Round 26 (June 7 - July 7) Grants / Bounties Retrospective Awards Results

Grants / Bounties
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The GMC has concluded discussions and scoring for the Round 26 (June 7 - July 7) Grants/Bounties/RA Award Round.

This post also begins the fourteen-day clock during which, according to RPIP-15, “[a]nyone MAY file an RPIP disputing a grant, bounty, or retrospective award within two weeks of the announcement of recipients. Such an RPIP SHALL be subject to a snapshot vote.” Any awards not subject to such a challenge will become official on August 10, 2025 at 23:59 UTC.

Current GMC Roster
  • Ken
  • Waq
  • Dr Doofus
  • Destroyaaa
  • Steely
  • Kevster.eth
  • sckuzzle
  • LenofTawa
  • ramana
General Updates
  • Karma Gap - The GMC met with Karma GAP (https://gap.karmahq.xyz/) to review the feasibility of integrating their platform into the Rocket Pool DAO. They have received a quote but not officially made a decision.
  • Application - Saturn 2 rETH Improvements - An application was submitted in round 27 to cover the reseach, governance, and specification of:
    • rETH withdrawal liquidity via forced exits
    • rETH protection from underperforming nodes via forced exits
      Feedback is encouraged here.
  • Advertising - The GMC is planning on reviewing larger advertising opportunities in the upcoming weeks.
Stablecoin Conversion

The committee is on pace to approve the following proposal:

Proposal: Swap RPL for BOLD at Time of Award for Grants

Summary:
This proposal suggests that starting in Round 26 , the amount to be swapped from RPL to BOLD will be determined at the time each award is approved. For grants without a fixed amount — such as those with ranges or performance-based incentives — the minimum guaranteed amount will be used.
The actual swap will occur at the time of regular monthly payments. Key Points:

  • Applies to all awards that pay out (all or a portion of) the award after the acceptance round.
  • For fixed-amount grants:
    • Any portion being paid during the upcoming payment cycle will remain in RPL .
    • The remaining amount will be swapped to BOLD during the same payment cycle .
  • For grants with ranges or incentive components, only the minimum guaranteed amount will be swapped.
  • Grants that had funds swapped to BOLD will be paid in BOLD .
  • If the final payout exceeds the minimum, the difference will be paid in RPL .
  • Swaps are scheduled alongside regular payments, not executed immediately at award approval.
  • Ensures that stablecoins are directly tied to actual disbursements, avoiding idle reserves.
  • Avoids past strategies where stablecoins were not clearly earmarked or effective.

Considerations:

  • Introduces some short-term RPL sell pressure, but in targeted, controlled amounts.
  • More transparent and operationally simple than gradual stable reserve buildup.
  • May reduce long-term treasury flexibility due to reactive rather than proactive swaps.

The committee plans to update the process moving forward including how “marked” and “unmarked” reserves function.

Application Breakdown
  • Total Grant Applications: 4
  • Total Bounty Applications: 0
  • Total Retro Applications: 1
  • Total Applications Transferred From Last Round: 0
  • Total Amount Grants / Bounties / Retros Requested: $13,100 + ? (Rocket Fuel)
  • Total Amount Incoming Funds This Period: $27,850
  • Value of Treasury: $196,000
  • Total Amount Reserved: $230,000

USD values calculated at the time GMC began deliberating on applications.

Awards, Average Overall Scores
Number Applicant Title Decision Amount (USD) Avg Score
GA262501 Patches Rescue Node Renewal Approve $3,300.00 4.89
GA262503 titey.eth Dune Saturn 1 Upgrade Award at 50% $2,500.00 3.71
RA262501 Ken Additional Community Calls Retro Award at 66% $800.00 3.8
GA262502 Ken Community Call Hosting Renewal Award at 66% $2,400.00 3.93
GA262504 Waq Rocket Fuel Renewal Approve at Custom Amount $12,500.00 4.75
Detailed Award Results

Name: Rescue Node Renewal
Proposer: Patches
Type: Grant
Subcommittee: All
Link to Application: Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7 - #2 by Patches
Decision: Approve
Awarded Funding: $3,300.00
Requested Funding: $3,300.00
Score: 4.89
Comments: The GMC approves the Rescue Node Renewal grant, citing its continued value and low cost.

  • Recognizing Utility and Cost-Effectiveness:
    Rescue Node remains a valuable and cost-efficient resource that supports node operator uptime and contributes to rETH APR. Multiple members emphasized its consistent utility and low overhead.

  • Supporting Ongoing Operations:
    While the service has some limitations—such as not being able to assist offline operators who can’t be contacted—it continues to deliver strong impact for the cost. There was unanimous agreement that renewing funding is a straightforward decision.

Name: Dune Saturn 1 Upgrade Metrics
Proposer: titey.eth
Type: Retro
Subcommittee: all
Link to Application: Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7 - #5 by titey
Decision: Award at 50%
Awarded Funding: $2,500.00
Requested Funding: $5,000.00
Score: 3.71
Comments: The GMC approves a 50% award for the Saturn 1 Upgrade Metrics proposal, recognizing its usefulness and the applicant’s proactive engagement with the committee.

