Background

Since last year, Unlock Protocol DAO has been in conversations with ICHI Finance and ApeBond to launch a campaign together to get the $UP token into more hands. As you might know, the $UP tokens' primary purpose is governance and therefore the medium of control over changes to the actual protocol technology (not the website, but how the technology you can access through the website works). Now that the campaign with ApeBond is live, we want to take a moment to explain not just what’s happening, but why it matters and why your involvement is important in this journey.

Why Are We Doing This?

Unlock Protocol was created with a simple but powerful idea: users should own and govern the technology they use and be in control of their own data. Our $UP token is a tool for this, giving people a real say in how the protocol grows and changes. But for this to work, $UP must be in the hands of many, not just a few.

That’s where ApeBond comes in. By working with them, we hope to make it easier for more people to become part of Unlock’s story and to have a say in where we go next.

What Is ApeBond?

ApeBond is a platform that helps projects like ours share tokens with new communities fairly and transparently. Instead of quick sales or hype, ApeBond uses a “bonding” process: people can exchange stablecoins or other assets for $UP, which is released gradually over time. This approach is designed to encourage long-term participation, not just speculation. Additionally, the token is offered at a discounted price, making it more accessible to a broader diversity of people.

Please review the documentation for more insights here so that you can do your own research, which is what we always encourage you to do.

Why Does Open, Peer-Governed Tech Matter?

It’s easy to take for granted that distant companies control the apps we use every day. But what if things were different? Imagine if Facebook, for example, had been run by its users from the start. How might our online lives look today? Instead of a self-serving technology giant, we would have a genuine technology we could truly rely on!

Open source, peer-governed projects like Unlock Protocol offer a different path:

• Transparency: Anyone can see how things work and suggest improvements through our governance process on the Discord Forum and our onchain voting platform via Tally.

• Collective Ownership: Decisions are made together by everyone who holds the $UP Token, not handed down from above.

• Resilience: When many people care and contribute, the project is stronger. Diverse leadership makes us stronger, more resilient, and financially more successful.

We believe this matters, not just for us, but for anyone who wants technology to serve people, not the other way around.

Why Should You Care?

If you’re already part of the Unlock DAO, this is a chance to welcome new voices and perspectives. If you’re new to all of this, maybe it’s an opportunity to get involved in shaping a piece of technology that could be foundational for the web’s future and your own project/ community (using it for your events, memberships, or token-gated content).

Not everyone is familiar with DAOs, tokens, or open source. That’s okay. What matters most is curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a desire to help build something better together. If you have questions, please join us for tomorrow's X Space or at any point in the Unlock Protocol Discord server.

Join the Conversation

This partnership is just one step. The real story is the community we build and the decisions we make together. If you’re interested, we invite you to join us, ask questions, and share your ideas in tomorrow's X Space with the ApeBond team. Unlock Protocol is open, and so is the invitation.

ApeBond

@ApeBond

Bonding with Partners #38 is coming!

Innovation, user ownership, and new ways to engage onchain — all packed into one episode with @ithacaprotocol, @functionland & @UnlockProtocol

May 7th, 16:00 UTC
Set your reminder! apebond.click/BwP-38

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1:04 PM • May 5, 2025