Introduction
In the second half of 2025, the Token Engineering Commons is rallying around one central idea: if we want to change the story of crypto, we must remain a constant, steady voice pointing to those building protocols and tools that make direct, positive impacts on the world. We are shifting the collective spotlight away from financial speculation and mechanism hype toward the real, tangible ways blockchains can support communities, advance public goods, and unlock new forms of civic coordination.
The work in this cycle is grounded in action, and built around four pillars: Storytelling & Advocacy, Grant Program Funding, Sustainability & Infrastructure, and Community Development. Within each of these focus areas, we have several initiatives that we are continuing to scale and develop. Through the TEC Publishing initiative, we will continue publishing stories that matter, writing articles that inspire and educate, and highlighting the builders, researchers, and organizers using token engineering to tackle real problems.
A Virtual Conference pilot will bring together the brightest minds across key verticals like ReFi, DeSci, and Localism to align on what’s needed and what’s next as we coordinate around real-world impact. We will continue to host powerful online events and Research Hub sessions that surface applied insights and strengthen the knowledge base for impactful use-cases.
Our Grants Program is being upgraded, and we are launching a new round focused entirely on real-world impact, with special support for early stage projects at the ideation and prototype phase. We are improving the infrastructure for applications, reviews, and milestone tracking to make the process smoother, more transparent, and more accountable.
Additionally, we are refining our token infrastructure, testing new use cases, raising funds to support our long-term sustainability, and rebuilding community pathways and engagement so that the TEC becomes easier to find, easier to join, and harder to ignore.
The TEC is one of the few organizations actively guiding blockchain toward meaningful, community-driven impact. In a space often clouded by speculation and short-term gains, our work helps rebuild trust, center human needs, and demonstrate that this technology can serve as public infrastructure, and not just financial instruments.
We believe blockchains can empower collective agency, enable more responsive governance, and support coordination that begins locally and provides a roadmap for others to follow. As the narrative around crypto evolves and the world asks what this technology is truly for, the TEC is stepping forward with purpose and clarity as we support and guide the projects in this space that will ultimately change the narrative of crypto.
Review of H1 2025 Progress
In the first half of 2025, the TEC Coordination Team made strong progress across four strategic objectives, launching a TEC Publication, a Research Hub, and executing on the multi-round Grant Program supporting TE projects in the OP Superchain Ecosystem. We also upgraded our infrastructure with a new ABC page, Aragon Governance interface, and integrated TQF into the Gitcoin calculator.
We are very proud of our progress in H1, and are looking to build on our success within H2. For more details about our efforts in H1, please visit our forum thread here: TEC H1 2025 Deliverables Update
Strategic Focus for H2
The Token Engineering Commons is organizing its work for the second half of 2025 around four interconnected focus areas:
1. Storytelling, Education & Advocacy - we are dedicated to shifting the narrative of crypto toward one of purpose, impact, and possibility. This focus area exists to make the transformative potential of blockchain not just visible, but deeply relatable and inspiring. By translating complex ideas into accessible stories and educational experiences, we aim to show how blockchain is already driving real outcomes in communities around the world. This is about more than awareness but about helping people see what’s possible, connecting builders across disciplines, and guiding attention toward projects that matter. In a space flooded with hype, this work ensures that the signal of real-world impact cuts through the noise.
2. Grants Program Development - focused on turning bold ideas into tested, high-impact solutions by strengthening TEC’s core funding mechanism and support network. This focus area exists to bridge the gap between theory and application by supporting projects that take the principles of token engineering and bring them to life in the real world. By prioritizing early-stage innovation and offering milestone-based funding, mentorship, and infrastructure, we aim to give builders the support they need to bring the most promising ideas to life. This is not just about distributing funds, but about cultivating legitimacy, and creating a clear, transparent path from concept to community impact.
3. Sustainability & Infrastructure - focused on building the long-term backbone that makes everything else possible. This focus area ensures that TEC remains resilient, well-resourced, and capable of evolving with the needs of our mission. It’s where we strengthen the financial, technical, and organizational infrastructure that allow us to operate with independence, clarity, and integrity.
4. Community Development & Visibility - focused on making the TEC discoverable, approachable, and easy to engage with. This focus area is about creating clear, welcoming pathways for contributors, collaborators, and tokenholders to understand who we are, what we’re building, and how they can get involved.
H2 Objectives & Initiatives
To bring our vision to life in the second half of 2025, the Token Engineering Commons is advancing a set of carefully designed initiatives that span across our four strategic focus areas. Each initiative is a deliberate step toward reshaping the dialogue around crypto toward meaningful conversations and work that empowers builders and supports communities where innovation can make a lasting difference. These initiatives are not isolated projects, but interlocking components of a broader organizational strategy.