  • Positive Engagement and Alignment:
    Several members noted that the applicant participated in discussion and responded to feedback. This dialogue helped clarify the scope of work and timing needs—particularly the importance of having updated dashboards live around Saturn 1’s launch. The willingness to engage early and openly made it easier to assess the value of the proposal.

  • Supporting Informed Decision-Making:
    The dashboards will help track key protocol metrics and offer insight into how Saturn 1 impacts usage. Members appreciated the potential for these tools to support both community understanding and future governance decisions.

  • Balanced Award Based on Scope:
    While the work is valuable, it primarily involves upgrading existing dashboards rather than developing new ones from scratch. Based on scope and effort, several members estimated the cost to be lower than the original request. The 50% award reflects recognition of the applicant’s contribution while ensuring alignment with past precedent and effort estimates.

  • Encouraging Timely Delivery:
    The committee strongly encourages the applicant to make the upgraded dashboards available as close to the Saturn 1 mainnet launch as possible. Doing so will maximize their usefulness and impact during a critical protocol milestone.

Name: Additional Community Calls Retro
Proposer: Ken
Type: Retro
Subcommittee: All
Link to Application: Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7 - #3 by ken
Decision: Award at 66%
Awarded Funding: $800.00
Requested Funding: $800.00
Score: 3.8
Comments: The GMC approves a 66% award for the Additional Community Calls Retro proposal, acknowledging the value of the work while balancing concerns around retroactive funding and transparency.

  • Effort and Transition Acknowledged:
    Members recognized that the calls included in this proposal contributed to community engagement and information sharing, especially during a period of transition in hosting duties. The applicant continued the initiative after Jasper’s handoff, and the calls—both recorded and unrecorded—required meaningful coordination and preparation.

  • Partial Delivery Under Open License:
    Of the four calls submitted, only two were recorded and published to YouTube, as stipulated in the open-source license from the Round 20 grant. This limited delivery was a key consideration, though some members noted the value of the additional two calls even without recordings.

Name: Community Call Hosting Renewal
Proposer: Ken
Type: Grant
Subcommittee: All
Link to Application: Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7 - #4 by ken
Decision: Award at 66%
Awarded Funding: $2,400.00
Requested Funding: $2,400.00
Score: 3.93
Comments: The GMC supports awarding this proposal at 66%, recognizing the value of ongoing community calls while adjusting for concerns around cost, viewership, and platform reach.

  • Valuable but Needs Optimization:
    Several members noted that the calls help connect the community with the Rocket Pool team and ecosystem partners. Despite low attendance, the calls are seen as difficult to replace and provide important visibility and transparency. However, there were consistent concerns that $300 per call is too high, especially given the current treasury constraints. A reduced rate of $200 per call was seen as a more appropriate balance.

  • Cost vs Engagement:
    Some noted that earlier expectations—such as expanding to new platforms or diversifying media—were not met under the previous grant, despite being part of the original acceptance criteria. The committee also encourages trying to incorporate Twitter Spaces or alternative platforms to increase reach.

  • Room for Improvement:
    Some members emphasized the need for follow-through, like ensuring recordings are published to YouTube. This should be included as a firm condition going forward. Others noted that similar concerns were raised in relation to the Rocket Fuel grant, where value is acknowledged but adjustments are needed for cost-efficiency.

Name: Rocket Fuel Renewal
Proposer: Waq
Type: Grant
Subcommittee: All
Link to Application: Round 26 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is July 7 - #6 by waqwaqattack
Decision: Award at Custom Amount
Awarded Funding: $12,500.00
Requested Funding: $12,500.00
Score: 3.8
Comments: The GMC approves a $12,500 award for three months of Rocket Fuel renewal, recognizing its continued value to the community while adjusting for current output and treasury limitations.

  • Ongoing Value and Accessibility:
    Rocket Fuel continues to be a vital communication tool for Rocket Pool, offering frequent updates on both protocol developments and the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Members emphasized its importance in keeping the community informed and its multi-platform availability as a key strength.

  • Adjusted Scope Based on Output:
    While support for Rocket Fuel remains strong, the committee acknowledged a recent drop in episode frequency and the importance of aligning funding with actual delivery. The approved award reflects approximately half of the previously proposed six-month budget, allowing for three months of production at a flexible pace, with an expectation of ~2–3 episodes per week.

  • Treasury-Conscious Compromise:
    Given the current state of the treasury, several members expressed a need to scale back from prior grant levels. This three-month award provides stability while allowing the committee to reassess in a future round based on continued output and impact. The structure also avoids a per-episode model, which some saw as less predictable and harder to manage over time.

  • Encouraging Growth and Outreach:
    The committee remains supportive of efforts to expand Rocket Fuel’s audience, especially beyond Rocket Pool’s core community. As with the prior grant, future increases in funding may be considered if there’s clear evidence of increased reach or sustained content volume.

Member Participation

All members participated in the decision process. Ken and Waq abstained from voting on applications GA262502, GA262504, and RA262501.

Final Voting Stages

Ranked choice voting was held for applications GA262502, GA262504, and RA262501.

An amendment was approved to change the duration of (GA262504 from three (3) to six (6) months.

No member(s) chose to reject the entire slate.

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To learn more about the decision-making process or to engage with the committee, reach out to ShfRyn (myself) for an invite to the GMC server.

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