While unfortunately I don’t think it’s appropriate to publicly pre-empt grantees’ requests, ZCG has discussed estimates on this matter. Based on my projections, from now until November 2025, I believe we might receive requests totalling over $3.3m USD from existing recipients alone. This would cover either a continuation of their work or additional integration efforts needed to bring their projects to fruition (e.g., wallet/tool/app integration). It’s important to note that ZCG doesn’t intend, and likely won’t, fund all of these $3.3m in proposals - this figure represents potential requests, not guaranteed funding.
In the interest of transparency, I want to emphasize that as a ZCG member, I will advocate for funding a significant portion of these potential requests from existing recipients, provided they align with our current expectations and goals. However, it’s crucial to note that all proposals will continue to undergo our rigorous evaluation process to ensure responsible allocation of resources.
While there are some obvious grants the community may wish to see funding continue in 2025 it might help to also reflect on the list of grants approved in the last financial year:
Including dev fund allocation until November 2024, and without additional funding, ZCG is expected to have just over 120k ZEC in reserves that could be used between now and November 2025. Given ZCG’s current reserves and the volatility of the ZEC price, this budget for 2025 will likely be constrained without additional funding. This may necessitate rejecting more grants than we would have otherwise, potentially hindering ZCG’s ability to attract and fund new contributors to the Zcash project.
Moreover, it’s crucial to consider the broader ecosystem. ECC and ZF will not receive funding under either of the current proposals. While they have reserves, there’s a possibility that they may need to limit expenditure or reduce the scope of their work due to funding constraints. Historically, ZCG has been ready and eager to step in and fill any gaps left by such moves. We remain committed to maximising our impact, but without sufficient funding, our ability to execute on this commitment may be limited.
ZCG is also exploring paths to independence with the help of FPF. This initiative will require allocating resources to ensure ZCG becomes more independent, which we believe is crucial for contributing to a new funding model. Continued funding for ZCG will facilitate this transition by ensuring we have the necessary resources to cover associated costs while maintaining our ability to fund grants.
I encourage voters to reflect not just on survey results, but to focus on the tangible outcomes and the grants ZCG has funded. Consider whether you want to see this work continue and expand. Without adequate funding, we may find ourselves in the regrettable position of having to reject more grants and potentially discourage new recipients if Zcash isn’t able to fund or support their proposals.
While none of us can predict the future with certainty, there’s a growing possibility that even with ZCG’s current ZEC reserves, without additional funding we may have to make difficult decisions about which projects to fund. By ensuring ZCG is funded, we can maintain our readiness to fill potential gaps in the ecosystem, support ongoing projects, and welcome new contributors to the Zcash community throughout the next 18 months.