Unlock DAO Weekly Newsletter | January 14, 2025

As we kick off the new year, our recent DAO call was packed with exciting updates and developments that are shaping the future of Unlock Protocol. Let's dive into the key highlights that are propelling our community forward.

The buzz is building for ETH Denver, and Unlock DAO is ready to make a splash! We're in full planning mode, strategizing how to maximize our presence at this cornerstone event of the Web3 calendar. Our focus is on creating meaningful connections, showcasing our latest innovations, and amplifying the Unlock Protocol message to the wider blockchain community. We're exploring various engagement opportunities, from potential panel discussions to interactive demos of our protocol in action. The team is also considering the logistics of a shared accommodation for DAO members attending the event, fostering a spirit of collaboration and community among our representatives.

A round of applause for Ceci Sakura, who has been appointed as our inaugural steward for marketing and communications! This milestone appointment marks a significant step in professionalizing our outreach efforts. Ceci brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to the role, and we're excited to see how she'll elevate Unlock's presence in the Web3 space. To introduce Ceci to the wider community, we're planning an introductory post and a livestream event. This will be an excellent opportunity for community members to get to know Ceci, understand her vision for Unlock's marketing strategy, and learn how they can contribute to our growing communications efforts.

In our quest to amplify Unlock's message, we've been engaging with various marketing agencies to explore potential collaborations. These conversations have been enlightening, offering insights into different approaches to blockchain marketing and community engagement. While we're still in the exploratory phase, these discussions are helping us refine our marketing objectives and understand how external expertise could complement our in-house efforts. We're carefully weighing the pros and cons of each potential partnership, ensuring that any collaboration aligns with Unlock's values and long-term vision.

Hackathons have been a crucial part of our community engagement strategy, and we've been analyzing the data from our past events to optimize our approach. The stats reveal encouraging trends for smaller sponsorships rather than bigger ones when it comes to developer engagement. Building on these insights, we're considering future hackathon applications more carefully.

As we enter a new quarter, we've been hard at work on our Q1/2025 budget proposal thanks to Finances & Resources Steward David-Moderator. This comprehensive plan outlines our financial strategy for the coming months, allocating resources to key areas that will drive Unlock's growth and development. The proposal emphasizes investments in different key areas of Unlock DAO. Join the discussion thread in the dedicated working group before the final proposal is posted on the Unlock Protocol DAO Snapshot.

The success of our initial collaboration with GAMMA has paved the way for a second round of incentives thanks to pi0neerpat. This program aims to boost liquidity and engagement within the Unlock ecosystem, rewarding liquidity providers and fostering a more vibrant, liquid market for our UP token. Please vote on the proposal on the Unlock DAO Tally onchain voting platform. We're excited about the potential of this continued partnership to drive the adoption and usage of Unlock Protocol.

A new proposal has been put forward regarding the implementation of an upfront fee for Ape Bonds. This initiative aims to build out protocol-owned liquidity through a bond sale. The proposal outlines the rationale behind the fee structure, its potential impact on users, and how it aligns with our broader financial strategy. We encourage all community members to review the proposal, share their thoughts, and participate in the vote on Snapshot.

Our listing team, led by David-Moderator, Manuel Elias, and Wonderwomancode, has moved forward with its first successes in expanding Unlock's presence across various platforms. Their efforts are crucial in increasing the visibility and accessibility of our protocol to a wider audience. The team is working on a multi-faceted approach, targeting both centralized and decentralized exchanges, as well as exploring partnerships with key players in the DeFi space. These initiatives are expected to enhance visibility, increase adoption, and strengthen Unlock's position in the broader blockchain ecosystem.

In line with our ongoing efforts to optimize our token economics, we're in the process of moving the remaining mainnet liquidity. This strategic move is designed to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall liquidity management. The migration is being conducted in phases to ensure minimal disruption to our ecosystem. We'll be providing regular updates on the progress and any actions required from token holders or liquidity providers.

As we expand our community engagement efforts, the launch of an Unlock DAO merch store is on the horizon. However, with this exciting development comes the need to address tax liability considerations. We're currently exploring various options to ensure compliance with relevant tax regulations while keeping the process as streamlined as possible for our community. Thank you to Yonks for suggesting viable resources to get this done quickly and easily! Thank you, Steven Sinatra and Captainsouthpaw, for actively contributing to the merch store product catalog.

As always, the strength of Unlock DAO lies in the active participation of our community. We encourage everyone to engage with these initiatives, share your thoughts, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of Unlock Protocol.

Stay Unlocked!
Your Lead Steward
Stella

Important links

• Check out Unlock Protocol for yourself: https://unlock-protocol.com/

• Join us for our recurring and unique events: https://app.unlock-protocol.com/events/unlock-dao-events-2025

• Vote for Unlock DAO Proposals offchain: https://snapshot.box/#/s:unlock-dao.eth

• Vote for Unlock DAO Proposals onchain: https://www.tally.xyz/gov/unlock-protocol

• Join the Unlock DAO Collaborative space on Charmverse: https://app.charmverse.io/join?domain=unlock-dao