The following reflects the views of GMX’s Governance Committee, and is based on the combined research, evaluation, consensus, and ideation of various committee members.
1. Execution Logic & Organizational Design
1/ Nine out of ten protocols created by aspiring builders fail to gain long-term traction, amidst the huge ups and downs of blockchains’ hype cycles. Users make projects successful, ultimately. And where the users are, good builders will follow.
- Gabriel’s proposal stands out by presenting a highly usable execution framework: scoped mandates tied to verticals, with clear ownership and accountability. This level of definition provides clarity for GMX and the broader ecosystem, making it easier to assess progress over time. His model strikes a balance between operational rigor and accountability, offering incentives that ensure all key actors have skin in the game.
- Entropy introduces significant structure and operational efficiency, aligning closely with the recent Arbitrum vision of centralized control via AAEs. It does lean a bit heavily toward centralization and would benefit from stronger DAO-side oversight, transparency, and reversibility to maintain balance.
- SEEDGov emphasizes modular, vendor-led delivery through workstreams, echoing models seen in DAOs like Optimism and ENS. While valuable, it currently lacks sufficient structure and scope definition for sustainable execution.
- Max raises an important point about better aligning with the Arbitrum Foundation and OCL, ensuring a streamlined connection between execution bodies and governance.
GMX lens: We value systems that empower high-agency contributors while maintaining strong oversight and optionality. Gabriel offers the strongest execution model, while Max’s emphasis on alignment with the Arbitrum Foundation ensures critical operational cohesion. SEED Gov complements this framework through its modular, vendor-led workstream delivery system, enhanced by Entropy’s DAO structure and operational efficiency.
- Domain Prioritization & Strategic Reach
- Gabriel, Tnorm, and Entropy emphasize DeFi and RWA — deep liquidity, capital efficiency, and composability — reinforcing Arbitrum’s core strengths while pushing into yield-generating vaults and RWAs for diversification.
- Max Lomu and 404 DAO take a builder-centric approach, focusing on application-layer funding, developer experience, and onboarding, which is crucial for sustained ecosystem growth.
GMX lens: Proposals that balance deepening DeFi/RWA expertise with strong builder-facing support align closely with GMX’s roadmap and the broader Arbitrum ecosystem’s priorities.
- Ecosystem Enablement & Growth Pathways
- Max and 404 DAO propose detailed strategies for developer onboarding, mentorship, hackathons, and bootcamps, providing a complete dev funnel. Some aspects overlap with existing DAO programs (e.g., Stylus grants), but the comprehensive builder growth model is valuable.
- Gabriel focuses more on user acquisition and onboarding, which complements Max’s builder-first architecture. Tnorm highlights strengthening Arbitrum’s economic base through liquidity, yield, and leverage products, attracting builders and new use cases (e.g., gaming, DePIN, Orbit chains).
GMX lens: A healthy ecosystem requires robust developer pipelines alongside deep liquidity. Together, these elements fuel the flywheel effect that drives sustained growth, user adoption, distribution, and acquisition.
- Infrastructure Vision & Modularity Strategy
- Dragonawr is vocal about Orbit, tying it to DePIN and positioning modularity as a core differentiator. However, this focus is somewhat narrow and less aligned with GMX’s current priorities.
- Entropy frames Orbit as a modular, sovereign infrastructure layer, offering a versatile vision that aligns more closely with broader governance and composability goals.
Max’s proposal ensures ample liquidity and tooling for solver operations in the Chain Abstraction Program, while facilitating smooth onboarding to Arbitrum and Orbit chains.
GMX lens: We view Orbit as a long-term infrastructure opportunity. Proposals that frame it as a versatile, composable platform — rather than a niche vertical — are most valuable in preserving optionality for integration and growth.
- Ecosystem Identity
- Max and 404 DAO articulate a clear vision for Arbitrum as the premier destination for builders, emphasizing a strong onboarding-to-retention funnel. Gabriel adds depth by framing this around institutional-grade execution through vertical mandates, reinforcing Arbitrum’s identity as both a builder-centric and operationally mature ecosystem.
GMX lens: A strong identity centered on builders is critical for long-term differentiation. The narrative of ‘Arbitrum as the home of builders’ aligns well with GMX’s thesis and enhances our ecosystem’s market positioning, but it requires a matching distribution channel to succeed.
By combining Gabriel’s execution strength, Entropy’s operational capabilities, Max’s builder-first funnel, and Tnorm’s liquidity foundation, we believe this forms the most resilient and growth-oriented framework for Arbitrum DAO. One that is measurable, mission-aligned, and interoperable.