Close Menu
polkadot governance report - subdaily

Executive Summary

Spotlight proposal

The Polkadot spotlight proposal for this report is Subsocial's proposal for the extension of their existing Sub.ID platform including features like alternative balance view, accounts groupings, P/L analytics, etc.

Key headlines

  • New release of Multix tool
  • Discussion on private voting on referenda
  • Polkadot techincal fellowship now live on Polkadot's collective parachain

Governance changes

There are currently 6 proposals on Polkadot that were either open for discussion within the last 7 days, or currently up for voting.

Top 5 delegates

Applicable once Opengov ship to Polkadot

Spotlight proposal

The Kusama spotlight proposal for this report is the Encointer lease 2 treasury proposal. The team seeks funding for their operational expenses, which include technical development, marketing, community building, and administration costs.

Key headlines

  • Polkadot Safari conference report.
  • Substrate-in-Bits milestone 1 report
  • Discussions on setting up a separate Kusama Forum

Governance changes

There are currently 5 proposals on Kusama that were either open for discussion within the last 7 days, or currently up for voting.

Top 5 delegates

Governance activity overview

Number of proposals

There are currently 6 proposals on Polkadot that were either open for discussion within the last 7 days, or currently up for voting.

Treasury vs Non-treasury

Status

Number of proposals

There are currently 5 proposals on Kusama that were either open for discussion within the last 7 days, or currently up for voting.

Treasury vs Non-treasury

Status

Reports and Interesting discussions

Polkadot

Yield bay phase 2 development update

Yieldbay has announced significant progress in their Phase 2 development. Having concluded the design phase, the team has now created an internal Proof of Concept (PoC), which they plan to launch publicly within the week. In addition to this development, Yieldbay has also introduced the Cross-chain Autocompounder for Mangata X, now available to the public through their official website.

New release for Multix tool

Multix has announced a new release of its multi-signature wallet solution. The latest release expands its functionality to support both Polkadot and Kusama. Additionally, Multix now offers a ‘view-only’ mode, enabling users to observe multisig accounts and current proposals without active participation. 

This feature can be accessed via the ‘watched accounts’ section in the settings.  The updated Multix is available to use via the ChainSafe website. This update demonstrates Multix’s continuous expansion and commitment to enhancing user experiences in digital asset management.

Polkaworld May report

In May 2023, PolkaWorld, a hub for the Polkadot community, accomplished a wide range of tasks aimed at promoting the Polkadot network and its projects, according to its recent report.

The project produced 50 articles, which included four weekly reports about Polkadot, four original pieces related to the W3F Grant, Polkadot Decoded 2023, Crust, and Nodle, as well as 24 articles related to ten parachains and eco-dapps such as Moonbeam, Bifrost, Gear, Manta, Subquery, Zenlink, peaq, Prime Protocol, Unique, and Astar. Seven articles from the Polkadot blog and W3F blog were translated and published in addition to the translation of two long English videos into Chinese.

PolkaWorld also conducted interviews with three teams: HydraDX, Subquery, and Bifrost. Moreover, the organization created three English educational videos that simplify complex topics like Astar, RMRK, Polkadot Vault, and other trending subjects.

Online activities hosted by PolkaWorld included four broadcasts, covering subjects like parachain progress, Polkadot and Kusama treasuries, and ecosystem projects. Furthermore, a large online live broadcast was held featuring a panel discussion with four ecosystem teams on Web3 storage in the Polkadot ecosystem.

An in-person Polkadot Meetup was also hosted in Chengdu, where six ecosystem builders discussed Polkadot’s progress, XCM, and future narratives. The event saw a turnout of 124 attendees. As for PolkaWorld’s digital presence, it boasts 35,682 followers on its WeChat official account and garnered over 22,000 views within the WeChat ecosystem in May alone.

In addition to these achievements, PolkaWorld has published a follow-up treasury proposal for the June to August period with the objective of continuing to provide community education, support the Chinese Polkadot community, and keep everyone informed about the latest news. They have invited community members to provide feedback on this proposal.

the 1tribe team shares their journey towards a revolutionary launch.

The founder of 1TRIBE (George) has broken the silence about their recent activities, assuring the Polkadot community that while they might seem quiet, they’ve been hard at work building a unique platform. This platform is designed to uplift African narratives and show how the Polkadot network and web3 technology can empower an entire continent.

