# OCP-10: Establishment of Developer Ecosystem Fund and Node-Lease Program for EDU Chain **URL:** \ **Category:** Investment\ **Tags:** in-process\ **Created:** [February 20, 2026, 4:11am UTC](https://dao.opencampus.xyz/t/ocp-10-establishment-of-developer-ecosystem-fund-and-node-lease-program-for-edu-chain/26 "2026-02-20T04:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpenCampus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/dao.opencampus.xyz/opencampus/32/16_2.png) [@OpenCampus](https://dao.opencampus.xyz/u/OpenCampus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:11am UTC](https://dao.opencampus.xyz/t/ocp-10-establishment-of-developer-ecosystem-fund-and-node-lease-program-for-edu-chain/26/1 "2026-02-20T04:11:27Z")
June 30, 2024, 4:31am **ABSTRACT** This proposal aims to establish a Developer Ecosystem Fund and Node-Lease Program to incentivize developers to build on EDU Chain, addressing the cold-start problem and fostering a vibrant, sustainable ecosystem of education dApps. We propose a $20 million fund, with $4 million allocated for hackathon prizes and future incentives, $14 million for liquidity incentives, and $2 million for operational support. We expect this fund to support developers on EDU Chain for at least the next 3 years. Additionally, we propose a node-lease program involving 200 nodes to be leased to ecosystem partners. This program will create a sustainable ongoing incentive fund by splitting node proceeds 50/50 between partners and the community fund, aligning incentives, encouraging economic activity on EDU Chain, and creating a self-sustaining source of funding future developer incentives. To oversee the deployment of funds and manage these initiatives, we propose establishing a governance council consisting of five members. This proposal aims to kickstart developer engagement, with the first hackathon scheduled for July 15, 2024. **MOTIVATION** EDU Chain is poised to become the leading education-focused blockchain, core to Open Campus’ mission of establishing a decentralized platform for educational institutions, edtech companies, and partners. However, to realize this vision, we must address the critical challenge of the “cold-start” problem – the initial lack of developers and applications on a new blockchain. To overcome this challenge and establish EDU Chain as a thriving ecosystem, it is imperative to provide substantial incentives that will attract talented developers and innovative projects. By creating a robust Developer Ecosystem Fund and implementing a Node-Lease Program, we aim to: 1. Accelerate the development of education-focused decentralized applications (dApps) on EDU Chain. 2. Create a sustainable model for ongoing ecosystem growth and developer engagement. 3. Align the interests of developers, ecosystem partners, and the broader Open Campus community. 4. Establish EDU Chain as the go-to platform for building the future of decentralized education. This proposal seeks to lay the foundation for a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem that will drive the adoption and utility of the $EDU token, ultimately benefiting all token holders and participants in the Open Campus community. **SPECIFICATION** 1. Developer Ecosystem Fund - Total allocation: $20,000,000 in $EDU tokens a) Hackathon Prizes: $4,000,000 1. Node-Lease Program 2. Governance Council **TIMELINE** - Proposal Approval: [Date TBD] - Governance Council Formation: Within 1 week of approval - First Fund Allocations: Within 1 month of approval - Node-Lease Program Launch: Within 2 months of approval - First Hackathon (Semester 1) Kick-off: July 15, 2024 - Second Hackathon (Semester 2): [Date TBD, approximately 4 months after the first] - Third Hackathon (Semester 3): [Date TBD, approximately 4 months after the second] - Program Review: Annually, with the first review in June 2025 **RESOURCING** The $20,000,000 Developer Ecosystem Fund will be sourced from the existing EDU token treasury. The allocation will be as follows: 1. $4,000,000 in $EDU tokens will be set aside for hackathon prizes and future incentives. 2. $14,000,000 in $EDU tokens will be allocated for liquidity incentives for protocols building on EDU Chain. 3. $2,000,000 in $EDU tokens will be allocated for operational support, including Governance Council remuneration. The fund will be managed by the Governance Council, who will oversee the distribution of resources according to the specified goals and timeline. The Council will also be responsible for managing the Node-Lease Program, including the allocation and monitoring of the 200 nodes to be leased to ecosystem partners. To ensure the necessary oversight mechanisms are in place, any spend and/or investment proposals by the Governance Council must be formally ratified by the Open Campus Council before they are deemed valid. **RISKS & DRAWBACKS** For each identified risk, the Governance Council will be responsible for monitoring and implementing mitigation strategies. These strategies will be reviewed and adjusted regularly to ensure their effectiveness. 1. Market Volatility: The value of the $EDU token may fluctuate, affecting the real-world value of the allocated funds. Mitigation: The Council will implement a dynamic allocation strategy, adjusting the distribution of funds based on market conditions to maintain the intended impact of the incentives. 2. Developer Retention: While initial incentives may attract developers, there’s a risk they may not stay long-term. Mitigation: The Node-Lease Program, ongoing hackathons, and vesting grants are designed to create sustained engagement. The Council will also develop additional long-term incentive programs and community-building initiatives. 3. Quality of Projects: There’s a risk of attracting quantity over quality. Mitigation: The Council will implement and regularly refine a strict vetting process for funding and support, prioritizing projects with strong potential for long-term impact on the EDU Chain ecosystem. 4. Centralization Concerns: The Node-Lease Program must be carefully managed to avoid over-centralization of node operation. Mitigation: The Council will establish and enforce clear guidelines for node distribution, regularly reviewing the lease holders to ensure a diverse and decentralized network. 