Web3 was built on the promise of decentralization, fairness, and transparency. But for many builders — especially early-stage founders relying on grants — that promise has fallen apart.

My name is Orrin, and I’m the founder of QSTN — a Web3 survey marketplace built to reimagine how we collect and reward data in a decentralized internet.

Some may know me from a viral Dr. Phil moment where I was dubbed “The Cyborg from the Future.” That clip exploded to over 25 million views — but I didn’t want to be a meme. I launched a YouTube show, interviewed Neil deGrasse Tyson and Sophia the Robot, and in a conversation with Neil, the idea for QSTN was born.

As a first-time founder from an underrepresented background, traditional VC hasn’t always been accessible. In 2023, we raised a small pre-seed from Outlier Ventures, but beyond that, grants have been our lifeline.

They helped us:

• Launch on mainnet in October
• Win two blockchain hackathons
• Onboard 2,800+ users and 75+ businesses
• Secure over $450,000 in grant support

But that support came with another reality: vague terms, unclear expectations, delays, and zero on-chain transparency.

🧵 Real Stories, Real Damage: A Pattern Across Ecosystems

Over the past few years, my team and I have worked directly with multiple protocols across the Web3 space. We’ve shipped product, built integrations, delivered grants — and in every case, we entered with good faith, clear intent, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to each ecosystem.

What we encountered instead was a pattern: disconnected expectations, inconsistent communication, and a lack of follow-through.

Here’s what that looked like in practice:

• SKALE: We began the relationship with optimism. The messaging emphasized partnership and support — so we committed engineering time, design resources, and development bandwidth. But what we received in value didn’t match what the experience had implied. We ended up investing more than we recouped — ultimately in the red after delivering the grant.
• Open Campus: We completed a structured accelerator program and looked forward to a grant process that matched the professionalism of the experience. Instead, we encountered a disconnect between how the opportunity was presented and how it ultimately unfolded.
  • While we appreciated the chance to participate, the grant process itself lacked the clarity and alignment we had hoped for. Our contributions felt undervalued, and the overall experience left us disheartened.
  • It’s especially disappointing to feel that way about a program positioned around education, empowerment, and supporting builders.
• TON: The experience was different — but equally difficult. A reviewer we’d previously declined in another context was later assigned to our grant. From that point forward, communication grew strained. Despite completing the work and fully delivering the grant, the process felt more personal than professional — defined by delays and unclear feedback.
• Biconomy: We began on solid footing. Our grant was approved, and planning began. But after our primary contact left, priorities shifted. We were asked to integrate new products, and only afterward were new performance expectations introduced — none of which had been agreed upon originally.

These stories aren’t rare — they’re just rarely told.

⚠️ The Hidden Costs of Web3 Grants

Other founders have faced similar issues:

• Grants worth less than expected due to token volatility
• Shifting deliverables and expectations post-signing
• Delayed or completely ghosted payments
• No on-chain visibility to verify or track anything

These aren’t just funding issues — they’re trust issues. They push out early builders, underrepresented founders, and anyone who can’t afford to gamble their runway on opaque systems.

🧾 What We’re Demanding

We’re asking all major Web3 grant programs — including L1s, DAOs, and foundations — to adopt these four standards:

• Clear Token Value
  • All token-based grants must state their estimated USD or stablecoin value at signing.
• Payment Timelines
  • Grant agreements must commit to defined payout windows after milestone completion.
• Locked-In Deliverables
  • Terms should not be subject to change after approval.
• On-Chain Proof
  • Wherever possible, grant terms and payments should be visible on-chain to prevent abuse.

🚨 Why This Matters

We’re building the decentralized future — but builders can’t do that if the funding mechanisms are centralized, inconsistent, and opaque. This petition isn’t just about one founder or one protocol. It’s about setting a standard that protects all of us.

We’re calling on leaders across Web3 — from Gitcoin, Stand With Crypto, and the Blockchain Association, to Coin Center, the DeFi Education Fund, and DAO funding councils — to support fair, transparent, and timely grant infrastructure.

If you’ve ever built in Web3, or if you care about the integrity of this space — sign the petition. Help us push for a future where founders can trust the systems they’re building on.