Selection Criteria

Following feedback from the community for more transparency on the approval process, we are sharing below the criteria used for selecting grants. Please keep in mind this has been kept general to permit the team some flexibility and prevent gaming of the criteria on behalf of applicants. It should nonetheless help explain the overall mindset of the team when assessing applications, and show the questions asked among team members to determine eligibility.

We appreciate more feedback and suggestions from the community to continue improving the program. As always, we look forward to growing the program with the protocol and working with the community to achieve greater success!

Grants Selection Criteria

Relevance: All funded projects should be applicable to dYdX and its community. Grants must involve, build on top of, or benefit the protocol in some capacity.

• Does the project relate to dYdX?
• Are the goals applicable to dYdX and the community?

Benefit: The goal of this program is to grow the protocol and benefit the community. Grants must result in beneficial progress contributed to dYdX.

• Does this project benefit dYdX and the community?
• Will there be a real positive impact to the protocol?

Feasibility: Ideas and discussions are great, but only realistic projects with tangible results will be funded.

• Can the project really be accomplished?
• Are the goals and results realistic?

Execution: Applicants must provide a clear execution plan for completing the project and reaching the goals.

• Is there a clear plan for accomplishing the intended results?
• Can the project meet milestones and report progress throughout the lifecycle?

Qualification: While we do our best to support growth and learning, applicants must have some background or credentials to prove their capabilities.

• Is the individual or team qualified to complete the project?

Originality: Projects must contribute something new to the protocol, not just repeat existing grants or previous work.

• Is the project bringing something new to dYdX? 

Cost: The team does its best to attract high quality contributors with competitive funding without overspending.

• Is the funding amount within reasonable means?
• Does it align with industry standards?