[1IP-96] 1inch events Grant Proposal 2026

Simple Summary

The 1inch ecosystem has maintained an active presence across the global crypto landscape, supporting conferences, hackathons, university initiatives, and community events that drive developer growth and ecosystem expansion.

This proposal requests DAO funding to support 1inch ecosystem participation in a series of US-based events during 2026, including educational initiatives, conference sponsorships, and curated side events. These activities are designed to strengthen 1inch's presence in the United States and contribute to the growth of the broader DeFi ecosystem.

The selected events focus on community engagement, developer education, institutional connectivity, and ecosystem collaboration. This proposal is submitted by Degensoft Ltd Events Team, an ecosystem service provider, on behalf of the 1inch community to support decentralized ecosystem growth.

List of Events

#	Event	Type
1	Yale	On-campus workshop
2	DeFi Brunch — Ledger N3XT x 1inch Forward	Co-hosted community event
3	Fordham University	On-campus workshop
4	NYU	On-campus workshop
5	Cornell Tech	Sponsorship (booth + workshop)
6	Consensus Miami	Side event
7	ETHConf	Sponsorship + side event
8	Stanford University	Sponsorship (booth + workshop)
9	Stablecon DC	Side event
10	Messari Mainnet NYC	Side event
11	Harvard University	Sponsorship (booth + workshop)
12	Michigan University	Sponsorship (booth + workshop)
13	Crypto Mondays	4 co-hosted community events

Total Grant Value: $546,400 in USDC

This amount includes sponsorship packages, event costs, merchandise, travel, and all required operational expenses.

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Abstract

This proposal requests grant funding from the 1inch DAO to support the ecosystem's participation in a structured set of US-focused ecosystem activities throughout 2026.

The program combines:

• University workshops and educational activations
• Conference sponsorships and side events
• Recurring community meetups

The budget will cover sponsorship packages, side-event organization, travel, merchandise, booth production, and media services. These activities are designed to support developer onboarding, strengthen ecosystem relationships, and expand 1inch's participation within the US DeFi landscape.

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Motivation

Market Presence & Brand Establishment

1inch ecosystem has not maintained a consistent physical presence in the US. This program is designed to re-establish the ecosystem's visibility within the region through a structured series of high-impact touchpoints, strengthening community & brand awareness and positioning within the local DeFi ecosystem.

University Program & Education Initiative

University activations represent a dedicated strategic direction focused on onboarding the next generation of builders. This program builds on the 1inch Education Campaign and Open Letter initiative, supporting the integration of blockchain education into academic environments and strengthening long-term relationships with leading universities.

Community Growth & Brand Awareness

Events enable direct engagement with local communities, builders, and contributors. Through curated formats and recurring activations, 1inch aims to grow a sustainable community presence and increase brand recognition across key US hubs.

Ecosystem Collaboration

All activities are designed to contribute to the broader DeFi ecosystem by fostering connections between developers, protocols, institutions, and communities.

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Specification

Grant Coverage

The Grant will cover:

• Sponsorship & booth fees
• Venue rental for side events
• Travel & accommodation for team members
• Merchandise & giveaways
• Photo/video production
• PR & community outreach

Expenses Summary

These are forecast costs subject to post-event reconciliation. Actual expenditures will be reconciled against forecasts within 30 days of each event. Any unspent funds exceeding 10% of the total grant value will be returned to the DAO treasury.

Total Grant Value: $546,400 in USDC

Funds will be sent to a Degensoft Ltd-managed multisig designated for approved community activities. All transactions will be publicly verifiable on-chain. Disbursement will follow a milestone-based schedule as outlined in the Grant Terms section below.

Receiving address for funds distribution:
0x9eeb2a2946Ee0Ba3553E64918DB10288256BE185

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Rationale

University Program

(Yale, Fordham, NYU, Cornell Tech, Stanford, Harvard, Michigan)

University activations represent a key strategic focus of this proposal. These workshops and sponsorships are designed to educate and onboard the next generation of developers, researchers, and contributors into the DeFi ecosystem.

