The Decentralized Voices initiative, spearheaded by the Web3 Foundation, celebrates a year of fostering
community-led governance within the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems. Launched in February 2024, the program has
strategically delegated DOT and KSM tokens to empower community members. Building on the enhancements made in
Cohort 3, applications are now being accepted for Decentralized Voices Cohort 4.
The application window for Cohort 4 opens on
February 26, 2025, and closes on
March 5, 2025 at 23:59 CET. Successful applicants will commence their four-month term
in early April. Cohort 4 will maintain the refined structure implemented in Cohort 3, as outlined below.
A Nod to Cohort 3
The Web3 Foundation extends sincere appreciation to all participants of Cohort 3 for their commitment and valuable
contributions in shaping the future direction of Polkadot and Kusama.
As of February 24, 2025, Cohort 3 delegates have participated in 171 Referenda votes, launched numerous
advocacy campaigns, and engaged in vital discussions on platforms such as Attempts At Governance.
For a detailed overview of delegate voting patterns and their impact on Referenda outcomes, refer to
Colorful Notion’s Dune Decentralized Voices dashboard.
How Decentralized Voices Functions
The Web3 Foundation will delegate its DOT and KSM holdings to individuals who consistently demonstrate principled
involvement in Polkadot and Kusama governance. This engagement includes on-chain voting and off-chain discussions.
Delegations cover all Spender tracks (32, 33, 34), Tipper tracks (30, 31), the Treasurer track (11), and the
Wish-for-Change track (2). Candidates must publish a comprehensive governance manifesto, outlining their
decision-making process and providing evidence of ongoing participation in the ecosystem’s governance activities.
Delegates are expected to maintain regular voting habits and transparently explain their choices on platforms such
as Polkassembly, Subsquare, or other communication channels (e.g., Grillapp, X/Twitter, Polkadot Forum). Abstaining
from voting is required on proposals involving direct compensation to the delegate or their team, competitive
interests, or quid pro quo arrangements.
In cases involving collective voting groups, members with conflicts of interest must recuse
themselves. Full group recusal is unnecessary unless a majority of members or the group itself has a conflict.
Delegates may continue promoting and discussing Referenda from which they’ve recused themselves.
Delegates must self-identify conflicts of interest, though guidance from W3F via Matrix channels is available.
Final decisions rest with the Foundation. Violations will lead to warnings, mandatory vote adjustments, or, in
severe/repeated cases, immediate delegation revocation and compensation forfeiture. Delegates must report any
unethical attempts to influence their votes directly to W3F.
Community feedback is encouraged via dv@web3.foundation or through forum comments. However, W3F retains final
discretion over delegate selection.
Delegations may be withdrawn at any time to ensure governance integrity. Participants receiving external
compensation for specific votes will be immediately removed at W3F’s discretion. Current delegates can reapply
for future cohorts or seek independent ecosystem delegations, provided they adhere to program standards.
Building on Cohort 3’s improvements, Cohort 4 continues to unify DOT and KSM delegation under a single
governance framework, highlighting the intertwined future of Polkadot and Kusama. The program maintains its
structure of six delegates (adjustable by W3F) to prioritize quality participation,
four-month terms for sustained strategic impact, and 3,500 DOT compensation (vesting linearly over one year) for
proactive OpenGov engagement. Delegates from previous cohorts are encouraged to reapply, with continued delegation
dependent on performance.
Compensation Details
In exchange for their contributions using delegated DOT, each delegate will receive 3500 DOT upon completion of
the four-month delegation period. These DOT tokens will vest linearly over one year from the date of transfer.
This compensation applies per delegation; therefore, delegations to collective entities such as DAOs will be
treated as a single delegation.
Identity Verification Requirements
All delegates must complete identity verification before being formally accepted into the program. While not
required during the application phase, awareness of this requirement is essential. In the case of DAOs or other
collective groups, a designated representative member can undergo identity verification and receive the DOT
allocation.
Qualities of a Strong Decentralized Voices Candidate
A compelling Decentralized Voices candidate will have a proven track record of consistent engagement within the
Polkadot ecosystem. This includes active on-chain voting, thoughtful discussions on platforms such as
Polkassembly and Subsquare, and participation in governance-focused initiatives like Attempts at Governance and
community forums.
The ideal delegate possesses in-depth technical and strategic knowledge of Polkadot’s governance mechanisms.
Specifically, this includes Treasury management, referendum processes, and multisig/proxy operations. A firm
understanding of conflict-of-interest disclosures is paramount, along with the ability to adapt to evolving OpenGov
updates, while balancing technical precision with community impact.
Independent and critical thinking is essential. Candidates must navigate complex trade-offs and polarized debates
with maturity, resisting external pressures while remaining receptive to diverse viewpoints. Delegates should
demonstrate a history of synthesizing varied perspectives into ecosystem-aligned decisions, especially in
high-stakes situations involving treasury allocations or protocol upgrades.
Structured collectives (e.g., DAOs, working groups) exhibiting transparent governance practices are given priority.
Their collaborative frameworks inherently amplify diverse community voices and minimize centralized influence.
These entities must showcase established internal systems for delegating responsibilities, documenting decision
rationales, and ensuring operational continuity throughout Cohort 4’s four-month term.
Above all, Decentralized Voices candidates must unconditionally prioritize the long-term health of Polkadot, even
when ecosystem interests conflict with personal or organizational incentives. While community input informs
decisions, delegates are entrusted to act as stewards of the network’s decentralized future.
Application Instructions
To apply for the Decentralized Voices program, you must
complete the application form no later than 23:59:59 on March 5,
2025 (Central European Time). Ensure you provide the following information to be considered for the program:
-
Provide the Polkadot and Kusama addresses to which you wish to receive DOT and KSM delegations. These addresses
can be different for each network and do not have to share a public key. At least one of the accounts should
have verified identity information such as a Twitter handle, Matrix username, or email address. While not
mandatory, applicants should consider being reachable on Matrix for discussions during the program. -
Submit a publicly accessible statement outlining your Polkadot “political philosophy” or agenda. Ideally, this
should be posted on the Polkadot Forum, but it can also be hosted on platforms like Github or your personal
website, as long as it remains publicly accessible. This declaration should be at least one paragraph long and
include philosophical statements, analogies to political theories, opinions on past Referenda/governance
decisions, or any other explanation of how you intend to vote. -
Optionally, provide a private explanation as to why you believe you are a strong candidate for the program. This
might include evidence of previous voting activity (including votes cast with other accounts if ownership can be
verified), commentary or blog posts about Polkadot OpenGov or specific Referenda, or any other contributions
that highlight your engagement with governance. Additionally, you can share relevant experience such as
involvement in other political organizations or legislative bodies. -
Note that all applicants must submit a new application for each cohort. Applying in previous cohorts does not
automatically carry over your interest for future participation. However, if you have previously submitted a
political philosophy statement or other supporting materials, you are welcome to reuse them in your current
application. -
By completing these steps, your application will be considered for this important initiative aimed at shaping the
future of Polkadot governance.