1TRIBE’s mission is to provide a genuine representation of the diverse beauty and dynamism of African creativity. By bridging the gap between technology and art, the platform aims to put African voices on a global stage like never before and revolutionize the world’s perception and interaction with African culture.

Expressing his gratitude towards the support received during the journey towards the platform’s launch, George states that the platform is not just a testament to Africa’s vibrant power and talent but also a testament to the transformative potential of web3 technology.

1TRIBE, funded by Polkadot, intends to create a movement that goes beyond a mere celebration of African creativity. It’s a revolution that portrays Africa as a significant player in the global digital landscape.

George ended the message by encouraging the Polkadot community to stay tuned, as “the best is yet to come” from 1TRIBE.

Kusama

Polkadot Safari conference report

The inaugural Polkadot Safari event in Africa, a conference and hackathon aimed at driving blockchain adoption and education in the continent, concluded successfully, drawing in a mixed crowd of developers, enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and curious newcomers. The event, executed by SafariDAO, was funded by the Polkadot Treasury and encompassed 236 in-person attendees and 326 online and offline hackathon participants, exceeding initial expectations.

The Safari Hackathon, which was focused on “Bringing Polkadot to Africa”, saw a rich participation of five parachain teams: Sora Network, GearTech, Zeitgeist, Imbue Network, and Robonomics. The hackathon was divided into five challenges, each aimed at promoting innovative use-cases and solutions for the Polkadot ecosystem. The challenges encouraged developers to build practical, real-world solutions that addressed socio-economic issues.

A critical element of the event was the focus on diversity and inclusivity, with women making up 38% of the hackathon scholars and 33% of hackathon participants. Alongside this, the conference provided several workshops, panel discussions, and educational sessions, targeted at teaching developers about Polkadot and Substrate technology, with an emphasis on fostering a community of builders within Africa.

Despite the successes, the organization of the event wasn’t without its challenges. The Polkadot Safari event organizers emphasized that managing an event of such scale while juggling full-time jobs and limited personnel was stressful. A significant drop in Kusama’s value resulted in the team receiving less funding than initially requested. However, the team regards these challenges as learning experiences and growth opportunities.

The team, in their post-event analysis, underscored the necessity of a well-structured DAO and good governance for the long-term sustainability of the community. Despite the hurdles faced, the report states that the event was successful in terms of participation, attendance, diversity, and inclusivity, and in creating a platform for knowledge sharing and innovation within the African blockchain industry.

SafariDAO expressed plans for future events to continue raising awareness about Polkadot and its ecosystem in Africa. They also expressed intent to request additional funding for future projects. The team highlighted the need for ongoing support for hackathon winners, suggesting that Polkadot and Kusama should provide mentorship to encourage continuity and growth of the blockchain ecosystem in Africa.

In summary, the Polkadot Safari event marked a significant milestone in promoting blockchain technology and the Polkadot ecosystem in Africa, with its impact resonating within the growing community. The challenges experienced offered valuable lessons and growth opportunities, setting the stage for further development and collaboration in Africa’s blockchain ecosystem. Check out the full report here.

Milestone 1 report for “Substrate in Bits” published

The first milestone report for “Substrate in Bits,” a project aimed at addressing developer challenges by offering in-depth explanations of Substrate concepts, has been published. The first milestone of this project, funded by the Kusama treasury, was conducted from May 1 to May 31, 2023.

“Substrate in Bits” successfully met its target of creating one piece of technical content per week during the first milestone. The content includes subjects like accessing storage and functions across pallets, using generic types in custom data, understanding the differences between DispatchResult and DispatchResultWithPostInfo, and comparing Blake2_128Concat and Twox64Concat.

The project’s Github repository has been integrated into the Polkadot.study platform, offering a more user-friendly experience for accessing the content. The second milestone began immediately after the completion of the first and will conclude on June 30, 2023.

The Substrate in Bits repository was cloned 105 times by 56 unique users, had a total of 81 views, and 6 unique visitors during the first milestone. However, these numbers do not entirely reflect the project’s audience, as the primary platform for accessing content is Polkadot.study. Check out the full report here.

On-chain treasury proposals

Polkadot

Motion #411

Proposal: Treasury Proposal for Missing Link: Boosting Developer Adoption

Details

This proposal was submitted by Missing-link, a European-based web3 talent recruiting agency led by Cim Topal. The proposal seeks a funding amount of 67,275 DOT (equivalent to 360,000 USD) to create and manage a hiring program aiming to onboard 15 Rust developers for Polkadot ecosystem projects over a six-month period.

