Open-source crowdfunding platform Gitcoin announced that it will shift its focus from public product financing to donations for Ethereum infrastructure. Additionally, it will establish a laboratory to address the shortcomings of DAO in technical decision-making.
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Gitcoin Executive Director: Lack of Execution and Time-consuming DAO Structure
Gitcoin Restructuring Plan: Building a Protocol Laboratory
Do Community Members Have Sufficient Technical Background to Determine Development Direction?
Gitcoin Executive Director: Lack of Execution and Time-consuming DAO Structure
According to Blockworks, since its launch in May 2021, Gitcoin’s organizational structure has been relatively flat, without an executive issuing orders. Relevant workflows, specific tasks, or project teams have always been approved through community governance voting.
However, this is a very time-consuming process, and as Gitcoin has evolved with DAO, it has transitioned from an organization focused on influence to one centered around technology. Gitcoin Executive Director Kyle Weiss stated in an interview:
This does not align well with the existing DAO structure; it is too disconnected. Everyone is in a completely remote environment, and our personnel come from almost every continent. Stability, operations, and software development are crucial, and we will need a core team composed of individuals with the necessary knowledge background.
Gitcoin Restructuring Plan: Building a Protocol Laboratory
As part of the restructuring plan, Gitcoin has internally established two business departments. One department will focus on coordinating product-related work, while the subDAO will manage community governance affairs.
Kyle Weiss pointed out that over the years, Gitcoin has tried various products, some of which took the wrong path, while others were valuable for future development. In the past, Gitcoin mostly focused on grants, but now Gitcoin’s narrative revolves around funding public goods. This shift is due to Gitcoin’s transformation from an influential organization to a technical organization.
Kyle Weiss explained:
The DAO will shift towards a structure more similar to a “laboratory,” which is common, similar to the way Uniswap Labs, OP Labs, and their respective protocols collaborate. We want to ensure stability in software development and then give the DAO substantial scope of work.
Do Community Members Have Sufficient Technical Background to Determine Development Direction?
The structure of a “laboratory” can give software development teams greater leadership and clearer decision-making authority, while the community can focus on achieving results through governance voting for grant programs.
Kyle Weiss also claimed that he is unsure whether token voting governance, which is often regarded as the appropriate decision-making mechanism for technical aspects and long-term roadmaps.
Gitcoin co-founder Kevin Owocki shares the same view:
It has not been proven that the DAO structure is sufficient to support software development. The reason for building a laboratory team is to realize this in our organizational structure, ensuring that we are building world-class software.
DAO
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Kyle Weiss