Gitcoin 2024 Year in Review: $10.​4M in Grants Distributed

**Core developer undercompensation** has moved beyond anecdotal concerns to become a **measurable crisis** affecting blockchain infrastructure. Trent Van Epps presented compelling data at Schelling Point, highlighting how inadequate funding threatens the sustainability of critical development work across the ecosystem. Key findings reveal: - Systematic underfunding of essential infrastructure work - Growing gap between developer value creation and compensation - Need for coordinated community response The research provides concrete evidence for what many developers have experienced firsthand - that current funding models fail to adequately support the builders maintaining blockchain networks. **This isn't just a developer problem** - it's an ecosystem sustainability issue that affects everyone relying on these networks. Watch the full presentation: [Schelling Point Talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5qPYZLGD3U) *Understanding this data is crucial for anyone invested in long-term blockchain infrastructure health.*

**Gitcoin conducted its first community-run grants program** with GG24, marking a significant shift from centralized control. The experiment involved **handing operational keys directly to community members**, allowing them to manage domains independently. This represents a major governance evolution for the platform. **Key insights from the debrief panel:** - Community-run domains delivered clearer focus - Improved signal-to-noise ratio in grant selection - Better capital allocation decisions - Stronger alignment between funders and projects The panel featured prominent community members including MontyMerlin, Paul Glavin, and others sharing **candid lessons learned** from this decentralization experiment. **What's next:** The team discussed how this community-first approach will shape future Gitcoin Grants rounds, potentially making decentralized governance the new standard. Watch the full debrief: [YouTube Panel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtTnlDX0HQ)

**Gitcoin Grants offer more than funding** - they provide crucial community validation for builders in web3. In a noisy ecosystem, grants serve as **proof that projects have real demand**. This community signal becomes one of the most valuable resources builders can obtain. The validation aspect often matters more than the actual funds, giving projects credibility and direction in an oversaturated market.

Gitcoin is transforming from a single funding model into an **evolutionary arena** where different funding mechanisms compete against each other. The platform now rewards the most effective funding approaches, creating a natural selection process for capital allocation. This competitive system aims to make funding decisions smarter across the entire web3 ecosystem by: - Testing multiple funding mechanisms simultaneously - Rewarding successful approaches - Eliminating less effective methods The shift represents a move away from centralized funding decisions toward a more adaptive, market-driven approach to supporting projects that matter.

**Gitcoin founders discuss the future of sustainable public goods funding** in a key conversation from Shelling Point conference. @owocki and @juanbenet explore: - Sustainable revenue models for public goods projects - How projects can "give back" to their communities - **Gitcoin 3.3's evolutionary arena** - a new approach that has Juan particularly excited The discussion focuses on building **regenerative systems** that can sustain themselves long-term rather than relying solely on grants or donations. [Watch the full conversation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFWfZnzmBg8)