The program is designed to provide funding support for Polkadot ecosystem projects to leverage Missing Link’s recruiting service. The program further offers assistance to companies unfamiliar with hiring processes by establishing best-practices for job profiling, interview procedures, and professional outreach.

The funds requested will be delivered in three milestones, each of 22,425 DOT, with a specific number of developers hired at each stage. Each tranche of funding ($120k) will be released before each milestone starts, with progress updates communicated via various channels, including the Polkassembly discussion thread and the Polkadot Direction channel on Element.

This initiative targets small teams building within the Polkadot and Kusama Ecosystem. Teams with 15 or fewer members that have met certain qualifications, such as securing a parachain slot on Polkadot or Kusama, being accepted into or graduating from certain programs (Substrate Builders Program, Web3 Grants, Astar SpaceLabs, etc.), or launching a functional product/application on a Polkadot or Kusama Parachain, may benefit from this proposal.

The process of acquiring talent, once an agreement has been reached, typically follows a two-month process, involving several stages from kick-off meetings to successful placement of candidates. Regular reviews and updates will be held between Missing Link and the company for fit assurance and feedback.

There are expectations for both parties to keep processes moving forward smoothly, detailed in a Service Level Agreement (SLA). If a candidate-company agreement fails to meet expectations within the first four weeks of contract signing, a replacement will be found, or the proportional funds of one placement will be refunded to the Polkadot treasury.

If successful, the pilot program plans to submit three additional applications for $360k USD each to extend its timeline to an 18-month program, at a total projected cost of $1.44M USD.

Status: Gov 1.0 vote ongoing

Results

Brief analysis

The Missing Link proposal seeks funding from the Polkadot Treasury to provide recruitment services, targeting Rust developers for small teams in the Polkadot ecosystem. The goal is to improve the overall Polkadot network by bolstering these smaller teams with high-demand skills and promoting development within the ecosystem.

Missing Link is asking for $360,000, split across three tranches, to cover the costs of recruiting 15 Rust developers. The funds do not go to the developers; instead, they cover the recruiting services.

This proposal addresses a crucial need in the Polkadot ecosystem – the difficulty in finding highly-skilled Rust developers. It can potentially fast-track development within the ecosystem, especially for smaller teams. By focusing on smaller, possibly less funded teams, this proposal could potentially level the playing field and foster greater competition within the Polkadot ecosystem. Given Missing Link’s experience in the ecosystem, it’s likely they are capable of successfully executing the recruiting process.

However, several critics argue that the funding should be covered by the hiring teams and not by the Polkadot Treasury. Critics fear this could set a precedent for other teams to request Treasury funding for operating expenses.

Also, the proposal’s cost-effectiveness is being questioned. With $360,000 for recruiting 15 developers, some consider the cost too high, suggesting the creation of a web 3 version of LinkedIn as a more sustainable solution.

Some users expressed concern about Missing Link potentially moving developers from one team to another within the Polkadot ecosystem, though Missing Link clarified their goal is to recruit from outside the ecosystem.

While the proposal from Missing Link addresses a critical need in the Polkadot ecosystem, there are valid concerns regarding the cost and sustainability of such a project. Before this proposal could be accepted, it would likely need to address these concerns more directly, provide more detailed budget breakdowns, and demonstrate how it complements initiatives like the Polkadot Blockchain Academy.

Additionally, a mechanism to avoid displacement within the ecosystem should be stated explicitly. Long-term, a sustainable strategy for sourcing Rust developers might need to involve closer partnerships with educational initiatives, or even the development of an ecosystem-specific job marketplace, as some comments have suggested.

The idea of setting up a refund or replacement system if the developer turns out not to be a good fit was also raised and would be worth considering for improving the proposal. Transparency and accountability would be key in ensuring that the program is effectively benefiting the Polkadot ecosystem.

Vote (Council)

Motion #412

Proposal: Sub.ID Proposal #2: Tx history, Token-centric view, P&L analytics, and more

Details

Subsocial is proposing an extension to their existing Sub.ID platform, a decentralized application (dapp) designed for cross-chain portfolio management in the Polkadot ecosystem. The platform, which has been live since August 2021, is fully decentralized and has already integrated with 30 parachains, boasting over 45k monthly active users.

