[Announcement] Obol Grants Program Now Live – Build With Us

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[Announcement] Obol Grants Program Now Live – Build With Us

We’re thrilled to announce that the Obol Grants Program Pilot is now live :sparkles:

This is a first iteration of the program — think of it as a beta version.
Initial scope and funding are intentionally limited so we can test, learn, and adapt.
We plan to expand coverage and evolve the program dynamically in future waves based on Collective needs and feedback.

This program is designed to support contributors, teams, and builders advancing our shared GOALS for 2025: making Distributed Validators (DVs) the standard for secure, decentralized staking.

:link: All the detailed info and guides can be found in our official docs.

:police_car_light: Improvements from Community Feedback

We’ve received a lot of great feedback from the Collective, and we’re making several updates:

  • This round remains a pilot managed by the Association, with limited scope and low media exposure.
  • Starting Wave 2, all new rounds will be preceded by an RFC-style forum announcement 2–3 weeks in advance, allowing time for feedback and informal co-creation.
  • A grants committee involving delegates and community experts will be established in the next phase.
  • Wave 1 application deadline extended to June 11 to ensure applicants have sufficient time to prepare thoughtful proposals.

We’re grateful for the active feedback — this is how progressive decentralization is meant to work.

:date: How It Works

The program runs in recurring 8-week waves:

  • Application window: 4 weeks
  • Review & approval: 2 weeks
  • Project onboarding & tracking: 2 weeks

All grants follow a milestone-based funding model: projects receive funds after hitting pre-defined deliverables. You must include a cost breakdown with your proposal, using this template or a modified version of it.

:link: Apply Now

To submit a grant proposal:

  1. Head to Questbook and create an account
  2. Choose the relevant grant track aligned with one of the 4 SQUAD goals
  3. Follow the Grant Proposal Guide
  4. Submit your application within the current wave’s deadline
  5. Post the proposal link as a comment under this Forum Thread

:light_bulb: What We Fund

Grants must advance one of the following strategic tracks aligned with OIP-3 SQUAD Goals (LINK TO OIP3):

  1. Boosting Obol DV Adoption
  • Deepen DVs penetration into (Re-)Staking Protocols
  • Deepen DVs penetration with community squads
  1. Strengthening the Collective: Operators & Community
  • Operator Development (Silver Techne)
  1. Establishing OBOL Token’s Role in DeFi & Governance
  • Deep Liquidity & Market Presence

Each track has its own dedicated subpage with examples, evaluation criteria, and scoping questions (see above links).

:handshake: Pilot Wave Details

  • Wave 1 starts: Wednesday May 14, 2025
  • Grant decisions will be shared on the forum ~2 weeks after applications close
  • The approval committee for the pilot consists of the Obol Association

:rocket: What’s Next

This pilot is just the beginning. Over time, we aim to:

  • Preceed upcoming waves by an RFC-style forum announcement 2-3 weeks in advance, allowing time for feedback and informal co-creation
  • Expand the committee to include community experts and delegates, starting next wave
  • Introduce Tally-based delegate voting
  • Use Karma + AI tools to improve reviewer efficiency

:three_o_clock: Stay Up to Date

We can’t wait to see what you build :rocket:

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