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Over the past year, RetroPGF has been a real game-changer, giving builders the recognition (and funding!) they deserve for their contributions.
Now that we’re in 2025, it’s exciting to see this momentum continue. RetroPGF programs are still going strong, with several ecosystems kicking off new funding rounds. If you’re a builder or part of a project, this could be the perfect opportunity to get rewarded for the value you’ve created.
In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the latest retro grant programs across Avalanche, Optimism, Gitcoin, Metis and Celo ecosystems and explore how you can get involved. Let’s dive in! 🚀
Avalanche has launched the first round of Retro9000, coinciding with the Avalanche9000 (Etna) upgrade on the Testnet. The funding focuses on teams building Avalanche Layer 1 (L1) chains and tools. Retroactive funding will be awarded after mainnet deployment, with testnet performance influencing the amount of funding allocated.
Eligibility Criteria:
Layer 1 Blockchain: Projects developing new L1 solutions that leverage Avalanche’s enhanced capabilities, particularly those that focus on composability and interoperability.
Developer Tooling: Building and improving tools that help developers deploy and manage Avalanche-based Layer 1 blockchains.
Key Dates:
The round is open for the duration of the Avalanche 9000 incentivized Testnet (since Nov 25th) and may remain open longer.
Optimism is enhancing its Retroactive Public Goods Funding (RPGF) program to support impactful contributions to the Superchain in 2025. A total of 16M OP tokens will be distributed through retro grants in two phases: H1 and H2 of 2025.
Eligibility Criteria:
Dev Tooling: Rewarding tools that enhance on-chain development and interoperability across the Superchain.
On-chain Builders: Projects that contribute to the growth of the Superchain economy and facilitate cross-chain asset transfers within OP Chains.
Key Dates:
H1 2025: Launch of Dev Tooling and On-chain Builder programs.
H2 2025: Continuation of the programs and introduction of the OP Stack program for Ethereum Core Development.
Learn More: Retro Funding 2025 Blog OP Grants Docs
Gitcoin remains dedicated to supporting open-source software and community-driven initiatives through retroactive funding. The focus for 2025 includes empowering builders, innovating funding models such as Quadratic Funding, and scaling decentralization.
Key Dates:
The retro funding rounds for GG23 and GG25 will take place in March and October, respectively. Exact dates are TBA.
Learn More: Gitcoin Grants 2025
The Celo Citizen Retro is a key retroactive funding program designed to reward individuals contributing to the Celo ecosystem as it prepares for the launch of CEL2 in January 2025. The program will distribute 250,000 CELO in two phases. The inscription phase for the Celo Citizen Retro program has now closed. For those who applied, results will be announced soon. Stay tuned for updates!
Eligibility Criteria:
Research & Development: Open-source tools, research, on-chain solutions, and technical contributions that further Celo’s mission of building a regenerative digital economy.
Governance: Active participation in governance, including forum discussions and on-chain votes.
Community & Adoption: Efforts to promote Celo’s growth through education, marketing, community building, and onboarding initiatives.
Key Dates:
Registration: Dec 19, 2024, 18:00 UTC
Review & Approval: Jan 14, 2025, 18:00 UTC
Voting: Jan 14, 2025, 18:00 UTC
Tallying: Jan 20, 2025, 18:00 UTC
Distribution: Jan 21, 2025, 18:00 UTC
Learn More: Celo Citizen Retro
The Metis Community is introducing its Retroactive Grant Program, aimed at rewarding projects based on verifiable metrics of their contributions to the Metis ecosystem. A pilot allocation of $100,000 in Metis tokens is available for distribution. The inscriptions for this grant are now closed. In case your project participated, we’ve tracked the upcoming important dates and info for this grant to help you stay informed.
Eligibility Criteria:
On-chain Projects: Projects operating directly on the Metis Layer 2 network, improving user or developer experience via smart contracts, DeFi protocols, infrastructure, or dApps.
Off-chain Support Services: Tools, documentation, or resources that boost developer activity or user engagement on Metis L2.
Verifiable Impact: Submission of data on transaction volume, Daily Active Users (DAU), Total Value Locked (TVL), and other reputable metrics.
Community Endorsement: Projects can be nominated by the Metis community or apply directly, with proof of their impact.
Key Dates:
Dec 23 - Jan 10: Registration phase; applications accepted until Jan 10, 23:59 UTC.
Jan 11 - Jan 15: Review phase; verification of metrics and eligibility.
Jan 15 - Jan 24: Community voting and project evaluation.
Jan 25 - Jan 30: Announcement of funded projects and distribution of funds.
Learn More: Metis Retroactive Grant
As we kick off 2025, the retroactive grant initiatives across various ecosystems are offering an unparalleled opportunity for developers, projects, and communities to receive recognition and financial support for their previous efforts. Whether you're building on Metis, Celo, Avalanche, Optimism, or Gitcoin, these programs are designed to reward impactful contributions and stimulate further innovation.
Getting involved in these programs can be a stepping stone to expanding your network, gaining visibility, and securing resources for your next big project. Take action, register, and contribute—2025 is the year of retro rewards, and it’s time for your hard work to shine!