1. Storytelling, Education & Advocacy
Publishing Initiative
We will continue building on our public-facing editorial platform that showcases stories, insights, and research at the intersection of blockchain and real-world impact. Through original articles, interviews, and guest publications, this initiative aims to make complex topics in token engineering accessible and inspiring. It highlights the work of builders, researchers, and organizers who are using crypto tools for real-world coordination and impact.
Publication Link: https://paragraph.com/@tecommons
KR: Publish 6 articles that attract 100+ reads each and receive positive feedback from community members.
Newsletter
We will continue with our Newsletter Publication, The Rollup Report that curates important TEC updates, developments in Layer 2 ecosystems, and highlights from across verticals like ReFi, Localism, and DeSci. The newsletter is designed to keep the TEC community informed, connected, and inspired. It serves as a gateway for both newcomers and existing members to stay engaged with our evolving work and the broader movement for real-world blockchain applications.
Newsletter Homepage: https://tec-rollup-report.beehiiv.com/
KR: Release 6 newsletters with an average open rate of 35% and reaching a total of 75+ subscribers by end of cycle.
Digital Events
These online gatherings are designed to surface and showcase meaningful Web3 research and real-world applications. Digital Events are split into two tracks:
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TEC Talks, which often feature speakers and projects from verticals like Localism and ReFi, and focus on thematic community storytelling.
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Research Hub, which spotlights applied academic and technical research in Web3, providing a venue for sharing knowledge that pushes the field forward.
These events foster community learning, bring visibility to important ideas, and build bridges between theory and practice.
Digital Event Recordings: https://www.youtube.com/@TokenEngineeringCommons/videos
KR1: Host 5 TEC Talks with 50+ attendees and follow-up content that reaches 500+ viewers through recordings, recaps, or derivative media.
KR2: Produce 3 high-quality Research Hub events with 50+ attendees each and follow-up content that reaches 500+ viewers through recordings, recaps, or derivative media.
Virtual Conference (Pilot)
The Virtual Conference is a new initiative that will serve as an experimental format for community coordination and thought leadership. In H2, TEC will run a pilot version of a Virtual Conference focused on one key vertical (e.g., ReFi, DeSci, or Localism). The initiative includes:
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Hosting monthly coordination calls with top leaders from the chosen vertical that will follow a highly organized agenda.
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Each call will facilitate a collaborative engagement process to surface shared challenges, opportunities, and needs from each of the projects and offer pathways to work together to overcome obstacles that allow the verticals to succeed.
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After 6 months, these meetings will lead to a mini-conference that brings these voices together in a public, participatory format. Each member will serve on an opening panel, host their own talks based on their experience within the program, and will have an open offering for potential speakers.
The goal is to model what purposeful, coordinated movement-building in Web3 can look like starting with focused, vertical-specific gatherings. This initiative will also serve as the first test in revenue generation for the TEC through ticket sales.
KR: Pilot one Virtual Conference MVP with 50+ signups, at least 25 attendees and 10 qualitative feedback responses informing future iterations.
TEC Library Development
The TEC Library is a growing knowledge hub of curated resources on token engineering, public goods, coordination, and crypto economics. In H2, we will continue to add to the library, and include content from the community, and organize it for easy discovery and learning. The library supports onboarding, education, and cross-pollination across Web3 verticals.
KR: Add 50 tagged, curated resources to the TEC Library (incl. 5 community-sourced)
2. Grants Program Development
Real-World Impact (RWI) Grant Round
This new round of TEC’s Grants Program centers entirely on real-world impact. The goal is to fund projects that apply token engineering principles to solve real problems through working governance, incentive, or coordination mechanisms. The round will prioritize early-stage projects in the 0-to-1 development (ideation and prototyping stage) that need support to become viable implementations.
This initiative builds on the TEC’s iterative strategy for our Grant Program, and will incorporate a multi-round support infrastructure. The first round will be a 10k QF round that will surface new ideas, and early-stage projects that hold promising potential to create solutions for real-world communities. Grantees who execute on their established milestones, and show substantial growth and interest in their projects after their initial QF funding, will have a chance to participate in a subsequent Retro-Round for a larger pool of funding.
The Grant Program will allow for the TEC to become a hub for early-stage RWI projects that can utilize our network and infrastructure to continue building their vision, and participate in a Grant Program that allows them to mature at a realistic pace and connect them to larger grant programs in the process.
Grant Round Sponsors
The TEC will seek to find consistent and recurring funding for the Grant-Program moving forward by partnering with aligned organizations such as DAOs, Foundations, and Validators to expand the impact of the program, increase capital efficiency, and help position TEC as a trusted steward of meaningful funding initiatives.