The proposal consists of three batches of feature updates. Batch One, which focused on collator and validator staking, staking dashboard, crowdloan claims, and cross-chain transfers, was completed successfully in February 2023. The proponent is now seeking funding to develop Batch Two, which consists of:

  1. Alternative balance view: This feature aims to provide an aggregated view of a user’s balances across multiple chains for each individual token.

  2. Accounts grouping: This would allow users to group accounts (owned by individuals, entities, or user-defined categories), making market research and tracking easier.

  3. Transaction history: This feature is intended to add an off-chain indexing service that facilitates complex queries to historical data, supporting data filtering and pagination.

  4. Profit and loss analytics: This functionality would offer basic statistics on revenues, costs, and expenses for a specific token or the whole portfolio.

  5. Automated quality assurance: This involves setting up an integration testing framework for real-time checks and alerts.

Batch Three, the details of which will be delivered in a later proposal, aims to develop a mobile app version of Sub.ID.

The outcome of this proposal includes a web dapp, open-source features developed under GNU GPL v3 license, frontend, SDK, and regular reporting including biweekly public demos, weekly web app releases, and monthly mobile app updates.

Through this proposal, Subsocial aims to enhance the usability and functionality of Sub.ID, offering users more convenience and control over their Polkadot cross-chain portfolios.

Status: Gov 1.0 vote ongoing

Results

Brief analysis

The proposal is relevant given the increasing importance of cross-chain accounting in the ecosystem. The features proposed in Batch Two aim to address real problems faced by users when managing their portfolios across different chains, thereby increasing the necessity and potential impact of this project.

Subsocial has demonstrated their ability to deliver on their promises with the successful completion of Batch One. This enhances their credibility and the likelihood of successful completion of future batches. Sub.ID has already integrated with 30 parachains and boasts over 45k monthly active users. This existing user base indicates a certain level of trust in the platform and its utility. It also gives Sub.ID an edge in terms of potential market penetration for the new features.

The mention of Batch Three for developing a mobile app indicates that Subsocial has a long-term vision for Sub.ID. However, details about the app are sparse in the current proposal.

As with any project, there are inherent risks such as unforeseen technical challenges or changes in the ecosystem landscape. However, Subsocial’s plan for automated quality assurance, as well as their track record may help mitigate these risks.

Overall, Subsocial’s proposal for expanding Sub.ID represents a strong and feasible plan for improving cross-chain portfolio management in the Polkadot ecosystem. The project aligns well with the trends and needs in the current blockchain space and has a high potential for positively impacting users.

 

Vote (Council)

Motion #413

Proposal: OnFinality - High Performance Public Infrastructure (Q1 2023)

Details

OnFinality, a SaaS platform dedicated to providing infrastructure services for the Polkadot/Substrate community, is seeking a funding of 12,141.2773 DOT (USD $64,834.42) for its continuous operation and enhancement of its public infrastructure services for Polkadot, Statemint, Collectives, Westend, and Encointer. The proposal outlines the activities and achievements of the past quarter (Q1 2023), along with the costings involved in their operations.

Over Q1 2023, OnFinality delivered a scalable free public API service that fosters growth in the ecosystem, aids existing projects by offering reliable infrastructure, and contributes to network testing by providing valuable node-related data to the community. The service enhancements provided include auto-expanding storage, geolocation insights, partnerships, and more, improving the user experience for their customers which range from developers creating cross-chain wallets to large block explorers.

The proposal presents significant usage data, with the Polkadot API service serving a total of 4.3 billion responses and accumulating over 50,000 GB of data egress in Q1 2023. Moreover, the uptime rates of Polkadot, Statemint, Westend, Encointer, and Collectives were all above 99.74% during the period.

Costing for the infrastructure operation for Polkadot, Statemint, Collectives, and Westend total to USD $64,834.42, including expenditures on compute units, storage, backup, and data for each network. Despite its paid services, OnFinality commits to providing free support of 500,000 responses per day to its API service for users globally.

Funded by previous treasury proposals since 2020, OnFinality has been helping various teams within the growing Polkadot ecosystem. This proposal re-emphasizes their commitment to supporting blockchain and dApp developers by providing core infrastructure and developer tools.

Status: Gov 1.0 vote ongoing

Results

Brief analysis

OnFinality is a crucial player in the Polkadot/Substrate ecosystem, offering high-performance public infrastructure that aids developers in creating dApps, exploring blocks, and cross-chain wallet management. The proposal is aimed at securing funding for ongoing operations and enhancements. It contributes to the ecosystem’s growth by reducing entry barriers and providing consistent and reliable infrastructure.

