Overview

The Hungarian Polkadot DAO proposes a 6-month initiative to cultivate a vibrant Polkadot presence in Hungary and Central-Eastern Europe. The proposal seeks core funding for two dedicated managers ($5200/month/pp compensation) to coordinate activities, while all project-specific work (events, marketing, development) will be funded through existing Polkadot bounties (Events, Marketing, Fast Grants, and Open Source Developer bounties).

Strategic Rationale

Hungary represents an ideal hub for Polkadot expansion due to its combination of high-skilled IT workforce (ranked 5th globally for developers), strong blockchain heritage (home to Web2 successes like Prezi, LogMeIn), high crypto adoption rates (20-26% ownership), and strategic geographic position in Central Europe. The country's historical experience with decentralisation resonates with Web3 values, while its cohesive local crypto community has repeatedly delivered impactful initiatives.

Five Core Objectives

1. Academic Integration: PBA-X in Universities

• Partner with Obuda University (Hungary's top-ranked IT institution with 750+ IT students) to launch a credit-bearing blockchain course using PBA-X curriculum anticipated to start in February 2026
• Target: 25-60 enrolled students gaining official university credits for blockchain education
• Outcome: Creates a precedent for Polkadot-based academic curricula globally; develop implementation playbook for other universities

2. Government & Business Engagement

• Represent Polkadot at 4 business/government events aligned with Polkadot's technical roadmap (PVM/JAM strategies)
• Participate in 4 high-level government discussions on Substrate blockchain adoption for public records and services
• Conduct initial consultations via "Open Office" sessions to help ambitious teams develop ideas and access appropriate funding
• Research DAC (Decentralised Autonomous Company) pilot through independent OpenGov proposal

3. Hungarian-Language Content & Marketing

• Produce 31 media pieces (6 YouTube videos, 25 TikTok skits) promoting Polkadot and Web3
• Collaborate with 6 local influencers across crypto and mainstream platforms
• Publish 12 articles with Hungarian crypto media outlets (Cryptofalka, BitcoinBázis, Cryptoakadémia)
• Host 24 weekly community calls to provide technical support (staking, delegation, account setup)

4. Local Community Resilience & Diversity

• Strengthen the existing cohesive local community by expanding to other cities
• Engaging with non crypto natives

5. Global Community Mentoring and Outreach

• Open Office hours for helping communities becoming DAOs
• IRL community meetup for other Polkadot communities and DAOs

Track Record

The Hungarian Polkadot DAO has demonstrated significant impact since 2021:

• 40+ community events organised (meetups, workshops, hackathons)
• 40+ articles published in Hungarian for local audiences
• Polkadot Day 2024-2025 events with major ecosystem partners (Nova Wallet, Vara Network, KILT, Apillon, Parity)
• Selected for Web3 Foundation's Decentralised Voices Program (Cohorts 3 & 4)
• Open-sourced tools: DAO in a Box framework, OpenGov voting tools, Notion-based DAO management systems
• Government engagement: Presented blockchain use cases (Digital Vehicle Registration) to Hungarian Tax Authority (NAV) and National Council for Telecommunications

Funding Structure

Hybrid approach: Core managers receive monthly compensation from treasury; all project activities route through existing bounties to maintain decentralisation and clarity:

• Events Bounty → Community events, conferences
• Marketing Bounty → Content production, influencer collaborations, integrations and BD
• Open Source Developer Bounty → Infrastructure and software development
• Fast Grants Bounty → Tool and software development

This approach ensures continuous management oversight while avoiding concentrated budget requests and maintaining alignment with Polkadot's strategic priorities.

Leadership Team

• Vikk (Economist, 3+ years organising Polkadot Meetups): Bounty coordination, marketing, university partnerships, event management
• Spectra CryptoVerse (DAOist, 2 years at Aragon Network): Bounty management, financial planning, government relations, reporting

Implementation Timeline

6-month duration starting in January:

• February 2026 (Target) or September 2027 (Latest): PBA-X course launch at Obuda University
• Ongoing: Quarterly engagement, monthly content production, weekly collaboration with local and international communities

Risk Mitigation

Should the university integration fail due to circumstances beyond the DAO's control, the team commits to immediately returning allocated funds to treasury (7,600 USDC for PBA-X subscriptions and coordination fees) along with any other unused funds.

This proposal builds directly on the proven success of Polkadot Africa Builder Program and OpenGuild SEA initiative, adapting their models for Central-Eastern European context while maintaining fiscal responsibility through bounty-based project funding.

Full proposal here.