KR1: Finalize and publish a detailed RWI Grants Program Framework (open-source & shareable)
KR2: Secure 50%+ of grant funds via external partner or sponsor for the QF Round.
KR3: Develop a Support Infrastructure for Grantees.
3. Sustainability & Infrastructure
Fundraising and Grant Applications
This initiative aims to bring in external funding to support TEC’s operations and community programs. The goal is to secure external grants and sponsorships, ensuring TEC can remain independent, operationally resilient, and strategically aligned. Applications will target aligned public goods funds, ecosystem grants (e.g., Optimism, Arbitrum, Ethereum Foundation), and philanthropic entities.
KR: Raise $50K+ in funds (via grants)
Token Infrastructure Maintenance
TEC is committed to maintaining and improving the technical infrastructure that supports its native $TEC token. The conversation about what direction to take with the current $TEC markets is still ongoing and we will continue to engage token-holders on the best course of action.
KR: Consolidate our current liquidity pairs away from TEC/OP, and TEC/GIV to TEC/ETH on Velodrome.
Token Utility Experimentation
TEC will test at least one new token utility use case with measurable user interaction. The first use case will likely be tied to the Grants Program (e.g., token-gated proposal review or community signal voting). The goal is to prototype meaningful ways for the $TEC token to support governance, reputation, or value alignment beyond speculation.
KR: Test and document one token utility use case with measurable user interaction (Grants Program)
Governance Infrastructure
The TEC finalized its implementation of its Aragon Governance interface during H1. This initiative is a lightweight but essential initiative focused on maintaining the overall health of TEC’s governance systems. It includes regular communication with tokenholders to ensure transparency and continued engagement, as well as routine check-ins and upkeep of our governance infrastructure.
When necessary, minimal updates will be made to proposals, voting tools, or related processes to keep everything running smoothly. The goal is to ensure that TEC’s decision-making remains functional, legitimate, and responsive even during periods of lower activity or participation.
KR: Maintain governance infrastructure (1 check-in, tokenholder communication)
4. Community Development & Visibility
Website Initiative
This initiative seeks to update the Token Engineering Commons website, with a focus on clarity, navigation, and usability. The new site will include:
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A clear “What is TEC?” explainer section
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Live links to resources, opportunities, and documentation
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Better storytelling about TEC’s mission and work
This initiative ensures that TEC is easy to find, understand, and explore for newcomers, collaborators, and tokenholders alike.
KR: Make improvements on TEC website with updated content, explainer section, and live links.
Onboarding Initiative
This initiative is a practical, well-designed resource to help new community members understand how TEC works and how they can get involved. The kit will include:
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Clear pathways to engage
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Key links to active initiatives
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Calls to action for contributors, funders, and partners.
The goal is to remove ambiguity and help people plug into TEC’s work with confidence and clarity as we seek support from both newcomers and mission aligned organizations.
KR: Publish TEC Onboarding Kit with key links and calls to action
Social Media Initiative
The TEC will continue developing a cross-platform social media presence and build on the success we had in H1 with:
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Defined audience segmentation, content types, posting cadence, and tone of voice.
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A semi-automated publishing workflow that reuses content from the newsletter, events, and library to inform different audience segments.
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Metrics to evaluate reach and engagement.
The strategy aims to increase TEC’s visibility and reinforce its position as a trusted voice in the regenerative crypto space.
KR1: Continue developing a sustainable, audience-informed social media strategy — including content types, cadence, voice, and formats to consolidate TEC’s presence across platforms.
KR2: Develop and document a semi-automated content workflow that reuses publishing/newsletter/library/events content for communications (e.g. Notion > scheduling tool)
Financial Request
Amount Requested: ~58.2k DAI
This proposal requests funding to cover the operational needs of the TEC Coordination Team for the period July to December 2025.
The proposed budget supports core operations, including:
- Contributor compensation for full-time and part-time staff members
- Incentives and bounties to recognize contributions tied to performance or key milestones
- Tools and services required for daily coordination work
- Miscellaneous expenses to account for unexpected operational costs
The budget is based on actual expenditures and projections from H1 2025.
| Category | Monthly (DAI) | H2 Total (DAI) |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing (2 FT, 1 PT) | 8,000 = ~390h/work | 48,000 = 2,340h/work |
| Incentives & Bounties | 1,200 | 7,200 |
| Tools | 100 | 600 |
| Misc. | 400 | 2,400 |
| Total | 9,700 | 58,200 |
​​We propose covering this budget through a combination of existing TEC assets and a request to the TEC Common Pool:
1. Multisig-held Funds:
We are requesting access to all the funds currently held in the TECAN, TEC GG and LASERTAG multisigs. Although these funds are in multisig wallets, they belong to the Commons and were largely secured via grants or initiatives that have been sunsetted. As such, we will follow the established governance process, with one difference:
- A TAO vote will serve as a signaling vote to the approval of this request.
