Firstly, thanks to @Entropy for raising this as a dedicated post, and for @JoJo’s comments.
This topic warrants a large and open discussion.
As active participants in governance, we’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of coordinating multiple programs and working groups without a shared vision and clear objectives. This lack of alignment stifles the effectiveness of all initiatives, potentially even leading to overlapping or redundant efforts.
For this reason, we are strongly in favour of aligning together on a long-term vision for the Arbitrum DAO, which can serve as a starting point for all future initiatives, to boost their effectiveness, and impact, and reduce wasteful spending of funds and efforts.
This would also help expand synergies across ecosystem actors, with a positive impact on collaboration and cross-pollination of initiatives, leading to second-order benefits to the whole ecosystem.
We have been looking at and discussing this internally for quite some time.
Initially, we critically analysed the Vision, Mission, and Goals provided. Whilst it makes a strong effort to describe a multi-faceted endpoint:
- The vision is a complex phrase made up of technical and corporate wording;
- It only partially serves as a guideline, but not a North Star that each DAO stakeholder should live by;
- It needs to be translated into a tangible strategy to move forward;
- And it lacks an exploration of relationships with Web2 and consumer-facing organizations and applications.
So, we thought we’d give it a crack ourselves, answering some key questions along the way to get us there.
In Castle’s Opinion…
We must collectively discuss and understand what Arbitrum is, what its goals are, and what its key pillars of contribution should be.
To a regular market participant, Arbitrum is hard to define, like the surface of water—appearing still, but with hidden currents beneath, constantly shifting and reflecting something different.
Many have seen this fluid, ever-changing nature as a curse, and in some ways, it hinders us now. But this dynamic and ethereal quality is also the very reason why we’re here, why Arbitrum thrives. It’s fluid and adaptable because of the vast array of currents in the ecosystem, many of which were lovingly and carefully crafted by a diverse and evolving community years ago. These currents, ideas, and contributions merge into something that cannot be easily replicated.
Another Layer 2 platform may launch with similar or greater technical features and short-term incentives, but this unique, flowing ecosystem, built over time by the hands of so many, cannot simply be cloned. It’s the collective, evolutionary process—the invisible threads of effort, innovation, and creativity—that make Arbitrum more than the sum of its parts. This is what makes it special.
What is Arbitrum?
What is Arbitrum’s North Star?
What are the Key Pillars of Contribution?
What should the ecosystem and its numerous contributors (the DAO and its programs, the Foundation, and development teams) be working towards?
The Bigger Picture
The bigger picture of Arbitrum’s evolution is rooted in its ongoing efforts to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that is adaptable, scalable, and driven by community collaboration. Arbitrum’s journey has unfolded in distinct phases, each of which plays a crucial role in shaping its future, all aligned with its North Star and core pillars of contribution.
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Technology Stack: In the early stages, Arbitrum’s foundation was laid through innovative technology deployments like Arbitrum Nitro and more recently Stylus and Orbit Chains. These tools allowed developers to build scalable, efficient decentralized applications (dApps), enabling the Application Layer to thrive. This phase established Arbitrum as a technical leader, setting the groundwork for future growth.
- North Star: Build a Network of Orbit Chains
- Key Pillar of Contribution: Proliferating Arbitrum’s Technology
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Applications: As the tech matured, the Application Layer became home to DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and gaming dApps. This phase represents the initial impact of Arbitrum’s technology on the broader ecosystem, driving innovation and usage.
- North Star: Attract Crypto’s Most Popular Applications and Businesses
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Ecosystem: Currently, the ecosystem is at the heart of Arbitrum’s focus. Builders, DAOs, and the community are collaborating to ensure a vibrant and connected ecosystem that aligns with Ethereum values. This phase is about deepening the integration of different projects and participants, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas and development can flourish.
- North Star: Foster a Thriving Developer Community
- Key Pillar of Contribution: Expanding and Connecting the Ecosystem
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Sustainable Revenue Model: Looking ahead, Arbitrum is striving to establish a sustainable revenue model through transaction fees, licensing, and ecosystem growth. This revenue will be critical to ensuring the platform’s long-term stability and success.
- Key Pillar of Contribution: Building a Sustainable Tokenomics and Revenue Model
In this interconnected system, each component of Arbitrum’s ecosystem depends on the others, creating a continuous cycle of growth.
Ultimately, Arbitrum’s North Star guides the ecosystem toward becoming the leading platform for scalable applications, supported by a community-driven environment, innovative technology, and a sustainable revenue model. This vision is anchored by its pillars of contribution, which focus on expanding the ecosystem, proliferating technology, and building long-term financial sustainability.
In this interconnected system, each component of Arbitrum’s ecosystem depends on the others, creating a continuous cycle of growth.
Closing Remarks
We hope these remarks serve as a starting point for a more pragmatic conversation aimed at defining Arbitrum’s north star and long-term vision. By aligning on a clear path forward, we can work together to translate these discussions into strategic initiatives and programs that shape the future of Arbitrum’s ecosystem.
This collaborative effort will ensure that the entire community—builders, DAO members, and contributors—can coalesce around a unified direction, fostering innovation and growth that benefit everyone involved.