Data Ownership Protocol is launching a multimillion-dollar grants program — and inviting developers to build innovative applications that enhance the DOP ecosystem and drive the adoption of selective transparency.

 

Our protocol provides users with selective transparency, meaning transactions and token balances can be encrypted so they’re no longer visible on the blockchain. This concept is at the center of everything we do, and we’re only scratching the surface when it comes to potential use cases.

 

Now, we’re looking to support projects that align closely with our vision — and give our community members an opportunity to have their say on the features they’d like to see.

 

Here, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the DOP grants program — from application deadlines to the types of initiatives we’re looking for — in the first of a series of blog posts about our future direction, and the community’s growing role in making it happen.

 

How to get involved

A grand total of $5 million in $DOP has been set aside for our grants program, and will be distributed across multiple rounds. The funding is primarily coming from the DAO Treasury, and can change in line with the program’s future needs. Additional injections could potentially come from the tokens allocated to the Ecosystem and Community.

 

Initially, selected projects will be given an injection of up to $50,000 to get their idea off the ground, denominated in our native token.

 

Applications open on our website from July 18, and will close one month later. From here, the DOP team will begin evaluating each submission based on several factors, including:

 

• How well proposal aligns with DOP’s mission and values
• Quality of the submitted content
• Technical feasibility
• Clear user need
• The impact it can have on the DOP ecosystem
• The team’s experience in executing past projects
• Proposed timelines and budget allocations
• Whether the idea proposed is truly innovative

 

This initial screening process will be completed by August 29, and the DOP team will share all the information and reasoning behind their selections with the community during the voting stage. The final decision on which projects receive funding will be made by the DOP token holders through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) voting process.

 

All DOP token holders will have the opportunity to review the pre-screened projects and vote on the ones they believe should receive funding. The voting will be based on detailed information provided by the DOP team, explaining why each project was selected during the initial screening. Once the voting concludes, the results will be announced, summary reports will be shared, and the chosen projects will receive their grants to begin development.

 

The DAO is currently being established, and the associated voting platform is under development. These will be live soon, allowing the community to actively participate in the decision-making process. As the grants program progresses, there will be a gradual transition towards full community control. While the DOP team is involved in the initial screening for this first round, future rounds will see the entire process handled by the DAO, further emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

 

Transparency is a core value of the DOP grants program, and the team is committed to maintaining complete transparency throughout the selection and funding process. All relevant information will be shared with the community during the voting stage, ensuring that every DOP token holder has access to the data they need to make informed decisions.

 

The increasing role of the community in the decision-making process is a key aspect of the DOP grants program. By participating in the DAO voting, anyone holding DOP tokens can directly influence which projects receive funding and shape the future of the DOP ecosystem. As the program evolves, the community will take on more responsibility, eventually managing the entire process from initial screening to final selection. This gradual shift in control is not limited to the grants program; it represents the first step in a broader plan to transfer governance of the entire DOP project to the community, empowering token holders to steer the direction of the protocol and its ecosystem.

 

Once the selected projects receive their grants, an oversight committee will be established to ensure that the funds are being used effectively and that the projects are progressing according to their proposed timelines. This committee will comprise respected figures from across the crypto industry, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. The details of the committee members will be announced at a later date.

 

What we’re looking for

From NFT marketplaces that allow digital art to be purchased away from prying eyes, to confidential DeFi protocols that prevent sensitive wallet details from being exposed, we want to hear from imaginative and innovative developers who understand the value of selective transparency — and have the skill to supercharge it even further. Here are the main application categories within our grants program:

 

• GameFi: Blockchain-based games with play-to-earn elements
• Marketplaces: Platforms for buying and selling digital assets or NFTs
• Lending: Decentralized apps for borrowing or lending digital assets
• DeFi: Decentralized, peer-to-peer financial services on blockchain
• Social: Crypto-integrated community platforms
• Meme: Projects inspired by internet culture and viral content
• Wallet: Software or hardware for storing and managing cryptocurrencies
• Compliance: Tools or services ensuring adherence to crypto regulations

 

The goal of our development grant is to expand the DOP ecosystem and bring more features to protocol users by incentivizing developers to create applications that integrate seamlessly with DOP, allowing users to use these applications in a confidential manner.

Top tips for success

If you’re interested in throwing your hat into the ring, here’s a few pointers to bear in mind.

 

First, make sure that your proposal is comprehensive — and clearly outlines your objectives, technical approach and team’s skills, as well as the timelines for delivery and how much it is estimated to cost. Keep DOP’s evaluation criteria at the front of your mind when filling out the application form, and ask yourself whether your project ticks all the boxes. Will your proposal strengthen our ecosystem? Is it achievable? Does it offer a streak of innovation? Are the values of data ownership and selective transparency at its core?

 

We’re thrilled to be firing the starting gun on a program that’ll take our ecosystem from strength to strength — and can’t wait to be inspired. If you’re someone with bright ideas on new, innovative and useful implementations of selective transparency, now’s the time to get involved.