Round 22 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is March 7

This thread is for applications for Rocket Pool’s February 7, 2025 - March 7, 2025 grants. Please only post grant 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 grant applications that are posted in this thread and timestamped by March 7, 2025 at 23:59 (11:59 PM) UTC will be considered. Any grants posted after that deadline will be carried over to the next award period.

This is the expected schedule for round 22:

  • Application Period (February 7 - March 7)
  • Scoring Deadline (March 25)
  • Final Voting Amendments, Discussion and Finalization (March 26 - March 29)
  • Award Announcement (March 30)
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.

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.

Grants Rubric

When evaluating grant applications, the GMC takes into account the following goals:

  • If the application is successful, to what extent does it further the GMC goals?

  • To what extent can the application be feasibly carried out by the person(s) proposed to complete it?

  • If the application is successful, how large is the benefit to the protocol relative to the size of the proposed costs

Grant Application Template

Please copy paste the template below into a reply. Answer the questions there, feel free to remove or add sections based on relevance.

## Name of Grant

### What is the work being proposed?

### Is there any related work this builds off of?

### Will 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?



## Benefit

<please enter N/A where appropriate>

| Group | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Potential rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH? |
| rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders? |
| Potential NOs |  If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time? |
| NOs | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node? |
| Community |  If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community? |
| RPL holders |  If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders? |

### Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?



## Work

### Who is doing the work?

### What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

### What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

### How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

### How will the work be maintained after delivery?



## Costs

### What is the acceptance criteria?

### What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

### How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

### What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

### Have you already been compensated by the RP protocol in any way for this work?



## Conflict of Interest

### Does the person or persons proposing the grant 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 grant).

### Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?

Name of Grant

Sponsor Of Institutional DeFi Season [May - July 2025]

What is the work being proposed?

A fully managed B2B marketing campaign targeting capital allocators, banks & fintechs [TradFi] with the goal to educate on the topic of staking for institutions.

The starting point is May and includes different forms of media [5x networking events {IRL Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, London + digital}, social media content & industry report] to increase RPs BD/sales & brand awareness.

Efforts are leveraged as the marketing campaign is held with 8 other DeFi leaders in different DeFi relevant categories e.g. custody, network infrastructure, risk management & vault curation, …

Detailed overview can be found here: https://pitch.com/v/w3vision-x-blockstories-institutional-defi-season-xfbr9p

Is there any related work this builds off of?

No.

Will the results of this project be entirely open source

No, the results will not be entirely open source.

Details:

Public-Facing Content:

Key deliverables such as the industry report, event recaps, and selected digital content aimed at educating and informing the broader DeFi and institutional communities are published publicly.

Proprietary Assets:

The core creative assets—including the comprehensive proprietary production materials, curated marketing content, and attendees registration data—will remain closed & only be shared with season sponsors.

Benefit

Potential rETH holders The campaign raises institutional awareness and educates capital allocators about staking solutions. This increased credibility and visibility enhances trust and attracts new users who are exploring staking options with rETH
rETH holders By driving institutional interest and broadening the market’s understanding of staking benefits, the campaign leads to greater network adoption and liquidity. This, in turn, supports the overall ecosystem stability and improves token dynamics for existing rETH holders.
Potential NOs The marketing initiative includes educational events and targeted outreach that demystify the process of running a Rocket Pool node. These efforts lower the barrier for first-time node operators, encouraging new participants to join the network.
NOs For operators already running a node, the campaign’s enhanced brand positioning and increased market visibility will bolster credibility and attract more business. This translates into improved operational support and additional networking opportunities.
Community A strengthened and more visible Rocket Pool brand benefits the entire community. Increased industry engagement and a successful institutional campaign contribute to a more robust and innovative ecosystem, benefiting all community members.
RPL holders As the campaign attracts institutional interest and enhances Rocket Pool’s market positioning, there is potential for increased network usage and demand. This leads to greater utility and possibly an uplift in the value of RPL tokens.

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

Member of the Rocket Pool Team such as Darren, or DAO member, or other appointed representative [e.g. Alpha Growth’s team if continued]

Work

Who is doing the work?

The B2B marketing campaign “Institutional DeFi Season”, is hosted as a partnership between:

Blockstories UG, Mühlenstraße 8A, 14167 Berlin

  • Leading German Digital Assets Media Company
  • Project Lead, Maximilian Vargas: https:/www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-vargas/

w3.vision GmbH, Neue Schönhauser Strasse 2, 10178 Berlin

  • Community Owned Media Connecting Industries With Web3
  • Project Lead, Jonathan Kuhl: https:/www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-kuhl/

Comment: The partnership is ideal as Blockstories has strong expertise in curating content in the field of Digital Assets & w3.vision has proven experience in media execution.

