Arbitrum’s recent grant distribution has drawn to a close, with a total of 49.6 million ARB tokens allocated to 29 deserving projects. These grants represent a pivotal moment in Arbitrum’s quest to solidify its standing within the fiercely competitive Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) ecosystem.
One distinctive feature of this grant allocation is the anticipated strategic deployment of funds. As noted by analyst Toe, most of the recipient protocols are expected to utilize these grants by incentivizing their communities through reward mechanisms.
Notably, this strategy might be more pronounced among protocols with lower Total Value Locked (TVL) relative to their grant size. This approach aims to bolster their TVL figures and enhance their competitiveness within the dynamic L2 landscape.
Arbitrum grants just came to a close, with 29 projects receiving 49.6m ARB. Most protocols will elect to deploy these funds via rewards. Protocols with lower TVL / grant ratios will most likely offer outsized rewards in part to lower TVL pic.twitter.com/QyFvbLkTwO
— Toe (@_ThePinkyToe) October 13, 2023
Unlike traditional centralized grant distributions seen in some other blockchain ecosystems, Arbitrum’s allocation process stands out as a community-driven endeavor. The selection of grant recipients was determined through a collective vote by the Arbitrum community, embodying a decentralized and inclusive approach to decision-making.
Among the beneficiaries, GMX, a decentralized perpetual exchange, emerged as a standout, securing the lion’s share of the grant. Interestingly, the Arbitrum community displayed a distinct preference for perpetual projects, evident in the support extended to others such as MUX Protocol and Perennial Laba. Perpetual projects claimed a significant portion, accounting for 44% of the total funding, with Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) following closely at 15%.
PancakeSwap, a well-known Automated Market Maker (AMM) platform, also found its place among the DEXes receiving grants. However, the competition was fierce, with approximately 100 projects vying for these coveted grants. While some projects may not have secured funding in this round, they may have future opportunities, ensuring that the L2 ecosystem remains vibrant and accessible to new entrants.
These grants are not a long-term financial commitment. Recipients are mandated to retain their ARB tokens, promoting transparency through Dune dashboards that report on project performance. Additionally, Arbitrum has implemented a multi-signature wallet as a fail-safe mechanism to retrieve funds in case any project breaches the grant’s terms and conditions.
The infusion of funds has had a palpable impact on ARB’s circulation, experiencing a surge to 136.5 million in a single day. This notable increase underscores heightened token utilization for transactions, surpassing figures from just a few days ago on October 11.
In the realm of decentralized finance, marked by continuous innovation, Arbitrum’s grant allocations play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Ethereum L2 ecosystem. As these projects garner support and evolve, they hold the potential to drive positive changes that benefit the broader blockchain community.
