Improving Polkadot’s Presence In the U.S. With The Texas Blockchain Council
Beneficiary:Summary
This proposal will support Ecosystem Agent Yung Beef to improve Polkadot’s presence in the U.S., discover new integration opportunities, and insert Polkadot into the minds of some of the U.S.’s foremost blockchain policy advocates. This will be accomplished in part through sponsoring the Texas Blockchain Council at the Executive Partner level, creating a stepping stone to further opportunities around the U.S.
Amount requested: $170,000 plus another $17,000 for price volatility for a total of $187,000. Any extra DOT will be returned to the treasury, based on the DOT price when the funds are received.
Many ecosystem members have discussed how Polkadot is lacking a suitable presence in the U.S. As we’ve seen from the results of the U.S. based Bitcoin ETFs launching, results in The United States can and will have an impact around the world.
As an ecosystem member for over 3 years, with an advanced understanding of the Polkadot ecosystem and its needs, I am well positioned to represent Polkadot in the push towards relevance in the U.S., provide education around Polkadot and its strengths, facilitate connections between interested parties and teams in Polkadot, and provide input on policy creation that would benefit the ecosystem.
Partnering with the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) will enter Polkadot into the minds of those working on favorable regulations and provide networking and integration opportunities with teams in Texas, elsewhere in the U.S., and around the world.
I will start by focusing on maximizing the value of our partnership with TBC. Once up to cruising speed, I will also start exploring additional avenues (such as The Blockchain Association, Blockchain Industry Group, Stanford Blockchain Club, etc.) for improving Polkadot’s perception in the U.S., leveraging connections made and lessons learned from working with TBC.
Our Executive Partnership with TBC will provide opportunities for marketing, events (including a free Block 2 Sponsorship for the North American Blockchain Summit worth $30,000), integrations, and more, the majority of which will require active management, which is where I come in.
Funding
The total funding for this proposal comes out to $187,000:
- Executive Partnership with the Texas Blockchain Council
- Improving Polkadot's presence and optics in the U.S.
- 10% volatility buffer (extra will be returned)
| Destination | Amount |
| Texas Blockchain Council | $50,000 |
| Yung Beef | $120,000 |
| Volatility Buffer | $17,000 |
| Total | $187,000 |
Success Metrics
Policies & Regulations: Passing regulations that are beneficial for Polkadot, provide legal clarity (for example, do OpenGov voters have any liability?), or enhance DOT’s position as software.
New Ecosystem Teams: Onboarding new developers and teams to build parachains, applications, or tackle other ecosystem needs.
Integrations: Securing partnerships between Polkadot, ecosystem teams, and outside companies, whether they are TBC members or otherwise.
For details, please see the full proposal.
Comments (13)
Proposal Passed
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We are thrilled about the prospect of collaborating with the Polkadot ecosystem through this grant proposal. This partnership presents a significant opportunity to enhance Polkadot’s presence and operations within the U.S. market, where we aim to foster a thriving blockchain environment. By joining forces, we can more effectively advocate for, influence, and shape policy and educational initiatives that support the growth and development of blockchain technologies. Our collaboration will also open up new avenues for innovation and community engagement that align with both Polkadot's goals and the regulatory landscape. We are excited at the opportunity to welcome the Polkadot ecosystem into the Texas Blockchain Council. This grant proposal, if passed, will not only mark the beginning of a promising partnership but also strategically expand Polkadot’s influence and operations across the United States. Our collaboration will provide Polkadot with extensive support in amplifying the ecosystem, navigating the regulatory landscapes, ensuring compliance, and fostering policy initiatives that promote Polkadot's initiatives. At the Texas Blockchain Council, we have the advocacy experience and the legislative connections that can help Polkadot thrive in a competitive market environment. Additionally, we can aid in organizing and driving community engagement efforts that boost user adoption and educate the market about Polkadot’s innovative protocols and projects. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that Lee Bratcher, our President, will represent our interests and perspectives at the upcoming AAG meeting in two weeks. This is a testament to our commitment to being at the forefront of blockchain advocacy and policy-making. We look forward to your support in passing this grant proposal, which promises to mark the beginning of a productive and innovative partnership!
We were contacted by Yung Beef in advance to check this proposal, and process it so this was not an accelerated proposal in case there are doubts regarding the timing and regarding transparency of it. We found no outstanding issues regarding 675 and we would like to give in advance support regarding some of the items that might be controversial for some. The payment to the Texas Blockchain Council in the form of a partnership is often required for such deals which will grant a continued presence of some entity (in this case Polkadot). There is already a precedent in OpenGov regarding such partnerships with Fenasbac and its sponsorship so it's not something entirely unheard of. Such entities, often require these partnerships in advance. As for the concrete item of Polkadot presence in the Texas Blockchain Council, we have the opinion that it has the potential to unlock a great amount of capital through direct investment in the technology, its companies, companies seeking investment as well as favorable regulation regarding the blockchain technology that allows companies operate locally with required licenses, permits and so on. It is undeniable at this point that regulations developed by the state of Miami were favorable. These managed to attract a significant amount of attention, investment and blockchain companies to the region. Consequently, positioning Polkadot at the Texas Blockchain Council can work very favorably on many aspects like the ones already described on the Miami case. Results and our future support will depend on the execution of this Polkadot presence at the council but we remain positive of it. Hence, we look forward to the results and the execution of this initiative. We have voted AYE.