What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

Shared Experience [Blockstories & w3.vision]

  • Proven Digital Asset Season (Jan-Mar ‘25)
  • Together with Solana Foundation, Fireblocks, Near Foundation, Kiln, 21shares, DLT Finance, tradias, Deka (DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale is the central provider of asset management and capital market solutions of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, a network of public banks that together form the largest financial services group in Germany and in all of Europe)
  • KPIs
    • People reached: 200.000 (digital channels)
    • Event registrations: 1200 [attendees: 350 offline / 500 online]
    • Present guests: e.g. Fidelity, KKR, Blackstone, UBS, Allianz, Baader, DZ Bank

Experience [Blockstories]

  • Newsletter Subs: 15.000 [open rate: 64%]
  • Conference Attendees: 300 [digital asset conference, ‘24, Frankfurt]
  • Clients include: Galaxy, Sygnum, Taurus, 21shares

Experience [w3.vision]

  • Hosted Events & Hackathons: 250+
  • Conference Attendees: 20.000 [marketing conference for industries, ‘21&’22, Cologne]
  • Clients include: ETH Foundation, Mastercard, Bitpanda, Ledger, Circle, Celestia

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

  • Deadline: 01.05.2025
  • Invite Only Events (IRL):
    • 25.05.2025 [Zurich]
    • 05.06.2025 [Frankfurt]
    • 24.06.2025 [London]
  • VIP Dinner
    • 08.07.2025 [Paris]
  • Industry Call [Virtual]
    • 11.05.2025
  • Virtual Content [Onside Interviews, Newsletter Deep Dives, Report]
    • May - July 2025

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

  • A similar B2B campaign was hosted between Jan 25’ - Mar’ 25 together with proven season sponsors [see above: What experience do they have with such projects in the past?]

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

On w3.vision’s website: https://www.w3.vision/

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

  • RP representative at IRL events
  • Input from RP representative for digital content campaign

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

For the production of the B2B marketing campaign (Institutional DeFi Season) from May - July 2025, 100% of the payment is requested before its start [deadline 01.05.2025].

The final price ranges from EUR 22.000 to EUR 32.000. As the pricing is at a first confirmation, first price.

  • 1st - 4th Partner: EUR 22.000
  • 5th - 7th Partner: EUR 28.000
  • 8th - 9th Partner: EUR 32.000

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

All data is shared & reported. For the event there will be ideally always representatives of GMC, ideally Darran.

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

The Institutional DeFi Season is cost efficient for RP, as it is hosted with 8 other sponsors, reducing costs for individual events, leveraging marketing output.

Have you already been compensated by the RP protocol in any way for this work?

No.

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the grant 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 grant).

No.

Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?

No.

Diamond Hands’ Rocket Boost Elevating Rocket Pool’s Brand for Mass Adoption!
MORE READABLE FORMAT HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18SJmY-FferpLlwZNyBhg-GaYigI5u_-U/view?usp=sharing

What is the work being proposed?
Diamond Hands, a Web3 marketing agency, proposes a 2-month pilot to supercharge Rocket Pool’s brand presence and user acquisition. The work focuses on shifting Rocket Pool’s narrative from a technical powerhouse to a user-centric lifestyle brand, targeting both crypto natives and TradFi newcomers entering the Ethereum ecosystem.

The deliverables include:

  1. Marketing Strategy & Content Creation: A refreshed strategy with engaging social media posts emphasizing Rocket Pool’s story, values, and user benefits resulting in + 12,000 web visits in 2 months.
    Banner creation example - Link in doc
    Post creation example - Link in doc
    My personal account - Link in doc
  2. Onboarding & Education: 10 articles tailored to TradFi entrants and seasoned stakers to boost awareness and simplify onboarding.
    Article creation example - Link in doc
    My personal account - Link in doc
  3. Product Videos: High-quality videos (10, 20, and 60-second formats) and GIFs for YouTube, socials, and ads to drive visibility and adoption.
    Video creation example - Link in doc
  4. Press Releases: Strategic outreach to crypto, FinTech, & TradFi media to amplify credibility and reach.
  5. X Advertisement: Ads on X will reach over 120,000 X users or generate significant engagement on promoted posts depending on our marketing strategy. X’s ad algorithm will target potential Rocket Pool users based on crypto and DeFi interest data.

This pilot leverages the current altcoin market momentum to position Rocket Pool as top-tier staking solution.

Is there any related work this builds off of?
This builds on Rocket Pool’s existing reputation as a technically excellent protocol with strong word-of-mouth in the Ethereum community. It enhances past efforts (e.g., X posts, Medium updates, Discord server, etc.) by adding a professional marketing layer, storytelling, visuals, and outreach, that bridges the gap between technical depth and mainstream appeal. No specific prior grants are directly tied, but this aligns with Rocket Pool’s mission to scale ETH staking adoption.