• For the 1inch ecosystem: Creates a long-term pipeline of builders who understand decentralized infrastructure and can contribute through integrations, research, and product development.
• For 1inch Network: Establishes early relationships with high-potential talent and positions 1inch as a core infrastructure layer within academic environments.

This direction builds on the 1inch Education Campaign and Open Letter initiative, supporting the integration of blockchain education into universities and strengthening the overall ecosystem.

Consensus Miami

Consensus is one of the most important institutional and business-focused events in the US market. By hosting a curated side event in collaboration with leading ecosystem players, 1inch creates a focused environment for high-value interactions.

• For the ecosystem: Facilitates collaboration between protocols, liquidity providers, and institutional participants.
• For 1inch Network: Enables the generation of high-quality contributors, strengthens partnerships, and supports positioning within the institutional DeFi landscape.

ETHConf, New York

ETHConf provides access to a strong builder and business audience in New York. Through sponsorship, booth presence, and a side event, 1inch will actively engage with developers, founders, and partners.

• For the ecosystem: Supports integration opportunities and collaboration between projects.
• For 1inch Network: Enables direct business development, establishes new connections, and strengthens its presence within one of the most important crypto hubs in the US.

Stablecon DC

Stablecon brings together policymakers, regulators, and infrastructure providers focused on stablecoins and digital asset payments. By hosting a side event, 1inch creates a space for targeted discussions.

• For the ecosystem: Contributes to dialogue around regulation, risk management, and adoption of DeFi infrastructure.
• For 1inch Network: Provides access to institutional stakeholders and supports positioning within policy-relevant conversations.

Messari Mainnet NYC

Messari Mainnet is a high-level industry event with strong representation from funds, protocols, and infrastructure providers. A curated side event allows for focused engagement.

• For the ecosystem: Supports collaboration and alignment between key market participants.
• For 1inch Network: Enables partnership development, protocol pipeline growth, and strengthens relationships with leading players.

Crypto Mondays (4 events)

Crypto Mondays provide recurring, city-level community engagement across the US.

• For the ecosystem: Supports grassroots growth, continuous interaction, and community cohesion beyond large conferences.
• For 1inch Network: Ensures ongoing visibility, strengthens local presence, and enables continuous engagement with builders and contributors.

Summary: Overall, this program is designed to deliver both immediate and long-term value by combining protocol use development, community growth, and education — strengthening both the 1inch ecosystem and its position within the US market.

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Considerations

Management & Execution

Managed by Degensoft Ltd in collaboration with Events, DevRel, Communications, and Business Development contributors. All event operations and reporting will be documented and made available to the DAO.

KPIs Tracked

1. Total event attendees
2. Developer sign-ups / workshop participants
3. Qualified protocol development leads
4. Media impressions / reach

Following the completion of the program, the Degensoft Ltd. Events Team will provide a comprehensive report to the DAO covering all funded activities. The report will include:

• Participation metrics
• Business development outcomes
• Developer engagement data
• Community feedback
• Full financial reconciliation of actual vs. forecast costs

Media coverage and content output will also be documented to ensure transparency and inform future proposals. All photo and video content produced under this grant will be made available to the 1inch community under a perpetual, royalty-free license.

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Grant Terms

Grant Recipient: Degensoft Ltd, an ecosystem service provider contributing to 1inch protocol development and community operations. Degensoft Ltd will serve as the operational lead and accountable party for all activities funded under this grant.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Degensoft Ltd serves as the primary development and operations entity for the 1inch protocol. This relationship is disclosed to ensure full transparency. The DAO previously funded event activities through 1inch Labs under the legacy development structure. Degensoft Ltd has since assumed this role as the designated ecosystem service provider. This proposal is submitted in good faith to advance the interests of the 1inch community and the broader DeFi ecosystem.

Refund & Clawback: If any event listed in this proposal is cancelled or materially reduced in scope, Degensoft Ltd will return the corresponding allocated funds to the DAO treasury within 60 days. Any aggregate unspent funds exceeding 10% of the total grant value will be returned following the final reconciliation report.

Content Ownership: All photo, video, and media content produced under this grant will be made available to the 1inch community under a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license. The DAO and any community member may use this content for ecosystem promotion and educational purposes.

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