The proposal also highlights the addition of new features and enhancements that drive user experience, such as auto-expand storage, geolocation insights, and partnerships. This is a strong indication that OnFinality is focused not only on maintaining its infrastructure but also on continuous improvements that benefit its users and the wider ecosystem.

OnFinality has provided quantifiable results from its previous work, illustrating its value to the ecosystem. It has served 4.3 billion API responses, accumulated over 50,000 GB of data egress in Q1 2023, and maintained a high uptime above 99.74% for the supported networks. This impressive performance underscores the platform’s reliability and robustness.

OnFinality has provided a detailed breakdown of its operating costs for the quarter, which shows transparency and fiscal responsibility. The financial request of 12,141.2773 DOT (equivalent to USD $64,834.42) is substantiated with the breakdown of costs associated with computing, storage, data, and backup across the networks it supports.

Their dedication to provide a free support of 500,000 responses per day shows commitment to community engagement and inclusivity, which is crucial for fostering a strong ecosystem.

OnFinality’s wide range of infrastructure services across multiple networks makes it a strategic asset to the Polkadot/Substrate ecosystem.

The addition of new networks to its platform, along with improvements in data collection tools and automated recovery scripts, implies scalability and potential for future growth.

Overall, the proposal demonstrates a well-planned and executed strategy for providing essential infrastructure services to the Polkadot/Substrate ecosystem. The request for funding appears reasonable, considering the operational costs and the services provided. The proposal shows OnFinality’s continued dedication to supporting the ecosystem and its plans for future development and expansion, making it a valuable contribution to the community.

Vote (Council)

Kusama

Ref. #212

Proposal name: Encointer Lease2 Treasury Proposal

Details

Encointer, a decentralized network that supports local communities with their own local currencies, presents their proposal focusing on their objectives, key results, financial status, and growth strategy for Q2 and Q3 of 2023.

The proposal starts with the review of the work done in Q1 of 2023, where they’ve successfully launched Encointer on Kusama as a parachain, and developed significant improvements in their mobile app, making it easier for users to join Encointer communities. Also, they have taken steps towards creating economic cycles within communities, by adding features that stimulate the acceptance and usage of community currencies.

The primary objective for the next quarters is to ensure the growth and success of the “Leu” Pioneer Community. They aim to have 50 active points of acceptance within the Leu Community by September 2023, a goal corresponding to a 5% week-over-week growth rate. Another crucial objective is to implement a viable revenue stream for the Leu community currency, corresponding to 1% of the LEU transaction volume, while maintaining Encointer’s unpermissioned character.

The proposal also outlines their focus on the development of economic cycles within communities and plans for the establishment of new communities on a global scale. A big part of their strategy includes partnering with like-minded communities and organizations to boost community growth.

The Encointer team has seen some changes, with the addition of new senior members. Also, they have a clear financial overview that takes into account their assets, both on-chain and off-chain, liabilities, expenses, and funding sources. They anticipate a buffer of around 50,000 CHF after covering salaries and invoices for work in May and June 2023.

Encointer seeks funding for their operational expenses, which include technical development, marketing, community building, and administration costs. They also plan to diversify their fundraising efforts, applying for several grants outside of the DotSama ecosystem, and hope to establish collaborations with renowned NGOs.

Lastly, the proposal states Encointer’s strategy for liquidity and exchange rate risks, and provides the specifics of the treasury proposal and payment conditions. Encointer is committed to maintaining market stability and fulfilling their non-profit obligations.

Status: Failing

Results

Brief analysis

The Encointer proposal, which outlines the organization’s achievements and plans for Q2 and Q3 of 2023, has garnered a variety of reactions from the community, showing a diverse range of opinions about the initiative and the direction it’s taking.

Positive feedback highlights Encointer’s unique approach as a decentralized social network supporting local communities with their own currencies. The commitment and dedication of the founder, Alain Brenzikofer, is recognized and appreciated. The possibility of creating localized communities, like a potential Czech community, is seen as a promising avenue for social engagement and community building.

However, there are also calls for transparency and self-critique from Encointer, with suggestions to openly discuss areas where things might not be going as planned. Concerns have been raised regarding the pace of adoption, effectiveness of onboarding, and the potential need for external assistance or inspiration. The funding model has been questioned, and there are requests for a clear definition of “common goods” as seen by the Encointer team.

The proposal’s request for a significant amount of funding in the current economic climate has sparked debate. There are questions about the value generated from previous disbursements, with some community members indicating a lack of perceived return on investment.