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, all content, articles, marketing strategies, and video scripts will be open source under the CC BY 4.0 license, allowing the community to reuse and adapt them. Video and GIF deliverables (final rendered files) will be proprietary due to production costs and agency IP but will be fully licensed to Rocket Pool for unrestricted use.

|Group|Benefits|

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

  • Ethereum Ecosystem: By boosting staking participation through Rocket Pool’s marketing channels and initiatives, we enhance Ethereum’s overall security and accelerate its adoption.
  • DeFi Projects: Increased rETH liquidity within DeFi projects (e.g., lending platforms).
  • Crypto & TradFi Media: Press outreach amplifies Rocket Pool’s visibility, driving credibility and user growth through paid publications.

Work

Who is doing the work?
The work will be executed by Diamond Hands, a web3 marketing agency led by me, Ing. Michal Pelda AKA Rocket Unit, the founder with nearing 5 years in web3 marketing.

What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?
I’ve spent 8 years in web3, and last 5 years specializing in marketing, community building, and sales for blockchain projects. Diamond Hands has successfully executed campaigns for crypto startups, delivering content, videos, brand creation, tokenomics design, technical articles and PR and so much more that drove user growth.

My deep understanding of Rocket Pool’s product, community, and web3 space paired with agency expertise in storytelling and ROI-driven strategies makes us uniquely qualified.
Here is our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/diamondhandslab.

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

  • Week 1-2: Finalized marketing strategy, initial social posts,1 article and video/GIF production begins.
  • Week 3-4: Marketing strategy & content execution, 3 articles, finalized videos/GIFs, finalized PR publications drafts, 7-day ad A/B testing 3 variations.
  • Week 5-6: Marketing strategy & content execution, 3 articles, and PR articles published.
  • Week 7-8: Marketing strategy & content execution, 3 articles, 23-day targeted ad campaign on X, pilot results compiled for GMC review.

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

  • Content: A/B testing of social posts to optimize engagement (Weeks 1-4).
  • Videos/GIFs: Community feedback via Discord polls post-release (Week 3-4).
  • Ads: A/B testing and targeted campaign to optimize engagement (Weeks 4-7).
  • Press: Tracking publication pickups and referral traffic (Week 5-8).

Testing is baked into the timeline to ensure iterative improvement.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

  • Content: Open-source materials can be repurposed by the community or future grantees.
  • Videos/GIFs: Delivered assets are evergreen for Rocket Pool’s use.

Diamond Hands can offer service continuation post-pilot in separate proposal.

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?
For Rocket Pool, true ROI lies in growing stakers, staked ETH, and market share. These are the ultimate KPIs we’re chasing. The Diamond Hands Rocket Boost campaign delivers the marketing firepower to make it happen, with tangible, trackable results that ignite adoption and fuel Rocket Pool’s Node numbers.

  • Increase 12,000+ web visits in 2 months
  • 30-day optimized ad campaign with 120,000+ impressions from US crypto audience.
  • Content plan with 80+ posts for X account with average 10% monthly engagement increase.
  • 10 new articles published on Rocket Pool medium.
  • 3 videos (10s/20s/60s) and 5 GIFs delivered, with over 1,000 YouTube views.
  • 3 press releases published in reputable publication.
  • Bi-weekly reporting and pilot results compiled for GMC review.

ETH Staked/Unstaked on 6th March - Table in doc

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

  • Week 1-2: 4,250 USDT
  • Week 3-4: 1,650 USDT
  • Week 5-6: 1,650 USDT + 4,000 USDT for PR + 1,500 USDT for Ads (publication & ads fees, held by treasury, disbursed with GMC approval).
  • Week 7-8: 1,700 USDT
  • TOTAL: 14,750 USDT = 9,250 USDT + 4,000 USDT (publications) + 1,500 USDT (ads)

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

  • Bi-weekly updates via Rocket Pool forum with metrics (e.g., views, engagement, highlights).
  • Final report (Week 8) with all deliverables and ROI data (traffic, conversions, on-chain data etc.).

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

  • DIY content by community: Lacks polish and consistency; risks brand dilution.
  • Cheaper freelancers: Lower quality and no cohesive strategy; less ROI potential.
  • Skipping press and ads: Saves $5,500 but sacrifices mainstream reach.

Diamond Hands offers professional execution at competitive rates and maximizing impact.

Have you already been compensated by the RP protocol in any way for this work?
No, this is a fresh proposal with no prior compensation.

Conflict of Interest
Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose?
No, I’m not a GMC member, nor would any GMC member benefit financially from this grant.

Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?
No, Diamond Hands’ sole financial benefit is the grant payment. Our success is tied to Rocket Pool’s growth. No hidden agendas.

Why This Wins for Rocket Pool

This isn’t just marketing. It’s a rocket booster for adoption.

