I’ve allocated my votes based on projects that directly contribute to decentralisation and push forward meaningful innovation in the Ethereum and broader crypto ecosystem. My focus is on infrastructure, tooling, and critical improvements that make decentralised networks more resilient, scalable, and user-friendly. Here’s my breakdown:
Erigon (10,000 votes)
Erigon is one of the most efficient Ethereum clients out there and I see it as critical for Ethereum’s future (and future scalability concerns…) A high-performance client like this improves node operation, reduces storage costs, and helps decentralisation by making it easier to run a full node.
Dappnode (8,000 votes)
Dappnode is doing something incredibly important—making it easier for regular people to run their own nodes. The more accessible it is to run a node, the more decentralised Ethereum (and other networks) become. With centralised staking and hosting providers being a concern, Dappnode allows normies (or semi-normies, at least) to participate in the decentralisation of netwroks.
Nimbus (8,000 votes)
Nimbus is another Ethereum client that plays a crucial role in keeping the network decentralised. Since it can work on low-power devices, it expands the validator pool hugely. Diversity in clients is non-negotiable for Ethereum’s long-term health.
Splits (7,500 votes)
Splits is a super practical and well-designed tool that makes it easy for teams, DAOs, and contributors to automate revenue sharing in a transparent, onchain way. I see this as a a strong building block for onchain collaboration and it’s already widely used in the ecosystem, too.
DAOstar (7,000 votes)
One of the biggest issues in the DAO space right now is fragmentation—different DAOs use different governance frameworks, standards, and tools, making it hard to interoperate. DAOstar is working to fix this by creating common standards that help DAOs function more smoothly together. It’s an unsexy but necessary effort that makes governance across the space more robust and I’ve witnessed the impact of their contributions first hand.
Commit-Boost (5,000 votes)
Commit-Boost works on optimising how Ethereum validators interact with third-party protocols, particularly in areas like MEV. I want to support projects like this that help make Ethereum more modular and secure.
Protocol Guild (5,000 votes)
This one is a no-brainer. The Protocol Guild is an initiative that funds core Ethereum contributors—the people who work on upgrades, research, and ongoing maintenance of the Ethereum protocol. Without them, none of this exists.
restake.watch (4,000 votes)
Restaking has become a huge part of Ethereum’s ecosystem, and while it brings new opportunities, it also comes with risks. restake.watch provides much-needed transparency and analysis around restaking protocols, helping users make informed decisions. I see this as a valuable public good that helps decentralisation by keeping restaking accountable.
Ethereum on ARM (3,500 votes)
Ethereum on ARM is an interesting project because it makes it possible to run Ethereum nodes on ARM-based devices (think Raspberry Pi and other low-power computers). This expands the types of hardware that can support Ethereum, reducing reliance on big data centers (yay decentralisation!) and making it easier for people to run nodes at home.
Mission Control: One-Click Obol DVT Deployment (2,500 votes)
Distributed Validator Technology (DVT) is one of the biggest upgrades to staking infrastructure. It allows validators to work together in a decentralised way instead of running solo.
Research and Specification for Obol V2 (2,500 votes)
Obol’s mission is to improve validator decentralisation, and this research effort is focused on taking that to the next level. Funding research and development ensures that the next iteration of Obol is even better, and Nethermind is a strong provider.
ethstaker.tax (1,500 votes)
Tax compliance is a massive headache for all of us in crypto, let alone solo stakers who are looking to contribute to the decentralisation of ethereum. ethstaker.tax provides tools that help validators manage their tax obligations transparently, removing another friction point for solo staking, something I see as very important to the Ethereum ecosystem.
GotEth (1,500 votes)
GotEth is a public good supporting Ethereum accessibility and usability. While it’s not a core infrastructure project, initiatives that improve network accessibility help ensure Ethereum remains open and decentralised.
College DAO (1,224 votes)
I like that CollegeDAO is one of the few initiatives actively onboarding new technical talent into the space and providing opportunities for college students to get involved with the space, something I definitely would’ve benefited from back then!
Bronze Techne Credentials Speedrun (1,000 votes)
This project is focused on decentralised credentialing, which could be useful in governance and identity systems. Experimental but interesting idea.
My priorities when voting:
- Alignment with Decentralisation – Prioritise projects that enhance decentralisation and user empowerment within the blockchain ecosystem.
- Concrete Innovation – Support initiatives that introduce tangible, innovative solutions with real impact.
- Infrastructure Enhancement – Favor projects that contribute to the robustness, security, and scalability of decentralised networks.
I put my votes toward projects that actually move the needle when it comes to decentralisation, security, and infrastructure. The biggest threats to Ethereum’s future are centralisation (whether that’s through staking, clients, or infrastructure bottlenecks) and a lack of funding for core projects. Every vote I cast is for a project that actively addresses these issues and helps keep the network resilient.