you to all who applied and thank you to everyone who has followed along. Anyone who would like to comment on existing applications is encouraged to do so in this thread.