GTC Utility and Empowerment in 2025

🧙 🧙‍♀️ Ideas and Open Discussion
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2024 was a transformative year for Gitcoin. Together, we accomplished:

  • $10M+ GMV
  • Nearly $1M in revenue
  • A transition into service models, product spinouts (Hello, Passport!), and embracing a multi-mechanism future for our grants program.

The passion and commitment of our community and contributors drove these successes. Momentum is everything in web3 - time to push harder.

As we kick off 2025, we’re picking back up a crucial piece of the convo that we know is already happening, has happened and hasn’t been delivered on - GTC must evolve beyond governance to deliver real value across our ecosystem.

GTC isn’t a speculative asset. It’s a token designed to empower communities, amplify impact, and create sustainable funding for public goods. Just as we look to the community to be missionaries, not mercenaries, we must build meaningful utility for our token.

The Role of GTC: Evolving Beyond Governance

GTC launched as a governance token to empower the Gitcoin community to decide how funding is allocated for public goods. This foundational role remains critical. But we’re ready to take it further.

Our vision for GTC centers on three core functions:

  • Empowers Trust: Enables holders to signal legitimacy and amplify impactful projects, creating a web of trust that strengthens our entire ecosystem.
  • Incentivizes Participation: Rewards contributions that align with Gitcoin’s mission and values driving our mission forward.
  • Sustains Impact: Creates regenerative systems where value flows back into funding public goods.

We’ve spent too long discussing GTC utility without enough action. It’s time for the token to work as hard as our community.

Building GTC Utility That Matters

While GTC has been useful in our governance framework, we are actively working towards expanding its utility to provide value to our community alongside the work with our partners in ways that MAKE.SENSE.

These initiatives are being explored (more below), and we are excited to share more details soon. In the interim, we encourage our community to propose battle-tested mechanisms that our product team and organization can implement. You’ll find many exciting discussions already happening on our forum - dive in and explore previous suggestions below.

We encourage you to reach out for more details as we flesh out our research. Our goal is to make GTC not just a governance tool but also a valuable asset that supports various aspects of our ecosystem.

We are focused on mechanisms that align with our mission to fund impactful projects while fostering trust and sustainability. Here’s how we considering building utility - starting w/ product and then expanding back into our first principles approach at ramping up our community and governance:

  • Trust-Weighted Curation that allow holders to signal legitimacy for impactful projects, amplifying their visibility and funding potential.
  • Dynamic Incentivization by tying rewards to measurable contributions, GTC will incentivize meaningful participation across our ecosystem wherever we can.
  • Regenerative Feedback Loops by creating systems where good work → more visibility → more funding → even more good work, reinforcing the value of public goods.
  • Revenue Routing by exploring systems to align incentives and ensure sustainable funding for Gitcoin’s mission including but not limited to buyback and other routes like the treasury diversification(s)

We’re exploring and evaluating mechanisms that represent our commitment to fostering trust, participation, and innovation within Gitcoin.

Grants Lab: Leading the Charge in Gitcoin’s Q1

Over the past few years, we’ve launched multiple initiatives to enhance GTC utility. While many faced adoption challenges, each attempt taught us valuable lessons about what our ecosystem needs.

Recognizing the need for a more structured and impactful approach, Grants Lab is stepping forward in Q1 to spearhead some GTC utility experiments. Building upon previous learnings, the Grants Lab team is working on validation of practical solutions that effectively integrate GTC utility into our products and services. This initiative reflects our commitment to transitioning from theoretical discussions to actionable implementations, ensuring that GTC serves as a valuable asset within the Gitcoin ecosystem.

Some of the previously discussed initiatives highlighted below and you can find more in the references:

  • Curation Tools: Enable GTC holders to elevate impactful projects during rounds.
  • Staking Models: Pilot GTC staking to enhance Sybil resistance and incentivize trustworthiness.
  • Dynamic Reward Mechanisms: Reward contributors who demonstrate long-term alignment with Gitcoin’s values.

Let’s Git to Werk

2025 is our opportunity to make GTC more than a governance token. Together, we’ll evolve its utility to power a stronger, more sustainable future for public goods.

