What will it take for Web3 regenerative finance (ReFi) projects to be recognised as legitimate contributors in the fight against climate change and social inequality?
Legitimacy is a common desire in the Web3 space. It's why we crave mainstream media attention and other sources of validation, like venture capital funding. Anything to demonstrate to the outside world that the work we do is moving the needle.
Nowhere is this more true than in the ReFi space. Here we are attempting to tackle two ongoing global catastrophes - climate change and social inequality - in relative isolation. We've created a vibrant echo chamber, made collaboration the norm, and have impeccable vibes, but oh how we struggle to convince others of our worth.
Are we too busy making impact to care? Possibly, but that shouldn't stop us from wanting a seat at the bigger tables. If we really want to move the needle, this is how it starts.
So what will it take? Stories of real-world impact? A new narrative? Independent project evaluation? Massive scale? A pivot to memecoins?
It's the question we should ask every time we speak to people outside our world.
Latest from CARBON Copy
Trilemmas are everywhere.
In ReFi, the one we're most interested in is the project funding trilemma:
Access. Amount. No Commercialisation.
It isn't possible to have all three. Two, with the exception of grants, is even difficult at this point.
In this piece, our editor discusses the funding options available to ReFi projects and looks at what needs to be done to help sustain and grow impact across the space while ensuring founders can earn a living wage.
The ReFi Funding Trilemma
Choosing between ease of access, size of amount, and need for commercialisation.
News
Climate Coordination Network announces results of GG21 Climate Solutions round on Arbitrum
Gitcoin enables feature that lets projects accept direct donations
Optimism opens applications for Retro Funding Round 5
Open Forest Protocol lists Italian carbon project Riserva Martignanello Carbon Farm
Mercy Corps Ventures launches pilot to test stablecoin transfers of humanitarian aid during conflict
Unergy joins Glo Consortium, accepts Glo Dollars for uWatt token
Kumo introduces Loan Modeler to help carbon projects get debt financing insights
ReFi Tulum announces Fierce Feminine of ReFi NFT collection on Celo, to launch September 3rd
Knowledge
Science.org publishes study on the impact of climate policies on emissions reductions
erable° explores the transformation of impact investing with blockchain
GreenPill Network talks retroactive funding and minimal anti-collusion infrastructure (MACI)
Climate Collective speaks with Diana Mastracci of Space4Innovation about how modern technology backed by traditional wisdom allows for inclusive and sustainable land management
McKinsey & Company ask where we are really at with the energy transition
Kevin Owocki introduces the concept of AlloNets for manifesting collective action on-chain
Crypto Altruism talks scaling Ethereum layers 2s and the Superchain as a positive sum game with Tobias from growthepie.xyz
Biota Nexus releases its whitepaper describing a blueprint for biodiversity credits
Ecofrontiers looks at how institutions structure their networks
Web3 Magic podcast interviews Jimi Cohen of Treegens
dClimate publishes its bi-weekly newsletter on climate finance in the voluntary carbon market
Opportunities
LottoPGF opens early adopters waitlist for projects looking to raise funds for a public good, community, or cause
VC Lemniscap raises US$70 million for third fund targeting early-stage Web3 projects
Karma GAP posts its Weekly Grant Roundup on X
Impact Stat of the Week
4,142.04 tCO2
The carbon emissions saved this year as a result of the green energy generated by Arkreen's decentralised solar infrastructure network. Arkreen incentivises voluntary carbon offsetting by allowing solar panel owners to sell their energy generation data to users.
Want to learn more?
Visit us at https://carboncopy.news to get more news, analysis, and data from the Web3 regenerative finance (ReFi) space.