- Upon approval, we will coordinate with multisig signers to access the funds and report the process in the forum.
2. OP-Retro-PGF-6 Grant Streaming Funds:
We will also consider the incoming funds earned through the OP-Retro-PGF-6 grant, which is currently being streamed starting this month through October. These funds are being streamed to an EOA controlled by the team, so this proposal would serve to ratify access over those funds
3. TEC Common Pool
We also request that the remainder of the needed funds be sourced from the TEC Common Pool, through the standard TAO proposal process.
- A single TAO vote will be submitted for the proportional amount required from the Common Pool.
- If approved, this same vote will serve as the signal to proceed with multisig and OP grant funds disbursement as well.
This proposal is focused exclusively on covering operational costs for the Coordination Team. Funding for other TEC initiatives—such as the Grants Program—will be submitted as separate proposals as needed.
The following tables provide a detailed breakdown of the funding request by source. Each table outlines the specific request, helping clarify how the overall budget will be gathered across sources.
TECAN Multisig Request
| Token | Chain | Balance (Token) | Balance (USD) | Price | Request in Tokens | Request in USD | Request in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rETH | OP | 3.54 | 11,709.18 | 3,310.39 | 3.54 | 11,709.18 | 100.00% |
| USDGLO | ARB | 405.28 | 405.28 | 1.00 | 405.28 | 405.28 | 100.00% |
| USDGLO | OP | 38.35 | 38.35 | 1.00 | 38.35 | 38.35 | 100.00% |
| USDC | OP | 26.28 | 26.28 | 1.00 | 26.28 | 26.28 | 100.00% |
| ETH | ARB | 0.005 | 14.81 | 2,981.63 | 0.005 | 14.81 | 100.00% |
| All Other | OP/ARB/POL | - | 30.35 | - | ALL | 30.35 | 100.00% |
| Total | 12,224.24 |
TEC GG Multisig Request
| Token | Chain | Balance (Token) | Balance (USD) | Price | Request in Tokens | Request in USD | Request in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDC | ARB | 8,935.94 | 8,934.66 | 1.00 | 8,935.94 | 8,934.66 | 100.00% |
| ARB | ARB | 123.16 | 47.69 | 0.39 | 123.16 | 47.69 | 100.00% |
| ETH | ARB | 0.01 | 40.85 | 2,981.63 | 0.01 | 40.85 | 100.00% |
| USDGLO | ARB | 18.10 | 18.10 | 1.00 | 18.10 | 18.10 | 100.00% |
| Total | 9,041.31 |
LASERTAG Multisig Request
| Token | Chain | Balance (Token) | Balance (USD) | Price | Request in Tokens | Request in USD | Request in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL | OP/POL/GNO | - | 278.04 | - | ALL | 278.04 | 100.00% |
| Total | 278.04 |
OP RPGF6 Funds
| Token | Chain | Balance (Token) | Balance (USD) | Price | Request in Tokens | Request in USD | Request in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP | OP | 15,999.00 | 11,199.30 | 0.70 | 15,999.00 | 11,199.30 | 100.00% |
| Total | 11,199.30 |
Common Pool Request
| Token | Chain | Balance (Token) | Balance (USD) | Price | Request in Tokens | Request in USD | Request in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAI | OP | 154,214.17 | 154,185.95 | 1.00 | 25,461.77 | 25,457.11 | 16.51% |
| TEC | OP | 1,587.03 | 261.22 | 0.16 | 1,587.03 | 261.22 | 100.00% |
| Total | 25,457.11 |
Note on Table Values: The specific token amounts and USD equivalents listed in the tables above reflect current market prices at the time of drafting. As token prices may fluctuate during the proposal review and voting period, the actual values will be adjusted accordingly at the time of execution. However, the total requested amount in USD terms (58,200) will remain unchanged.
Conclusion
The first half of this year was about laying foundations. Now, we’re ready to build on that momentum and take this work to the next level. What we’ve outlined here is more than a plan. It’s a commitment to keep showing up—for the stories that matter, for the builders, and for the communities already proving what’s possible—and for the ones still waiting to see how this technology can make their lives better.
We’d be honored to have your support, in whatever form that takes. Whether through a supportive vote, collaboration, or simply continuing to believe in this work, it all makes a difference.
We’re grateful to be on this path—and excited for what comes next.
Mon, Nate and Bear
TEC Coordination Team
1. Bypasses Collective Governance on Treasury
2. Violates Ostrom’s Collective Choice Principle
3. No Monitoring or Sanction Mechanism
4. Strategic Drift