🔍 Ethereum's Next Wave

Gitcoin is implementing a new sustainable funding approach through a partnership with [Octant](https://octant.app). **Key Innovation:** - Treasury assets generate yield that flows into future funding rounds - Principal remains intact while interest funds public goods - Eliminates need to draw down treasury each cycle **How It Works:** Gitcoin's idle treasury capital sits in an Octant vault, producing returns that become matching funds for grants programs. This allows continuous funding without depleting core assets. **Educational Session:** A discussion featuring owocki, vpabundance, and arlery will explain how this yield-powered model compounds impact over time while preserving the original treasury. This represents a shift from traditional treasury spending to a regenerative funding mechanism.

As AI development accelerates, traditional support systems are struggling to keep pace. Four critical areas are under pressure: - **Identity**: How we verify and authenticate ourselves - **Income**: How we earn and distribute value - **Information**: How we access and validate knowledge - **Infrastructure**: The foundational systems we rely on When existing systems fail, capital naturally seeks new channels. The central question facing the ecosystem: Should we continue funding temporary, one-off interventions, or invest in building sustainable funding mechanisms for the long term? Gitcoin's latest research explores structural approaches to funding that can adapt and scale with technological change, rather than reactive grant programs. [Read the full research](https://gitcoin.co/research/structural-funding-beyond-grants)

Gitcoin has released the **deep funding update** for GG24's Web3 Tooling and Infrastructure round. **Key Details:** - Projects can now check their qualification status for deep funding - Part of GG24's six-domain structure allocating **$1.8M total** - First round fully designed through structured sensemaking - Focuses on developer tooling and infrastructure projects This represents Gitcoin's approach to directing capital toward critical Web3 development needs. [Check qualification status](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/deep-funding-gg24-web3-tooling-and-infra-round/25040)

Gitcoin has outlined a strategic reset for 2026, moving away from its previous approach to focus on three core principles: **The AAA Framework:** - **Alignment**: Fund projects that advance human thriving - **Alpha**: Identify and attract high-potential builders - **Accelerate**: Operate with small, efficient teams **Coalition-First Funding** The platform will require projects to demonstrate 60-70% funding from external sources before receiving Gitcoin support. This approach aims to surface builders with genuine community backing through the upcoming GG25 round. **Experimental Approach** Rather than committing to large-scale initiatives, Gitcoin will run low-budget, time-limited experiments throughout 2026. The organization will only pursue recapitalization and scaling after these experiments show clear traction and legitimacy. This represents a significant shift from Gitcoin's previous grant-making model, emphasizing validation and external support over direct funding. The strategy suggests a more cautious approach following lessons learned from past rounds. [Read the full strategy](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/gitcoin-2026-strategy-tl-dr/25049/1)

Gitcoin has announced its evolution into version 3.0, marking a significant shift in how public goods funding operates. **The Three Phases:** - **Gitcoin 1.0 (2020)**: Centralized platform focused on Quadratic Funding - **Gitcoin 2.0 (2024)**: Decentralized QF with modular protocols - **Gitcoin 3.0 (2026+)**: Comprehensive portfolio of funding mechanisms **Key Changes:** The new version moves beyond a single funding method to embrace multiple approaches: - Various flavors of Quadratic Funding - Quadratic Voting - Direct Grants - Retroactive public goods funding This transition reflects a broader understanding that different projects and communities need different funding tools. Rather than relying solely on one mechanism, Gitcoin 3.0 aims to provide a complete toolkit for capital allocation. The platform continues its expansion across all EVM-based communities, with tools like Gitcoin Passport extending beyond the original Ethereum ecosystem to protect various blockchain communities from Sybil attacks. This evolution represents a maturation from a single-purpose platform to a diverse ecosystem of funding solutions.