ICYMI Gitcoin remains dedicated to empowering communities to build and fund what matters. GTC is the token that binds us together, evolving from a governance token to an incredible future. These enhancements are designed to ensure financial sustainability, foster community engagement, and amplify the impact of public goods. :black_heart:

References (search GTC or Utility on the forum for more!)

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It’s really great to see Gitcoin actively working to increase the utility of the GTC token. I am excited to see what the community will propose and know that, together, the Gitcoin community will implement mechanisms that are positive sum.

Looking forward to seeing these initiatives develop and drive further value for the Gitcoin ecosystem!

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Venice token utility is staking for api access x.com

i wonder if something like this (staking GTC for api access or to use gitcoin official frontends) could be a way to add utility for gtc.

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here are 69 trends in 2025 era dao design.
here are the last GTC token utility ideas that were discussed.

hopefully this helps you on this journey Grants Lab leads! @meglister @katalunia @gnomadic @jehanav !

Screenshot 2025-01-28 at 3.27.54 PM
Screenshot 2025-01-28 at 3.27.54 PM1920Ă—956 86.6 KB

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How about an experimental Tunable QF Round where matching amounts are tuned based on Community GTC Staking score from the identity staking stamp in Passport? The more unique stakes you receive from the community, the stronger is your voice in the allocations. That way, holders who may not want to donate in every QF still have the option of staking for a trustworthy donor to amplify their contributions.

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This has taken a long time coming.In essence $GTC cannot keeping going the way it has been. Might be high time to change the narrative from purely governance and amplify it 100x. While it is a non speculative asset, but the fact remains that there are 100K + wallets that hold GTC and a lot of them hold it from an investment perspective. Do they deserve utility with their tokens? What do we give them back for the faith they have reposed on us? One of the recent threads about Regenerating GTC is an eye opener (unable to post link here) never realized how GTC has sunk from $22.37 to $0.50 now. That is shocking especially for those faithful who still hold this token! Do we pump the token- NO. Do we create an environment for it to get back to previous ATH- BIG YES

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This has taken a long time coming.In essence $GTC cannot keeping going the way it has been.

I agree that while the token utility trendline has not been promising.

On the plus side,

  1. Gitcoin accomplished prettymuch everything it set out to do with the DAO launch in 2021,
  2. the network actually ended in 2025 in a pretty strong place with 30% YoY Growth in GMV [stats].

Do we create an environment for it to get back to previous ATH- BIG YES

what does this environment look like in your opinion? what would have to be true to create this environment?

Do they deserve utility with their tokens? What do we give them back for the faith they have reposed on us?

Do you have any suggestions for what type of additional utility to build into GTC? Who do you think should be responsible for upgrading the network software to provide such utility? Would love to see a proposal! Heres how to submit one.

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Yes one segment ie the grantees have definitely benefited on a large scale (magic of QF). But it is only befitting that all stakeholders including investors who trusted us the most are also onboard our journey.Personally I am not clued up with tokenomics however I have asked some friends in the industry for suggestions which I will share here once received. I’ve read in one of the previous posts that if we get all projects we collaborate with- example - SEI,POLYGON etc to contribute in some way it could help have an exponential impact. Alternatively might help getting them buyback $GTC tokens for a burn so supply could be reduced.Btw what is the current supply even? Different sources ( Coinmarketcap, Coingecko etc) have varied numbers.

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’ve read in one of the previous posts that if we get all projects we collaborate with- example - SEI,POLYGON etc to contribute in some way it could help have an exponential impact.

i agree that we work with some great projects that have large treasuries… ideally as their usage footprint of gitcoin grows, so too does the GTC utility created.

100m GTC total (see max supply here). governance can increase the supply by 2% per year, but has never exercised that option.

of the 100m GTC total, 14m is unspent and sits in the DAO treasury here.

i’m not sure why coinmarketcap/coingecko dont automatically update with this info :person_shrugging:

this might be one option for what to do with the current stablecoins + revenue (over $1m in revenue in 2024). i would welcome a proposal to buyback and burn $GTC. if anyone wants to draft one, please feel free.

