PolkaWorld’s Past Contributions
Established in June 2019, PolkaWorld has been the Chinese-language community hub for the Polkadot ecosystem for nearly six years. Our unwavering focus has been on a single mission: sharing the latest updates in the Polkadot ecosystem, promoting its technical vision, and helping community members better understand and integrate into the Polkadot ecosystem.
Over the years, we have remained committed to this mission by consistently producing original content, publishing real-time news updates, conducting in-depth interviews with projects, creating engaging short videos, and hosting live discussions. These efforts have showcased what Polkadot is and how it contributes to the development of a decentralized future. As a result, we have gained a deep understanding of the Polkadot ecosystem and accumulated extensive experience in content creation and community operations.
Today, PolkaWorld operates social media accounts that have organically grown to reach over 50,000 Polkadot community members across Asia. While this number may not seem massive, these users have been cultivated through years of dedicated effort. They genuinely recognize Polkadot’s technological value and aspire to actively participate in the ecosystem’s development. We firmly believe that Polkadot’s growth depends on true builders. Thus, PolkaWorld will continue working to attract more Web3 and decentralized governance enthusiasts to join us in fostering a thriving Polkadot ecosystem.
PolkaWorld’s Contributions as a DV Member
We were honored to be selected as a member of the first cohort of Polkadot’s Decentralized Voices (DV) program in March 2024. Since then, we have actively participated in Polkadot OpenGov governance processes, reviewing and voting on 54 proposals—an average of at least five per week—spanning various topics, including marketing, community engagement, and media initiatives.
Our approach has been thorough: we conduct in-depth research and discussions on each proposal, facilitate conversations within the Chinese community, consult domain experts, and even engage in lengthy phone calls with proposers to ensure our votes reflect the best interests of the community and align with PolkaWorld’s governance principles.
To enhance governance discussions, we created a dedicated Telegram group to gather community feedback and regularly shared our voting results on Twitter. This transparency ensures community oversight and accountability.
Through months of involvement, we have gained a clear understanding of the responsibilities and obligations that come with being a DV member. Evaluating each proposal requires not only a deep grasp of Polkadot’s ecosystem but also expertise in various fields. We are confident that PolkaWorld possesses the necessary capabilities, having consistently demonstrated our commitment and competence as one of the ecosystem’s long-term contributors.
Although we were not selected for the second and third DV cohorts, our passion for Polkadot has never waned. During this period, we have continued to contribute to the ecosystem in multiple ways to foster community growth and ecosystem expansion.
We have conducted in-depth interviews with key contributors in the Polkadot ecosystem, sharing their stories and highlighting the ecosystem’s diversity and dynamism. Additionally, we produced a series of easily shareable three-minute videos that help newcomers quickly grasp Polkadot’s technical innovations and ecosystem developments. Furthermore, we remain dedicated to strengthening the Chinese-speaking Polkadot community, attracting new users, and cultivating a more vibrant and engaged ecosystem.
Notably, PolkaWorld was a key partner in this year’s JAM Tour. Beyond promoting this landmark event, we also assisted in coordinating logistics to ensure its success, amplifying Polkadot’s presence in the Asian market. While these tasks may seem routine, PolkaWorld is committed to any initiative that advances the adoption of Polkadot’s technology and contributes to the ecosystem’s growth.
Through our ongoing efforts, we aspire to become a decentralized voice representing Asia, working alongside global contributors to amplify Polkadot’s true value.
Thus, we eagerly seek the opportunity to participate in the fourth cohort of the DV program, continuing our contributions to the decentralized governance of the Polkadot ecosystem.
The Evolution of Our Governance Philosophy
Prior to joining the DV program, PolkaWorld had already developed a unique governance philosophy. Our active participation in the first DV cohort further refined our principles, leading to the establishment of clearer standards for our future voting decisions:
- Adhering to the MVP Principle: We support giving new entrants in the Polkadot ecosystem more opportunities and assistance, ensuring they have a fair chance to prove their value.
- Emphasizing Proposal History: For applicants who have received treasury funding multiple times, we place significant importance on the quality of their past reports and fulfillment of commitments.
- Assessing Proposer Identity and Influence: We prioritize proposals from individuals with a credible background and influence in either Web3 or Web2, rather than evaluating solely based on the proposal’s content.
- Standardizing Bounty Proposals: We do not support bounty proposals with fewer than seven curators. Future bounty proposals should specify clear funding replenishment conditions and adhere strictly to those terms. We envision that bounty proposals will eventually be replaced by Collectives, leading to greater decentralization and professionalism.
- Applying Uniform Standards to All Proposals: Regardless of proposal size, we treat all proposals equally and do not support large funding requests that claim significant impact without sufficient justification.
- Focus on Community, Market, and Media-Related Proposals: We primarily focus on proposals in these areas and do not review or vote on technical proposals. This is not because we do not support technological development, but rather because our expertise lies in market, community, and education. As a result, we are unable to provide fair and in-depth evaluations of technical proposals. We believe in dedicating our efforts to the areas where we excel to maximize our contribution.
- Refining Support Strategies for “Enhancing Polkadot Visibility” Proposals: We prioritize proposals that demonstrate tangible conversion rates and maintain a high level of transparency.
- Encouraging Innovation with Caution: While we generally support innovative proposals, we do not blindly trust proposers’ promises. As stewards of the community’s interests, we advocate for responsible treasury spending with well-defined safeguards.
Looking Ahead to the Fourth DV Cohort: Staying True to Our Mission
Although the Web3 Foundation may prioritize selecting new participants for the fourth DV cohort, PolkaWorld remains deeply passionate about the Polkadot ecosystem and is eager to continue playing a role in community governance.
Since joining the Polkadot community in 2019, we have been committed to spreading Dr. Gavin Wood’s vision and have witnessed the ecosystem’s remarkable growth. As one of the few representatives from Asia, we are not only observers but active contributors, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of the Asian community are well represented in governance discussions.
Going forward, PolkaWorld will continue to serve as a bridge between the Asian community and the global Polkadot ecosystem, encouraging more token holders in Asia to participate in governance and fostering an inclusive environment where all contributors can fairly and transparently share their innovative ideas. We firmly believe that a truly decentralized ecosystem must incorporate voices from all regions of the world. We are committed to this vision and will continue working to enhance Polkadot’s diversity, global reach, and long-term prosperity.
Conclusion
As we approach the fourth DV cohort selection, PolkaWorld remains steadfast in our core mission. With unwavering passion and a strong sense of responsibility, we will continue advocating for community, marketing, and media-related proposals while attracting high-quality, innovative projects to the Polkadot ecosystem. We believe that a thriving ecosystem relies on a governance framework that is fair, efficient, and inclusive. Thus, while we support proposals with real impact, we will also exercise caution to ensure fair and rational governance decisions, respecting every contributor’s efforts while avoiding the approval of projects lacking substantive contributions.
Since our inception, PolkaWorld has been deeply involved in the Polkadot ecosystem, witnessing and contributing to its evolution. Moving forward, we will remain committed to transparency and open governance, fostering deeper global community integration. We look forward to working alongside the worldwide Polkadot community to build a more prosperous, decentralized future!
