Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7

This thread is for applications for Rocket Pool’s June 7, 2025 - July 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 July 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 26:

  • Application Period (June 7 - July 7)

  • Decision Deadline (July 22)

  • Final Voting Amendments, Discussion and Finalization (July 23 - July 26)

  • Award Announcement (July 27)

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?

Please Note - Treasury Situation:

During this time of treasury distress, the GMC would like to reiterate its strong preference for grants over retroactive awards—especially for development work. Pre-approval is important and appropriate for development features. Grant applications should be scoped in advance to ensure alignment and accountability.

1 Like

Rocket Rescue Node 2025 H1 Renewal

What work from the previous proposal was completed?

No major changes

What work from the previous proposal is ongoing or pending?

No ongoing work aside from maintenance

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

None

What work is newly slated since the previous proposal?

I may at some point transition rescue-proxy to use multicall.

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?

  • AGPLv3
    • rescue-proxy
    • guarded-beacon-proxy
    • rescue-api
  • MIT
    • rescue-ui
  • Closed Source
    • infrastructure
    • secrets

As a reminder, the infrastructure and secrets libraries are closed source, the former out of an abundance of caution, and the latter as a requirement. We don’t believe either of these to be a hindrance to a third party wishing to modify or run the service themselves.

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

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

The dashboard remains viewable at https://stats.rescuenode.com/

At the time of writing, 92 node operators with 98 validators are using the rescue node. Two solo stakers with 18 validators are connected.

Access has been requested 3096 times, 2923 times by Rocket Pool NOs and 173 times by solo stakers.

This corresponds to 133 solo stakers and 1152 node operators.

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

We continue to believe the project offers a safety net which helps differentiate Rocket Pool from other staking protocols and attract node operators.

Team

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

The only recent changes were the addition of @yorickdowne to the list of maintainers

How have the individual constituents of the team been compensated?

Maintenance continues to be pro-bono.

EthStaker pays the hardware costs and is in turn the recipient of the funds from the GMC.

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

Sporadically, as needed, and pro-bono.

Payment and Verification

Have the acceptance criteria been met?

We believe so.

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?

Our previous grant paid $650 per cycle, which was targeted at restoring the Rescue Node’s operational runway.

This cycle, we’d like to request $550 per cycle, targeting maintenance of the existing runway.

Is there a measurable Return on Investment for the project?

Please see previous applications for the cost/benefit analyses, which have not materially changed since the start of the project. I have still never observed the rescue node operating at a loss to the protocol.

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

100% of ongoing funds continue to be put towards reimbursing costs.

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).

Ken serves on the GMC. Ken does not stand to benefit financially from this grant, and has never been paid for his work with us.

I am an investor in NodeSet, Beaconcha.in, on the board of directors at EthStaker, and independently consulting a commercial node operator.

Yorick is a member of EthStaker.

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

2 Likes

Retroactive Grant for Additional Rocket Pool Community Calls (H1 2025)

Name of Retrospective Award

Retroactive Grant for Additional Rocket Pool Community Calls (H1 2025)

Who is the proposed retrospective award recipient?

Ken Smith

What specific project or work is the retrospective award in recognition of? Please detail what the project or work entailed and the duration over which it took place.

This award recognizes Ken Smith’s additional work in hosting four Rocket Pool Community Calls beyond the original grant’s commitment of 12 calls during the H1 2025 grant period. These additional calls were conducted primarily to determine the correct cadence of calls, switching from a weekly format when Jasper and Ken co-hosted the calls on an alternating weekly basis. Currently, only Ken has been hosting the calls in a bi-weekly-ish format. The intent is to provide periodic communication forums between the Rocket Pool team, node operators (NOs), rETH holders, and the broader Ethereum community. The additional calls covered significant protocol updates, featured business and marketing partners, and addressed community-relevant topics.

Over the previous six months, 16 calls occurred.

  • 2025-01-08 discord only (ft.. HAI)

  • 2025-01-09 39 views

  • 2025-01-16 43 views

  • 2025-01-23 106 views

  • 2025-01-30 38 views

  • 2025-02-13 119 views

  • 2025-02-17 Aztec hosted call

  • 2025-03-11 49 views

  • 2025-03-21 56 views

  • 2025-04-04 48 views

  • 2025-04-14 discord only

  • 2025-04-30 39 views

  • 2025-05-27 66 views

  • 2025-06-11 discord only

  • 2025-06-11 discord only

  • 2025-06-24 discord only (Plaza Finance)

Note the last four are being submitted via a Retroactive grant.