Moreover, the relationship between Encointer and Integritee, another network where Alain Brenzikofer is involved, is unclear and has led to calls for further financial disclosure to provide better understanding of the interconnectedness and financial obligations between the two networks.

The new idea for Encointer’s growth, involving a low-security sybil-resistance based on social graph, has intrigued some community members. They’re interested to see how this strategy could spur growth without compromising the security of the existing platform.

There are also concerns about the sustainability of Encointer’s model, particularly in comparison to other system parachains which seem to have clear paths to self-sustainability. Some critics suggest that the local demurrage currency/coupon aspect may not be economically viable in the long run.

It’s clear that Encointer has the potential to bring novel solutions to the blockchain space, but it’s equally evident that further transparency, critique, and sustainable growth plans may be needed to garner broader community support

Vote

Ref. #211

Proposal name: Polkadot Latam, Start

Details

Polkadot Latam has proposed the establishment of a Polkadot development center in Honduras with the long-term goal of expanding throughout Latin America. The proposal identifies a lack of blockchain education and information as a significant barrier to the adoption of such technologies in the region.

To overcome this, Polkadot Latam aims to create a robust community focusing on three pillars: governance, development, and community. The organization plans to initiate this project by hosting events in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. These events will target educational centers, universities, media, and other interested parties to familiarize them with the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems.

To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, Polkadot Latam plans to create high-quality educational content in Spanish to help native speakers understand Polkadot and Kusama’s blockchain technology. The ultimate goal is to facilitate its everyday use and boost the adoption of Polkadot in the region, thereby growing the ecosystem in the long run.

The proposal requests a funding amount of 1033.389 KSM (approximately $31,005.81 USD) to support the establishment of the Polkadot community in Honduras, organize events, and generate educational content. Polkadot Latam believes that this initiative will be a profitable and strategic opportunity for the expansion of blockchain technology in Latin America.

In addition, they intend to update and improve their visual content, including the creation of 3D models representing the network environment. They emphasize that community feedback and approval are vital to ensuring the final audiovisual material meets the needs of its viewers and students.

One example of the content they aim to produce is a definitive guide to Polkadot and Kusama, focusing on the concept of parachains. The organization hopes to create a resource library for others to generate quality content.

Polkadot Latam is confident that their proposal, if approved, will significantly enhance the adoption of blockchain technology in the region. They have provided a link to their detailed proposal for further consideration.

Status: Failing

Results

Brief analysis

The Polkadot Latam proposal has a commendable objective to expand and promote the Polkadot and Kusama blockchain ecosystems in Latin America, beginning with Honduras. They identify a lack of information and education about blockchain technology as a primary barrier to its adoption in the region. Their strategy involves establishing a community in Tegucigalpa, organizing events, and creating Spanish-language educational content to make these technologies accessible to a wider audience.

However, the proposal has received mixed feedback. One criticism centers on the need for more than just high-quality educational content. The ecosystem needs competitive content creators who can generate valuable and result-oriented content. The critic insists that the initiative must provide more than just a certain number of content pieces—it should bring competitive value to the ecosystem. Therefore, the success of the project relies heavily on engaging professional, competitive content creators rather than just good intentions.

The critic shares links to drafts for rethinking Content Creation Initiatives (CCIs), urging the team to consider these as references. The message suggests that the project should aim to be a competitive entity rather than simply produce content for treasury payment, raising questions about the project’s long-term objectives. Is Polkadot Latam aiming to be a competitive, professional local hub? Or is it content with producing content in return for public funds?

Interestingly, the commenter suggests that Polkadot Latam should consult with more experienced initiatives in the ecosystem, such as Creadores Web3 and Polkadot Hub. This input, while harsh, is a call for more professionalism and competitiveness in the way the project and similar proposals are approached.

Another user pointed out that the proposal was submitted with an incorrect extrinsic, which could result in undesired outcomes, suggesting technical oversight on Polkadot Latam’s part.

Vote

On-chain non-treasury proposals

Polkadot

Motion 414

Proposal name: Batch of HRMP Channels with Statemint

Details

The proposal outlined is for the establishment of Horizontal Relay-routed Message Passing (HRMP) channels between four specific parachains and Statemint. The proposed parachains for this HRMP integration are Litentry (ParaID 2,013), Composable (ParaID 2,019), Polkadex (ParaID 2,040), and Zeitgeist (ParaID 2,092).