5. Competition from Other Chains: Developers might be attracted to other blockchain platforms with similar incentives. Mitigation: The Council will continuously highlight and enhance EDU Chain’s unique value proposition in the education sector. They will also foster a strong, education-focused community and adjust incentives to remain competitive. 6. Misalignment of Incentives: The incentive structure may not align perfectly with long-term ecosystem health. Mitigation: The Council will implement vesting periods for rewards and tie incentives to long-term ecosystem health metrics. They will regularly review and adjust the incentive structure to promote sustainable growth. 7. Sustainability: The long-term sustainability of the ecosystem beyond the initial funding period is crucial. Mitigation: The Node-Lease Program is designed to create long-term sustainability of the ecosystem beyond the initial funding period by recycling 50% of node rewards back into the Developer Ecosystem Fund. The Governance Council will provide regular updates to the community on the status of these risks and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies, ensuring transparency and allowing for community input on risk management. **GOALS AND SUCCESS METRICS** The success of this proposal will be measured by the following key performance indicators (KPIs): 1. Developer Engagement: 2. Project Development: 3. Ecosystem Growth: 4. Node-Lease Program: 5. Community Engagement: The Governance Council will report on these metrics quarterly, with a comprehensive annual review to assess the overall impact of the Developer Ecosystem Fund and Node-Lease Program. **IMPLEMENTATION PLAN** 1. Governance Council Setup (Weeks 1-2 post-approval) 2. Fund Allocation and Management (Weeks 3-4) 3. Node-Lease Program Launch (Months 1-2) 4. Developer Outreach (Ongoing) 5. Hackathon Preparation (Weeks 1-3) **COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT** 1. Governance Participation 2. Hackathon Involvement 3. Transparent Communication 4. Education and Onboarding **FUTURE ROADMAP** 1. Ecosystem Expansion (Year 2) 2. Integration with Open Campus Initiatives (Ongoing) 3. Global Education Impact (Years 3-5) **GOVERNANCE COUNCIL PROFILES** 1. Harry Zhang, Developer Ecosystem Liaison 2. Ankit Raj, Developer Ecosystem Liaison 3. Shan Han, LP Expert 4. TBD, Incentive Design Expert 5. TBD, Community Governance Expert Council Responsibilities and Meetings: 1. Regular Meetings: 2. Key Responsibilities: a) Fund Oversight: Oversee the allocation and distribution of the $20 million Developer Ecosystem Fund. Manage the $12 million liquidity pool, making decisions on liquidity provision and adjustments. Approve operational support funds for promising projects. b) Hackathon and Incentive Program: Design and oversee the implementation of hackathons, allocating the $1 million initial prize pool. Develop strategies for distributing the $3 million future incentives fund. Evaluate and select projects for additional funding and support. c) Node-Lease Program: Develop and manage the application process for the 200 node operators. Set and adjust lease terms as needed to ensure program effectiveness. Monitor node performance and re-allocate leases as necessary to ensure effective utilization and decentralization of the network. d) Ecosystem Growth: Develop and implement strategies to attract developers and projects to EDU Chain. Foster partnerships with educational institutions and tech communities. Identify and pursue opportunities to expand EDU Chain’s reach in the education sector. e) Community Engagement: Represent the council in community town halls and AMAs. Review and respond to community proposals and feedback. Ensure that the community’s voice is considered in major decisions. f) Reporting and Transparency: Prepare quarterly progress reports on fund allocation and ecosystem metrics. Ensure all decisions and actions are communicated transparently to the community. Maintain an open channel for community members to track the use of funds. g) Risk Management: Continuously monitor and mitigate risks as outlined in the RISKS & DRAWBACKS section. Propose and implement adjustments to the program as needed. Develop contingency plans for potential challenges or market shifts. 1. Decision Making: Council Remuneration: Each Governance Council member will be compensated for their time and expertise. The remuneration structure is as follows: - Monthly compensation: $5,000 worth of $EDU tokens per council member - Time commitment: Expected to be approximately 40 hours per month - Performance bonus: Up to 50% of monthly compensation, based on achieving predetermined ecosystem growth metrics - Term: Initial appointment is for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and community approval The total annual budget for Council remuneration is $300,000 worth of $EDU tokens (excluding potential performance bonuses). This remuneration structure will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains competitive and aligns with the ecosystem’s growth. $EDU token holders can submit proposals to replace any Governance Council member if they feel it’s necessary for the betterment of the ecosystem. **ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)** HackQuest is a one-stop, self-guided Web3 developer education platform. HackQuest offers expert-curated learning paths with on-chain certificates co-issued by leading Web3 ecosystems including Arbitrum, Solana, Mantle Network, and Linea. HackQuest’s event organization arm Moonshot Commons is a global community for Web3 founders to learn, build, and scale and has hosted 30+ Web3 hackathons and accelerators and 100+ developer event since 2021. Over 85 community project founders raised capital and are backed by a16z, YC, and many more. Rise In provides free courses, educational programs, hackathons and community events to help developers worldwide learn web3 and build projects. As the blockchain-focused educational brand of Patika.dev, Turkey’s largest developer community with over 250,000 developers, Rise In supports 90,000+ learners across 100+ countries, including Turkey, India, the U.S., Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Nepal. Rise In creates and helps grow talent ecosystems for leading web3 protocols like Solana, Stellar, Aptos, Scroll, Circle, and ICP, offering structured onboarding experiences for over 250,000 developers through online courses, bootcamps, project building, and developer retention activities.