Are the subjects of this award 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, the subjects of this award are entirely open source. Recordings of the Community Calls are usually uploaded to the Rocket Pool YouTube channel under a publicly accessible license.


Benefit

Group Benefits
Potential rETH holders The additional calls highlighted the benefits and utility of staking ETH with Rocket Pool and the flexibility and security provided by rETH.
rETH holders They provided updates on protocol developments, keeping rETH holders informed and confident in their staking choice.
Potential NOs By featuring practical guidance and discussions with experts, the calls encouraged new participants to explore Rocket Pool’s node operation opportunities.
NOs Existing NOs gained insights into ecosystem developments and practical tips for optimizing node operations, helping them better understand and leverage the protocol.
Community The calls fostered community engagement and strengthened communication between the pDAO, the dev team, and the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
RPL holders Increased visibility and community engagement indirectly support the long-term value and utility of RPL, creating a stronger foundation for Rocket Pool’s future.

Costs

How much USD $ is the applicant requesting be awarded to the recipient?

The applicant requests the equivalent of $ 1,200 USD for the additional four calls, based on H1’s determined media production rate of $300 per call.

Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

The applicant is requesting RPL.


Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons requesting the retrospective award have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if you have nominated a member of the GMC for this retrospective award.)

Yes, Ken Smith is a member of the GMC and will recuse himself from deliberations regarding this application.

2 Likes

What grant is being renewed?

GA032316. Renewal for RP Community Call Hosting - Host Ken Smith

What work from the previous proposal was completed?

Here is a listing of the Community calls I have hosted since the grant’s last renewal. Over the previous six months, 16 calls occurred.

  • 2025-01-08 discord only (ft.. HAI)
  • 2025-01-09 39 views
  • 2025-01-16 43 views
  • 2025-01-23 106 views
  • 2025-01-30 38 views
  • 2025-02-13 119 views
  • 2025-02-17 Aztec hosted call
  • 2025-03-11 49 views
  • 2025-03-21 56 views
  • 2025-04-04 48 views
  • 2025-04-14 discord only
  • 2025-04-30 39 views
  • 2025-05-27 66 views
  • 2025-06-11 discord only
  • 2025-06-11 discord only
  • 2025-06-24 discord only (Plaza Finance)

Note the last four are being submitted via a Retroactive grant.

What work from the previous proposal is ongoing or pending?

The proposed work is to continue hosting periodic Rocket Pool Community calls.. The Community calls are routine calls that typically feature either members of the RP development team or a business or marketing partner (“special guest”). The calls are usually 1-1.5 hours in length and are intended to inform the community about significant news topics, with weigh-ins from the core Rocket Pool team.

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

Over the last 6 months, Ken has hosted four additional community calls, bringing the total to 16 calls, exceeding the original grant amount of 12 calls. As stated in the H1 2024 grant application, additional calls would be submitted via a retrospective grant application.

The grantee for this round would like direction from the GMC on whether they would like the practice to continue or if the frequency of community calls should be either increased or limited to the number approved in the grant renewal (12 calls over 6 months).

What work is newly slated since the previous proposal?

This is a 6-month grant renewal for the ongoing hosting of the RP Community Calls. I request a prospective grant to host 12 calls in H2 2025 at the current media and communication rate.

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?

Recordings of the live Community calls are recorded and posted on the Rocket Pool YouTube channel for asynchronous listening after the event.

Benefits:

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

See the listing above for the number of views from the YouTube recordings. I do not have statistics on the number of attendees present in the space or channel during the live call, but typically, the numbers are around a dozen attendees.

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

The Community Calls increase the RP NOs’ knowledge of team development milestones and the road map process. Furthermore, they inform rETH holders and DeFi integrations about the LST. It’s a weekly (and sometimes multiple times a week) live Twitter or Discord space that covers topics of interest to both rETH holders and NOs. The Community Calls keep holders informed about the protocol and ecosystem, enabling them to make informed decisions. Most guest protocols either incorporate or will incorporate Rocket Pool within their protocol or service. The Community Call remains a foundational communication platform for three key stakeholders. The development team, the RP Community (in particular the pDAO), and the DeFi Ecosystem that is incorporating Rocket Pool into their various protocols and services.