The channel opening process is detailed in the proposal, stating that each parachain will engage in a forceTransfer of 20 DOT from the Polkadot Treasury to the sovereign account of Statemint. Subsequently, a forceOpenHRMPChannel will be established from Statemint (with a capacity of 1,000) to the respective ParaID, and another forceOpenHRMPChannel will be created from each ParaID back to Statemint (also with a capacity of 1,000). The establishment of these HRMP channels will facilitate secure, efficient interchain communication, fostering increased interoperability within the Polkadot ecosystem. The proposal underlines the parachain teams’ support for this move.

Status: Gov 1.0 vote ongoing

Results

Vote (Council)

Kusama

Ref #213

Proposal name: Moving a paraid to a new manager address - Kabocha

Details

The proposal is for the reassignment of a Parachain Identifier (paraid) from one account to another. The existing account for Kabocha parachain lease (paraid 2113) is intended to be replaced by a new lease (paraid 2268), however, due to immediate upgrade to a parachain and lease swap lock, it needs a root referendum to be resolved.

The proposal suggests a sequence of steps for this transition:

  1. Use registrar.deregister(2113) to release the paraid from the current holder and free the reserved balance.
  2. Wait two epochs for offboarding.
  3. Employ registrar.forceRegister() with the new proxy account, and a deposit of 280.3KSM, for paraid 2113, using the head hash and validation_code at the point where Kabocha stops making blocks.
  4. Wait two more epochs for onboarding.
  5. Perform registrar.swap(2113,2268) and registrar.swap(2268,2113).

The intended outcome is to transfer the paraid to the new account, offboard 2268, onboard 2113 as parachains, and resume block production for Kabocha. For validation, the proposal suggests using remarks from the involved accounts (the current manager accounts for the two paraids and the new pure proxy) to confirm intent.

The proposer is seeking feedback on the technical feasibility and the community’s support for this approach. They also address a note on the deposit for forceRegister(), acknowledging the fee for setting the parachain PVF and head at just under 280.3KSM. They plan to use this current fee in the forceRegister() extrinsic.

Status: Passing

Results

Vote

Ref #214

Proposal name: Further decentralize collator set on Kusama system chains

Details

The proposal by Polkadotters is designed to increase the decentralization of the Kusama system chains, specifically, the Kusama Asset Hub (formerly Statemine) and Kusama Bridge Hub. As part of the proposal, the following changes are intended:

  1. Retaining two invulnerable Parity collators on each chain.
  2. Ensuring eight community collators become invulnerable on the Asset Hub.
  3. Creating an additional six permissionless slots on the Asset Hub, and replicating this process on the BridgeHub.

Following enactment of the proposal, the newly created six permissionless slots will become available to any new collator that places a bond of 50 KSM. This proposal is a result of collective discussions among the ecosystem collators and aligns with the collectively written Framework for Collators on System Parachains.

Status: Passing

Results

Vote

Governance metrics

Polkadot

Treasury status

The treasury is 2.5% down from last week USD-wise, and 0.8% up DOT-wise

Kusama

Treasury status

The Kusama treasury is 5% up from last week USD-wise, but 0.3% down KSM-wise

Trends, Insights and other news

Polkadot

Suggestion: Treasury / bounty initiative of community follow-up manager

A member of the community suggested a bounty system to improve the current treasury governance system in Polkadot. This proposal specifically targets the issue of lack of follow-ups on approved projects. While proposers are usually diligent about updating the community, there have been instances where deadlines are missed or proposers disappear after funding, leading to what’s known as “rug-pulling.”

To prevent these issues, the proposed design is a “follow-up bounty” program that will be funded by the treasury. This would only apply to “pay first, do later” proposals. These proposals would be broken down into milestones, each with a set deadline. From the date of the deadline to one week after, third-party reviewers, called “community follow-up managers”, would be called to review the project’s progress and provide objective ratings.

The bounty for each milestone is proposed to be fixed at 5% of the proposal value. If three or fewer reviews are received at the end of the call for reviews (CFR), the bounty is divided equally among all reviewers. However, if more than three reviews are received, a community vote would take place to decide the top three reviewers, who would then split the bounty equally.

This follow-up bounty system also implies an extra 5% cost for “pay first, do later” proposals during the proposal phase. This could potentially incentivize more “do first, pay later” proposals as they would always be 5% cheaper than the former.