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Thanks Kevin- this is what I envisage but I am constrained by my lack of knowledge of writing up a detailed proposal. Any volunteers here who could assist-Help Help? Basically a burn with the revenue + stable coin stash and additionally an ongoing buyback/burn mechanism. $GTC definitely needs to have more traction. The healthier our fiscal outlook faster will be our traction. For the massive opportunities that Gitcoin offers, GTC ideally needs to be a top 50 token ATLEAST (emphasis on utility here), people dont take much notice of a project that is beyond 100-200 in rankings .I am an outsider here who loves and believes in the project, wants it to reach a MUCH bigger audience- glad my voice is being heard rather than being dismissed! I want Gitcoin to be a $50 Billion entity! Bigger the bourse, more the number of projects that can be funded, more impact and rapid development of Web3. We only live only life so need to see it to fruition sooner than later

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I forgot to add that most people tend to not delve upon- Gitcoin and $GTC’s future are INTERTWINED and will always be…

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let me know what knowledge you need! i can probably answer your questions…

it sounds like grants lab is going to own GTC utility… so possible some of those team members will step in and comment on a “buyback and burn” mechanic!

Gitcoin and $GTC’s future are INTERTWINED and will always be…

this is definitely true!

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The knowledge I meant is about putting forth a detailed proposal. Not my cup of tea unfortunately :disappointed: . Sincerely hope the Grant lab can come up with some innovative solutions to change the trajectory for $GTC.No project offers utility and society impact that Gitcoin does, we need to shout this out from the top of a mountain.LOVE to see funding into the billions one day.

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+1 to @owocki here - And enjoying the energy in these discussions as we chart our path forward for GTC’s evolution.

@Recce , I appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute.

However, given you’ve joined just 2 days ago—and judging by your stats, haven’t yet had the chance to dive deep into our work—I encourage you to read up on the evolution of Gitcoin and the utility of GTC.

Remember, this isn’t a casino token; GTC was created for governance, and now we’re evolving it into something even more impactful. Our conversations are built on years of cumulative insight, thoughtful research, and deep engagement with our community’s work. The discussions around GTC’s utility stem from sustained efforts and lessons learned from initiatives that didn’t gain traction, and now we’re focused on solving for that, as outlined in our recent posts and referenced threads.

For our community: Impactful dialogue comes from understanding the full context.

Before offering feedback or alternative ideas, I urge you to fully immerse yourself in our previous discussions—especially as we move beyond theoretical talk into actionable steps for sustainable impact. Our strength lies in our informed, collaborative approach to evolving our token utility.

I invite you @Recce —and anyone new to the conversation—to review the rich archive of our discussions. Once you’ve had the opportunity to catch up, I’m confident that your contributions will be more meaningful and aligned with our mission. Contribute, please, but do so with substance rather than speculation.

Thank you all for your continued commitment to making Gitcoin a leader in powering public goods. Let’s keep building, learning, and growing together.

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Sure I joined 2 days ago, but what if I told you I have been following every single post here since inception? Does that make me an outsider- I don’t think so.I have been reading proposal after proposal about $GTC for years with nothing tangible on the ground.Sometimes it takes someone outside of the silo to walk in when things are going in circles.I know $GTC is not a casino token but then we need to walk the talk with utility. It has to be one or the other. Thanks @deltajuliet for your response - your initiatives are lovely!I am only offering my 2 cents,sorry if my suggestions come across as anything I don’t intend. At the end we are all on the same page and end goal.

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@Recce, thanks for sharing your perspective. If you’re truly invested in Gitcoin and $GTC’s progress, I encourage you to move beyond commentary and explore the work we’ve been doing further. Our token was designed for governance—and real utility (now)—is a vision advanced through failure, iteration, and hands-on effort. While identifying challenges is important, true transformation comes from proposing actionable solutions and stepping up to help implement them.

I’d love for you to join our governance discussions and contribute directly to shaping our future. We need community leaders who consistently show up, share informed ideas, and turn insight into tangible progress. We’re working together to drive real change for $GTC. Thank you for your feedback. :black_heart:

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there is layers and layers of history here in gov.gitcoin.co! it is admittedly a lot to sift through your first time here… feel free to use ai augmented tools like Karma’s recent release SumUp if you want to get summaries of lots of history.