Team:

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

I have primarily hosted the calls for the last six months. For qualifications, I have been a long-term community member of RP, serving as a Rocket Scientist and continuing my third year as a Community Call host.

How have the individual constituents of the team been compensated?

I have previously received GMC grant funding.

How has maintenance been performed since the project was delivered?

Most community calls are re-uploaded on YouTube by @maverick and are publicly accessible via the YouTube platform.

Payment and Verification:

Have the acceptance criteria been met?

Yes.

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

I am seeking the newly established standard remuneration for media production. Payments can continue to be made routinely in the periodic (~monthly) reward cycles.

Is there a measurable Return on Investment for the project?

n/a

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

n/a

Conflict of Interest:

Do the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest that need to be disclosed? (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.)

Yes. I serve as a member of the GMC, and according to the current RPIP-18, I will be required to recuse myself from deliberations on this application.

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?

Possibly. We routinely invite special guests from other DeFi and Ethereum-based protocols to the Community Calls. Mav or Grant usually selects them and is generally tied to the Rocket Pool ecosystem. Their DeFi protocol may benefit from being included on the call. I will disclose if I am an investor or hold any tokens of the guest protocols.

1 Like

Name of Grant

Saturn 1 Upgrade Metrics for Rocket Pool on Dune

What is the work being proposed?

This grant proposes updating the existing Rocket Pool dashboards on Dune to support the upcoming Saturn 1 protocol upgrade. These updates will highlight the key improvements introduced by the upgrade and make these changes visible to the Rocket Pool community through clear, data-driven metrics.

The work will be completed within 4–6 weeks of the Saturn 1 launch and will also include contributions to the Dune Community GitHub repository and, optionally, the Dune Spellbook if the committee finds that valuable.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

Yes. This work builds on previously awarded Rocket Pool analytics grants that produced dashboards and datasets for tracking minipools, node operators, and liquid staking token activity. The existing dashboards provide a strong foundation and will be extended with Saturn-specific data.

Will the results of this project be entirely open source (MIT, GPL, Apache, CC BY license or similar)?

Yes. All code and queries will be open source under the MIT license.

Benefit

Group Benefits
Potential rETH holders Transparent metrics will provide better insight into staking activity and network growth post-Saturn.
rETH holders Real-time analytics will allow holders to track key protocol upgrades and health indicators.
Potential NOs The dashboards will make the impact of Saturn easier to understand for potential node operators evaluating participation.
NOs Node operators will be able to track and analyze how Saturn affects performance and earnings.
Community Dashboards will foster broader understanding of the upgrade and its benefits, enabling informed governance and discussion.
RPL holders Improved visibility into protocol metrics can help RPL holders assess growth, value capture, and the effects of Saturn on protocol dynamics.

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

Members of the Ethereum staking and Dune analytics communities may benefit from the open data models, especially those working with staking-related metrics.

Work

Who is doing the work?

The work will be completed by titey.

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

titey has received prior Rocket Pool grants to build and maintain Dune dashboards and data models. He also contributes to the Dune Spellbook and has experience making onchain data accessible and useful to DAO members, developers, and the broader community.

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

  • Week 0–1 (Saturn Launch):

    • Confirm schema changes and Saturn-specific metrics
    • Identify and submit any new contracts to Dune for decoding
  • Week 2–3:

    • Build and test new queries and dashboards based on decoded contract data

    • Key Saturn 1 metrics to include:
      Minipools & Protocol Metrics

      • Active LEB4 minipool count and adoption trends
      • Time-to-activation for LEB4 vs LEB8
      • Effective collateral distribution and node bond size breakdown
      • New rETH minted and supply growth post-upgrade

      RPL Staking Metrics

      • Total RPL staked (globally and per node)
      • Distribution of RPL staking per node (quartiles, average, median)
      • RPL per ETH collateral ratios
      • Smoothing pool-only nodes with RPL stake
      • ETH rewards accrual and claiming behavior
  • Week 4–5:

    • Publish updated dashboards to Dune
    • Push relevant SQL models to the Dune Community GitHub
    • Optional: contribute relevant Saturn models to Dune Spellbook
  • Week 6:

    • Incorporate community feedback and finalize documentation
    • Deliver final dashboard versions for review

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

Yes. Queries will be validated against known data before publication. Edge cases and comparisons to pre-Saturn metrics will be used for sanity checking.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

As with previous grants, titey will remain available to patch errors or adjust dashboards as the protocol evolves or as feedback is received.

