Applicant Information
- Name of Applicant & Applicant’s Representative (If applicable): Gabriel Cortes (elCriptomex), representing a team comprised of myself and a support analyst, Diego Tenorio.
- Telegram Handle (if applicable): @elCriptomex
- Twitter/X Handle (if applicable): @0x_cripto @delarg0
- LinkedIn Profile (if applicable): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-c-286a89aa?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- The role being applied for:
- New Protocols and Ideas
Background & Skills
I’m a BA in Economics and a CFA Charterholder. My background is in investing in traditional finance. I started my career at a consulting firm and later transitioned to real estate investing at Morgan Stanley Capital Investment. After that, I have been managing private funds and currently hold an advisory position at a family office. I have gathered significant experience over more than 10 years evaluating competent teams, investment opportunities, and new ideas.
I’ve been involved in the crypto market for over nine years, starting with my first investments in 2016. Throughout this time, I’ve developed deep expertise in research and decentralized finance (DeFi), an area where I believe Arbitrum has excelled and should continue to concentrate.
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I’ve collaborated with JAN3 to launch and grow AQUA Wallet, a Bitcoin-native wallet.
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I co-host a crypto podcast in Spanish called Criptoalfa.
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Im cofunder and head of strategy at @eth_mty.
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I’m part of a collective that runs DVT nodes called Rancho Stake and have been a solo staker since the launch of Proof of Stake (PoS).
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I’m an active delegate in ARB and ZKSync.
Analyst experience:
Diego Tenorio has a strong foundation in research, leveraging data and insights to lead growth-focused projects in LATAM’s web3 ecosystem. Notably, he has spearheaded initiatives with dydx, Mantle, Bitso, Binance and more, driving user engagement and educational outreach through strategic campaigns tailored to the region. Diego also channels his research expertise into Espacio Cripto, a media company where he is the lead in strategy and operations, and his personal YouTube channel, creating educational content grounded in deep investment research in crypto. His ability to analyze market trends and distill complex blockchain concepts into actionable strategies and accessible content has been key to fostering innovation and adoption in LATAM’s web3 landscape.
Domain Related Experience and Vision
I’ve allocated capital to a wide range of ideas, companies, and founders, giving me a broad understanding of how crypto and finance intersect. Over the past 8–9 years, I’ve developed a keen sense of how new ideas can evolve. For instance, being an early investor in $LEND (now AAVE) before the entire DeFi ecosystem emerged may seem obvious in hindsight, but it wasn’t in 2017. These are the kinds of forward-thinking opportunities we should focus on in this space. Also, one of the most crucial skills needed is evaluating teams and founders, as this is a defining factor in whether a new idea will successfully be executed or get stuck.
My vision for the domain is clear: to help grow ideas that attract users and make them stay. Any chain that wants to remain relevant in the coming years will do so because of actual use, not due to VC funding, good marketing, ultra-fast TPS, airdrops, or even the best technology. This will be my focus. Additionally, I believe Arbitrum should start to narrow its focus, as certain narratives, like memes or NFTs, are already becoming difficult to compete in. However, it’s important to remain open to bold, new ideas in any direction.
These are some of the key areas in my vision (but not limited to this).
- DeFi x Account Abstraction Applications
The next wave of users will come where the user interface is more friendly and easy to use. Arbitrum should focus on the best applications that allow users to access all DeFi products in a simple manner. This means offering the ability to trade perpetuals on-chain as seamlessly as on a CEX, using swaps without requiring wallet approval for spending, utilizing on-chain options as if on Deribit, and depositing and borrowing from vaults without all the associated hurdles. Bridging, holding, and sending funds between users should happen without needing to understand if the transaction is on-chain. As more user-friendly DeFi products are built on Arbitrum, they will attract more liquidity, creating a positive flywheel effect of TVL, lower spreads, etc. - RWA (Real World Assets)
Real-world asset integration will foster the next level of liquidity needed for Arbitrum. Ideas that incorporate real estate, private debt, and public debt (e.g., T-bills) in an accessible way will be crucial to maintaining Arbitrum’s TVL leadership. - Prediction and Betting Markets
Prediction and betting markets continue to attract users worldwide, with betting at historic highs globally. Prediction markets have also proven their staying power. Innovative ideas in this area will help Arbitrum expand its use cases that have continuous engagement beyond simply parking assets, as seen in DeFi. The openness of on-chain prediction markets allows them to tap into diverse markets with local granularity. - AI
New AI ideas can enhance on-chain efficiency and user experience. If Arbitrum can integrate not just the ease of creating agents but also innovative ways to use these agents in DeFi, security, governance, and interoperability, we can build a chain that drives the future of blockchain autonomous use. - DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)
This narrative has yet to fully explode, although we are seeing sparks on different chains. Attracting the right builders who can connect real-world infrastructure to blockchain will unlock explosive use cases that could grow to significant scale, potentially even to Orbit creation levels of growth.
As a domain allocator, I will always remain open to all types of new ideas, while also being decisive in closing the gates where necessary or where there is a lack of true vision.
Grant related Experience
While I do not have direct grant allocation experience, I have gathered years of experience making sound decisions based on promising teams, revolutionary projects, and synergies. I place great importance on how well a founder can explain and execute their idea, how efficiently they can operate, and what success looks like to them. I believe that while many people have ideas, only a few founders can truly make them happen.
Some key areas we focus on during due diligence include:
- Leadership
Who is the team? What relevant work have they done in the past? Does the team have the skills required to execute? Why you? - Product
Does this align with Arbitrum? Can it drive adoption? Is the idea clear and innovative? Is it scalable and sustainable without relying solely on grants or fresh money? - KPIs/Goals
What are the detailed milestones? What does success look like at each milestone? What does overall success look like at this stage? What is the timeline for achieving each milestone? - Challenges
Who are your competitors? How will you attract users? What unique challenges do you face? - Budget
Can you provide a breakdown of how the funds will be used? How will you use them efficiently? Do you have a clear growth path for the next steps?
The main dealbreakers for a grant are lack of team leadership, lack of skills, or vague milestones; an idea that is not innovative or sustainable without grants; expectations that are too large or too small for the current stage; absence of KPIs, and failure to align with Arbitrum’s code of conduct and expectations.
Declaration of Conflict of Interest
I do not work for or receive any type of compensation from any organization that competes with, is associated with, or affiliated to Arbitrum or any web3 company. I participate in DIP. I invest in private founding rounds. I am a delegate for other protocols or chains. I participate actively in various local web3 communities, none of which entails a conflict of interest.