With altcoins heating up, now’s the time to grab attention, onboard users, and cement Rocket Pool as Ethereum’s staking leader. Diamond Hands brings the expertise, passion, and hustle to make it happen.

Let’s vote yes to this proposal. We are ready to launch this with your support

What grant is being renewed?

The Weekly Orbit.

What work from the previous proposal was completed?

We have produced and published 26 episodes from the prior grant, 92 episodes in total.

What work from the previous proposal is ongoing or pending?

The Weekly Orbit is an ongoing project.

What work was not originally planned, but completed, if any?

N/A.

What work is newly slated since the previous proposal?

The Weekly Orbit has produced 92 episodes published on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Our goal is to sunset the podcast once we’ve published episode 100. This grant is to fund episodes 93-100.

Are the results of this project entirely open source (MIT, GPL, Apache, CC BY license or similar)? If not, which parts are not, and why not?

All episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

What metrics can you share on the success of the project?


YouTube average views per week.


YouTube subscribers.


Spotify followers.

  • The Weekly Orbit episodes receive around 75 views per episode (roughly 50 on YouTube and 25 on Spotify).
  • YouTube subscribers have increased ~10% (from 125 to 138) since the beginning of the last grant period.
  • The Weekly Orbit has 155 total subscribers between YouTube and Spotify.

The Weekly Orbit podcast, which focuses on Rocket Pool news and market analysis, has decided to conclude its run. This decision comes amid a broader downturn in the crypto market, which has affected various aspects of the Rocket Pool ecosystem.

Factors Contributing to the Decision

  • Decreased Viewership: The podcast experienced a slight decline in average viewer count compared to previous periods.
  • Market Conditions: The price of RPL is currently at or near all-time lows.
  • Reduced Community Engagement: There has been a noticeable decrease in overall interest and participation within the Rocket Pool community.
  • Industry-Wide Trend: The current market sentiment has impacted crypto-focused content across the board, with many podcasts experiencing similar challenges.

Streamlining Content

Given these circumstances, the decision to sunset The Weekly Orbit aligns with a strategy to consolidate Rocket Pool-focused content. While The Weekly Orbit offered unique in-depth discussions and market analysis, the current environment suggests that maintaining a single Rocket Pool podcast (RocketFuel) is a more sustainable approach.

This decision reflects a pragmatic response to the evolving crypto landscape and allows for a more focused allocation of resources within the Rocket Pool ecosystem.

We respectfully request funding for the final remaining episodes to facilitate an orderly wind-down of the product.

In less specific terms, how has this project improved the Rocket Pool ecosystem or benefited the Ethereum ecosystem?

The Weekly Orbit provides weekly content for those interested in being a node operator, an rETH holder, or are interested in rETH or RPL DeFi integrations.

We report on the top stories of Rocket Pool each week, we engage in two-way conversations, allowing for in-depth discussions and the sharing of opinions on the most important topics. Our content caters to a diverse audience, ranging from beginners to advanced users, ensuring everyone finds value in our discussions.

Team

The team consists of Pat and Waq.

Who has done the work, and have there been any changes to the team?

Pat and Waq produce the weekly show. There have been no changes to the team.

How have the individual constituents of the team been compensated?

The prior grant was split 80/20 between Pat and Waq, respectively.

How has maintenance been performed since the delivery of the project?

The podcast is maintained on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Payment and Verification

Have the acceptance criteria been met?

The acceptance criteria have been met. We produced weekly episodes throughout the last grant period.

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much RPL and over what period of time is the applicant requesting? Does this differ from the original approved amount?

We are requesting $1,200 to produce the last eight episodes over the next two months. This amounts to $150 per episode, which is half of the standard rate for Rocket Pool media production. We request the grant be paid with an 80/20 split between Pat and Waq, respectively.

Is there a measurable Return on Investment for the project?

Quantifying the return on investment for The Weekly Orbit, like many media and community engagement initiatives, poses a challenge. However, its impact can be gauged qualitatively by noting the considerable positive influence it has had on both the existing Rocket Pool community and newcomers. It’s a positive contribution to Rocket Pool.

What is the breakdown of spending on development for the original grant vs. maintenance?

N/A

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the grant 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 grant).

Pat has no conflict of interests.

Waq is a member of the GMC and the IMC. He receives donations in the form of RPL from anonymous and non-anonymous members of the community. The donations have no impact on the content of The Weekly Orbit.

Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?

Rocket Pool’s success is our only passion. Like many, both Pat and Waq have received airdrops from other protocols which aren’t covered on The Weekly Orbit and which will eventually be sold.

Notice: This message marks the closing of the twenty second (22) round of Rocket Pool grant applications. Any applications submitted after this will not be considered for this round. The GMC will announce the award recipients in a new thread here on the forums around March 30th. 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.