I wonder what structure Grants Lab will land on for GTC utility and how they will bring the community along for the ride!

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Of course GTC is not a casino token, it is a token generated with a purpose and gitcoin is a great project considering the all things that it provided to crypto environment so far. However you made some mistakes for sure with $GTC.

While you are paying all the expenses with $GTC, you said $GTC has no economic value in the blog post ?? What a needless sentence.

While every month or so someone mentioned the bad status of $GTC, you never acted on time. This happened for almost three years. You are still wasting time. A guy following the discussions for a long time telling you the reality, you guys still focusing on stats of him. To see the future of $GTC, we don’t need to be owocki. I don’t even need to understand gitcoin to warn you. It is very obvious, treasury shrinked to a few millions which is a big red flag for the future of GITCOIN not $GTC only.

Sorry but you don’t seem to care about token very much. Even if you release a new token to pump treasury, considering your performance with $GTC, you definitely have no luck. Another attempt to live for another bear.

You can wait for $GTC to get its value by itself for sure, because it is really good project, it might happen in a few years if you have fuel in treasury :slight_smile: But you should have known better than us, a tokens success is in the hands of project team, or whales if they get the majority of your supply :slight_smile: you definitely have failed so far because you are extremely slow at taking actions for $GTC, while superfast deciding on meeting expenses.

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Good to see a discussion on this subject - better late than never.While I am an avid supporter plus investor in Gitcoin / $GTC I am here to offer my perspective.Bear in mind not everybody is in a situation to actively contribute to the development of the project itself. @deltajuliet Let me open up about my situation. I am from humble origins and fell in love Gitcoin which at that time seemed to be the only ALTRUISTIC crypto initiative.With my household savings i invested roughly $20,000 to purchase 1000 $GTC (my one and only crypto to this day) in the hope that my funds would directly or indirectly impact many lives.Obviously I had a smaller selfish motive(like all of you here) to make some profit. In the years all I have seen is that numerous projects funded by Gitcoin have done incredibly well financially for investors. $GTC has been brutal, my $20,000 is today worth $380( am I moonboi to be in this forum?) VB, @owocki are some of the biggest names in this space but somewhere something has gone wrong.Praying I get my investment back even if I don’t make any profit.I still love and believe in Gitcoin and in extension $GTC

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It is true that $GTC originally launched in May 2021 as a governance token with no economic value.

It is also true that as the DAO evolved over time in the next years, in tandem with the market, that the community did begin to attribute utility/value to it.

To see the full picture, you need to understand this chronology of events.

But you should have known better than us, a tokens success is in the hands of project team, or whales if they get the majority of your supply

What i want to react to here is your sense of expectation that OTHERS should be doing more. Where does it come from? Were you promised something that wasnt delivered? Or is it just an expectation, but not an agreement?

From expectations vs agreements:

  • Expectations are often unspoken, while agreements are usually explicit. When we have expectations, we don’t always communicate them to the other person and are often what we think someone should do or be. This can lead to misunderstandings and disappointment. Agreements, on the other hand, are made explicit. This means that both parties know what is expected of them and can hold each other accountable.
  • Expectations can be unrealistic, often based on our hopes and dreams and set too high. While agreements are more realistic - based on what is possible and achievable and on what both parties are willing to do (boundaries anyone?!)
  • When we have expectations, they can be one-sided and we often focus on what we want from the other person. This can lead to resentment and anger. Agreements, on the other hand, are usually mutual. This means that both parties are making promises and commitments to each other.

We need to turn more of these expectations into agreements…

To do that, we need more gov proposals that create agreements about resources, their uses, and how that impacts GTC.

I agree that Gitcoin has been in a wayward path for the last couple years, but I am always trying to be constructive and actionable in how I push feedback. Just take a look at these stats or these stats here.

You’re right you dont have to be owocki to evolve GTC forward. But you can do 1/100th and still have a positive impact. The energy we need is constructive , informed, and actionable. Feel free to read through the wealth of public information about what the network could be doing and… If you have anything constructive to add, especially proposals for experiments, feel free to suggest it, or action it yourself.

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