The Polygon Delegate Incentive Program (DIP), an exciting new initiative focused on bringing in, awarding, and fostering connections with/between delegates and individuals participating in the revamped Polygon governance and ecosystem is launching today.
Specifically, selected participants will be rewarded for their active participation in Polygon governance and their broader contributions to the growth of the Polygon ecosystem, with delegates receiving first-access to various IRL Polygon community events.
Key Details
Timeline: 12 months
Application Window: November 20th - December 4th
Cohort Size: ~15-20 members
Quarterly Rewards: $60,000 USD (in POL) allocated across participants - contingent on meeting criteria & ecosystem contributions
IRL Events: Around main crypto conferences
Program Breakdown
Roadmap
Following a 2-week application period, the Delegate Incentive Program will operate for 12 months, paying out rewards quarterly for ecosystem contribution and governance participation based on performance against eligibility criteria (outlined below). Additionally, every quarter, there will be a comprehensive performance assessment of the current program members, with the opportunity to replace any non-performing members with other top-performing ecosystem delegates.
Additionally, at regular intervals, the overall efficacy and impact of the program will be evaluated, enabling adjustments or, if necessary, discontinuation of the program.
Rewards
All members of the Delegate Incentive Program are rewarded in a handful of ways for their role in actively shaping the evolving Polygon ecosystem. Members of DIP are instantly connected to a network of other Polygon delegates, receive quarterly rewards for their participation, and are the first invited to IRL gatherings hosted by the Polygon community.
Initially, as Polygon governance heats up, rewards will be weighted towards incentivizing more ecosystem contribution and awareness outcomes. As the program progresses and the ecosystem develops, this weighting between rewarded elements (ie. ecosystem contribution, voting power, & governance participation) is subject to change at the discretion of the community.
Applications & Eligibility Criteria
The delegate application process will be run through the public Polygon governance forums, with each prospective program member publicly submitting their application for consideration during the 2-week application window beginning Wednesday, November 20th. Keep your eyes on the forum in a few days for the public application thread.
The table below outlines the key areas of relevance that inform a candidate’s eligibility and fit for the Delegate Incentive Program. For guidance on how assessment and selection decisions will be made, the table also includes insights into the scoring rubrics, along with examples of eligibility indicators. It should be noted that these indicators represent examples of the characteristics that will be looked for in candidates, but are by no means an exhaustive list, and should not be used as such. Please review this table carefully to understand how your background aligns with the program’s expectations.
| Category | Score Rubric | Eligibility Indicators (Examples) |
|---|---|---|
| I. Deep Involvement in the Polygon/Ethereum Ecosystem | 1 → Minimal to no ecosystem involvement 3 → Significant, but non-regular contributions 5 → Heavily involved in the ecosystem |
- Founder or early team member of an ecosystem project - Past governance/forum contribution and experience - Ecosystem grant recipient or similar program member |
| II. Relevant Technical Comprehension | 1 → Minimal to no technical knowledge 3 → Some relevant technical experience 5 → Deep technical knowledge and experience |
- Development experience, ideally protocol governance experience (e.g., worked on EIP or similar) - Technical background/experience related to protocol or chain security - Published technical research paper or similar |
| III. Extensive Ecosystem Network | 1 → Minimal to no ecosystem network 3 → Moderate network & fellowship 5 → Extensively engaged in the ecosystem |
- Established social accounts and/or website - Published content awareness pieces or similar - Proven marketing experience or savvy |
Voting power, including POL voting stake (delegated and otherwise), will be considered when assessing a candidate’s application, with a minimum delegation of 5,000 POL required for program eligibility. Further, all candidates are encouraged to grow their delegation, as rewards will be structured for prominent delegates, with up to 20% of the total rewards based on voting power (the member with the highest vote power receiving the full 20% bonus and the lowest receiving no additional rewards).
Further, the exact program incentives parameters will include a mix of governance and ecosystem contribution elements, such as:
- Achieving voting participation above a pre-defined percentage
- Creating or sharing Polygon awareness and/or content pieces
- Establishing a public delegate platform
Finally, the program will give priority consideration to individuals and smaller entities within the Polygon community, though participation is by no means exclusive to them.
Applicants who are not selected for the first cohort will have another opportunity to join in the future. More details on that will be shared over the coming months.
The Polygon community is excited to launch this program and reward community stakeholders for their contributions to Polygon governance. If you have any questions or thoughts about the Delegate Incentive Program, please feel free to drop a comment here or reach out to Fin (@findlay_b) on Telegram.