In essence, the proposal seeks to establish a mechanism that ensures a higher level of accountability and follow-up for approved projects, increasing transparency and reducing the potential for net wastage of the treasury due to incomplete projects.

Discussions on private voting on referenda

A discussion regarding the implementation of private voting on referenda in the Polkadot network has been ongoing among key contributors. Gavin Wood, Polkadot’s founder, believes privacy in voting is crucial for preventing external influences that could compromise the system. However, other members, such as JoakimEQ, express concerns about the potential for ‘whales’ to disproportionately affect voting outcomes, even with privacy measures in place.

Tom.Stakeplus draws parallels between Polkadot’s voting and the corporate vote-by-proxy model, noting significant differences that may lead to different outcomes and behaviors. In particular, he emphasizes the challenge of balancing pseudonymity and anonymity in a voting system, advocating for a limit on ‘conviction’ to maintain incentives for public or pseudonymous voting.

Brenzi proposed a solution where voters receive valid proofs for each voting option, thereby preventing vote-buying while preserving voter privacy. Meanwhile, Burdges raised concerns about the technical implementation, noting the potential strain between proponent and treasury, and questioned the benefit of anonymous voting. He also suggested a ZK-MPC-based probabilistic vote counting mechanism as a possible alternative.

The community seems to agree on the importance of privacy in voting, but the technical implementation and potential implications are still under debate. Check out join the discussion here.

Kusama

Discussions on diversifying Kusama treasury to hold USDT

In a recent discussion among Kusama community members, the possibility of diversifying the Kusama treasury to hold USDT and other assets was discussed, a move that could have implications for how treasury grants are awarded and spent.

The conversation began with a recognition that blockchain treasuries typically operate by spending the native currency of the project, a process that promotes the distribution and vitality of the token. It was argued that it wouldn’t be initially logical, or even possible, to incorporate another project’s tokens, such as USDT or USDC, into the economy of another project like Kusama or Polkadot.

However, some members raised the possibility of transforming the treasury funds into stablecoins without slippage before they reach the grant recipients. They pointed to projects like COWSWAP, which is working to facilitate such transactions.

A few community members expressed skepticism about the feasibility of this approach, citing potential legal complications and questioning the timing and pricing of such transactions. However, others countered that the treasury could earn revenue on its KSM tokens in the form of stablecoins.

The idea of having stablecoins as a spendable treasury asset elicited a mixed response. Some argued that receiving grants in the native coin and staking them in nodes is best for the ecosystem, while others suggested that having stablecoins provides a more stable funding stream during bear markets.

A few participants pointed out that this change would not solve all the current issues. They suggested alternatives like spending streams or recurring spends instead of lump sums, and implementing a system that takes milestones into account, requiring each one to have an easier payment method than the first.

In conclusion, while the conversation revealed a mix of views and concerns, it reflected the community’s ongoing engagement with exploring innovative ways to enhance the treasury system. Further discussions and developments are anticipated in this regard.

Setting up a Kusama Forum for long-form debates and healthy discussions

A spirited debate has arisen within the Polkadot forum over the proposal to create a separate category or forum for Kusama, Polkadot’s experimental sister network. The discussion hinges on the evolving identity and role of Kusama within the Polkadot ecosystem.

The discussion, posits that a dedicated Kusama category in the Polkadot forum would better serve the community, asking users to vote on a three-month trial. The idea found support from several participants, but also faced considerable pushback.

Opponents voiced concerns over potential fragmentation of the community and the erosion of Kusama’s primary function as a ‘canary network’ for Polkadot. This perspective holds that Kusama’s focus should remain on testing and scaling Polkadot’s core mechanics and security features rather than expanding into areas beyond Polkadot’s reach.

Others argue that Kusama’s unique culture, which has arisen partly due to its separate token and spending decisions, should be nurtured. They stress that Kusama is evolving into something distinct from Polkadot and that its tendency towards risk-taking and creative ambition should be encouraged, not suppressed.

Meanwhile, users highlighted the benefits of shared information and collaborative spirit across the two networks. They suggested that maintaining a shared forum could promote synergy and prevent the siloing of knowledge.

In this vibrant conversation, one theme emerges above all: the need for the community to respect and foster the diversity, creativity, and risk-taking that characterizes Kusama while retaining its foundational purpose within the Polkadot ecosystem. Whether this balance is best achieved through a dedicated Kusama forum, category, or integrated tags within the Polkadot forum is still a matter of ongoing debate. Join the discussion here.