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

  • At least one updated dashboard reflecting Saturn 1 metrics
  • SQL queries published to Dune Community GitHub
  • Optional: contributions to Dune Spellbook

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

$5,000 USD, paid upon delivery of all updates within 6 weeks of Saturn 1 launch.

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

GMC can verify completion through Dune dashboard updates, commit history on GitHub, and public visibility of results.

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

This is a solo project, minimizing overhead. The use of existing dashboards and Spellbook infrastructure keeps costs low.

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

No. This specific work for Saturn 1 metrics has not been funded.

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose?

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.

1 Like

What grant is being renewed?

Rocket Fuel - Waq

What work from the previous proposal was completed?

Since applying for my current grant on Jan 7th, I have produced 70 episodes of Rocket Fuel (up to episode 589).

What work from the previous proposal is ongoing or pending?

Work continues for Rocket Fuel daily. This is an open-ended ongoing project.

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

I have also produced one Launch Pad episode, and one Take Off into DeFi episode. This totals 72 content pieces I have produced in the last 6 months.

What work is newly slated since the previous proposal?

There is currently no planned new work outside of the daily Rocket Fuel episodes. Launch Pad and Take Off Into DeFi episodes will continue as and when the situation arises along with any other special episodes - such as those around the Saturn 1 update, etc.

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?

N/A.However, I made a list of all my episode links available to the community.

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

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

The Rocket Fuel channel has amassed 1,045 subscribers on YouTube, 2420 followers on Twitter, and 173 followers on Spotify alone (other podcast platform information is not available). All of these numbers show growth compared to 6 months ago.

(screenshot of YouTube subscribers)

This makes Rocket Fuel the largest Rocket Pool-specific YouTube channel, the largest Rocket Pool Podcast, and one of the largest Rocket Pool dedicated Twitter accounts that does not belong to the team or team members.

Rocket Fuel is the most widely consumed regular Rocket Pool-related media. The average Rocket Fuel episode has around 110 views views on YouTube, 70 views on twitter, and 55 listens on Spotify alone. The average viewer count on YouTube is slightly down compared to the previous grant. However, the number of views on Twitter have made up for the reduction on Youtube. Also, this is very strongly correlated with the number of people visiting the Rocket Pool community and the price of RPL - both of which are close to lows.

(visitor count for the RP discord)

The contraction of Rocket Pool, the poor price action for RPL, and generally low sentiment in the wider Ethereum space has brought fewer viewers than I expected. This phenomenon is not isolated to Rocket Fuel. Major crypto podcasts and news channels are also suffering in this current market. Once interest in crypto comes back from wider audiences, Rocket Fuel should grow in accordance with that.

(interest in crypto content is close to cycle lows)

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

Rocket Fuel is an invaluable tool for the Rocket Pool protocol and community. There is a thriving Rocket Fuel community with dozens of people contributing content to the show monthly. On top of that, other protocols have noticed my passion and high-quality content for Rocket Pool and have reached out for their content in partnership to be covered on the show. All such content happens without any payment and the strictest selection criteria is used.

Rocket Fuel is often the first media newcomers to Rocket Pool come across. Rocket Fuel’s lack of advertisements and focus on the news in a matter-of-fact manner without hype, embellishment, or clickbait tactics is a welcoming and informative introduction to Rocket Pool. In this way, Rocket Fuel significantly contributes to Rocket Pool’s credibility. No comparable DeFI project, or even many alt layer-1s, have a similar dedicated media outlet, nor do they have media and community-building programs that are this cost-effective to produce for the pDAO.

Rocket Fuel’s value is recognized by many prominent members of the Rocket Pool community. Some have provided testimonials for Rocket Fuel’s worth for them. Below is a sample of some of these testimonials:

superphiz:

Rocket Fuel has positioned itself as a critical information distribution tool in the super fast paced Rocket Pool community. We all acknowledge that there’s simply too much information for anyone to keep up with and Rocket Fuel is the glue that lets our community sync up and push forward. The information provided by Rocket Fuel translates into added value for new users and old trolls by giving high quality free access to the cutting edge of information without having to wade through thousands of comments.

Marceau:

Rocket Pool is lucky to have such a vibrant and active community, to the point that staying on top of all the discussion is onerous. Waq and Rocket Fuel provide a huge amount of value by aggregating the key points into a video format with timestamps. Thanks!

Shfryn:

I have been an avid viewer of Rocket Fuel since its inception, and I must say that it has become an indispensable resource for staying up to date with the ever-evolving Rocket Pool ecosystem. Our protocol needs a reliable source of information on a daily basis.

Beyond being an outstanding source of information, Rocket Fuel serves to legitimize our protocol to potential new node operators. I would imagine there are a ton of potential node operators that would not stop to give the product a chance if it were not for the information Rocket Fuel provides.

Beyond bringing legitimacy, Rocket Fuel has personally played a pivotal role in my journey. It served as the bridge that connected me to the community and fueled my motivation to contribute more. Unlike aimlessly reading random conversations in a Discord server, Rocket Fuel provided me with a tangible connection to others who share my passion.

In essence, Rocket Fuel not only delivers invaluable news and updates but also lends credibility to the Rocket Pool product. Furthermore, it fosters a sense of engagement and connection within the community, enhancing the overall experience for all participants. It is a beacon of inspiration, propelling individuals like me to actively participate and contribute towards the shared vision.

Langers

In order for DAOs to thrive, its participants have to stay in the loop and be well-informed. Within the vibrant Rocket Pool community, there are many simultaneous conversations, decision-making processes, and initiatives happening. To ensure everyone can easily access and digest important information, we’ve got Rocket Fuel—an awesome resource that delivers timely updates in a friendly and approachable manner. And let’s not forget about Waq, who brings a touch of personality and warmth to our inclusive community culture.

Patches

Rocket Fuel provides an invaluable service to those of us who work to build for the Rocket Pool ecosystem. In the fast paced Ethereum world, it is impossible to stay up to date on everything transpiring on twitter and discord and be a productive builder at the same time- that is, without the help of Rocket Fuel. Waq’s YouTube videos, and especially their content timestamping, drastically improve the signal-to-noise ratio from social media, and help me stay focused, productive, and engaged with the community.

Rhett (founder of Gravita)

Waq’s coverage of Gravita on Rocket Fuel as well as the launchpad has been extremely helpful for us in connecting with the rocketpool community and the ethereum community as a whole. He’s also been a pleasure to work with and a great interviewer. He’s the kind of content creator we need more of.

Team

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

The content production work is all done by me, Waq. However, Rocket Fuel would not be possible without the content contributors who assist me with research for each episode. I pay a monthly amount of $1,000 for this help that is provided to me in the form of a raffle. There is a chance this amount will be reduced in the near future.

How have the individual constituents of the team been compensated?

The payment has gone to me. I also use money that comes to me for Rocket Fuel to pay contributors $1,000 every month.

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

Maintenance is done by YouTube and podcast content hosting services and has required minimal effort from me.

Payment and Verification

Have the acceptance criteria been met?

The have produced a slightly lower number of episodes than indicated in the previous grant. Rocket Fuel has grown in terms of subscribers, followers, and general awareness of Rocket Fuel. However, I think there is still significant growth to come for Rocket Fuel as Rocket Pool starts to grow again and attention returns around Saturn 1, RPL starts to perform better, and the general sentiment in the Ethereum ecosystem improves.

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?

This grant is leaving the amount paid open to negotiation with the GMC.

Is there a measurable Return on Investment for the project?

As with all media and community engagement endeavors, Rocket Fuel return on investment is not easily quantified. Despite this, the return can be assessed qualitatively by observing the significant positive impact that Rocket Fuel has had on the community and newcomers to the community.

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

This is not applicable to Rocket Fuel.

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).

I am a member of the GMC and the IMC. I also receive donations in the form of RPL from anonymous and non-anonymous members of the community. The gifts and donations have no impact on the content of Rocket Fuel as I have sole editorial control.

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. I am not involved in any other protocols, so they would not directly benefit. However, I do cover news of other staking services such as NodeSet, Lido, EtherFi, Stakwise, and more when it is relevant.

In my personal crypto portfolio, I hold some AI agent tokens I purchased. These have grown to become a large part of my holdings. RPL remains a significant part of my portfolio.

Notice: This message marks the closing of the twenty sixth (26) 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 July 27. 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.

1 Like