What are the XRPL Grants Terms & Conditions?
Terms and Conditions for XRPL Grant can be viewed here. Grantees are expected to adhere to the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct, and to support making the XRPL community welcoming and harassment-free.
From the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct:
“Examples of behavior that contributes to creating a positive environment include:
- Using welcoming and inclusive language
- Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
- Gracefully accepting constructive criticism
- Focusing on what is best for the community
- Showing empathy towards other community members
Examples of behavior that does not contribute to creating a positive environment include:
- Using sexualized language or imagery and unwelcome sexual attention or advances
- Trolling, insulting/derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
- Public or private harassment
- Publishing others’ private information, such as a physical or electronic address, without explicit permission
- Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting”
What judges are looking for?
When reviewing applications, judges are taking a detailed and holistic look at the project and application. Here are some examples of what the judging committee is looking for when reviewing applications.
- Code review - the code in the project’s repo is sufficient, clear, and original. The team has clearly spent a decent amount of time building so far. There is a README that provides a clear explanation of their technical design.
- Project goals and timelines - are these clear and thought out, or is this murky?
- Use case/applicability - Is there a clear use case here? Does it make sense to build this project on the XRPL?
- Team expertise - are there expert developers on the core team that can confidently execute the project?
- Sustainability - does the team have a plan for how this project will be maintained long-term?
- Legal and regulatory concerns - are there any potential legal or regulatory risks for this project?
Disclaimer: the XRPL Grants program reserves the right to decline any project. Reports of harassment, doxing, etc that target members or Judges of the program will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Who can apply for a Grant?
Employees at Ripple are not eligible to apply for the XRPL Grants Program.
Why build on the XRP Ledger?
The XRP Ledger has powered over 2.6 billion transactions, facilitating transactions worth over $1 trillion, a testament to its reliability and scalability.
This is your chance to tap into ample XRP liquidity of 4.5M+ XRP wallets and become a part of an exciting network that includes 1000+ apps.
What personal information do I need to provide?
You will be required to share full legal names and bios of all team members, as well as a copy of a government-issued ID (front and back). If considered for a finalist interview, we will complete additional compliance, legal, and sanctions screenings.
Do I have to receive a grant in order to build on the XRP Ledger?
What is the application period?
The next application will open in Spring 2024.
To get notified when applications open for the next wave, click to subscribe to our latest updates.
What information will I need to provide on the application?
To apply you must use the official application form during a designated application wave. On the application form you will need to provide:
- A public GitHub repository and README with a proof-of-concept or prototype (more information below)
- Video demo of your prototype
- A detailed description of your project
- Project roadmap and Key milestones (view template here)
- A plan for licensing your work
- An explanation of how your project will benefit the XRPL community
Click here for a PDF preview of the full application.
Does the Github repository need to be public?
Yes, we require that your submitted Github repo is public and accessible, in order to make the review process smooth and as fast as possible.
What is the range of award amounts?
Awards range between $10,000 and $200,000 per project.
Awards of $100,000 and greater are typically for developers who have already successfully completed a comparable project.
How should I determine what size of an award to apply for?
The award amount you request should be determined by the scope of work that you wish to complete using your grant. Your application must contain milestones/scope of work and a budget breakdown detailing how you intend to spend any awarded funds. Your budget should include estimates for conversion rates and taxes.
Can I apply for a follow-on grant?
While the opportunity for additional funding from either the Grants program or other Ripple funding programs is a possibility, it is not a guarantee. Part of the application process is sharing your plan for project sustainability, i.e. how will you support the project past funding from the XRPL Grants program.
The Grants program will not fund a single project more than twice.
Are there restrictions on what I can apply awarded funds toward?
We are looking to support technical project development and related expenses. Projects requesting funding for general infrastructure (including validators) and overhead may not be funded. Your budget may include salaries, legal fees, external audits, etc.. You are responsible for figuring out tax rates and any estimated conversion and including them in your budget estimations. (See below FAQ for additional information on Tax Implications.)
Can I submit an Application in a language other than English?
At this time, all applications must be submitted in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
Can I apply with more than one project?
No. We will only consider a single project per organization/team/project lead. We recommend putting effort into submitting your strongest proposal, instead of submitting multiple proposals.
What types of projects will be considered for funding?
All projects must add value to the XRPL ecosystem and involve a technical component. The XRPL Grants program considers applications for innovative use cases that solve real-world problems utilizing blockchain technology. However, even if your project use case is not explicitly listed below, it may still be considered for funding. Examples of the types of projects that may be funded, include, but are not limited to:
Tokenization
- Regulatory Compliant Real World Assets (RWA)
- Proof of Existence (e.g. Certificates, Degrees, Legal Ownership)
Infrastructure & Security
- Decentralized Compliance & Security
Interoperability
- Cross-chain messaging
- Implementation of blockchain interoperability protocol/technology with another blockchain
Data API
- Data Visualization Tools
Developer Tooling/Usability
- Client Libraries/SDKs
Financial Use Cases
- Financial Equity / Inclusion
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi) - Lending & Borrowing, DEX/AMM interfaces and integrations
- Payments
- Digital Remittances
- Merchant Integration
- Insurance
Sustainability/Social Impact
- Regenerative Finance (ReFi)
How mature does a project need to be in order to apply for funding?
All projects must have a prototype or proof-of-concept that we can review on GitHub. The minimum is at least a few days of work (e.g. a proof of concept created over the course of a weekend or during a hackathon). We will not fund projects that are just an idea or do not show sufficient initial work. Additionally, the reviewers are looking for overall effort, not just base code.
What are the tax implications of receiving funding?
Often this money is treated as taxable income, but recipients are responsible for determining the tax implications of receiving an award based on their respective countries’ tax laws and compliance requirements. You should factor in and include the estimated taxes in your submitted budget document.
Do I have to have a company in order to receive funding?
No. We will fund individuals and small teams, as well as companies. See above question regarding tax implications. If a team is awarded, funds are paid to one individual (the project lead) and the project lead will be responsible for disbursing and managing the funds for the project.
Do I need to have prior experience building on XRP Ledger to apply for funding?
Previous XRPL experience is not required, but highly encouraged. In order to receive funding judges will be evaluating your genuine interest, understanding of the XRPL and technical ability to execute the project by your core team. If you are new to blockchain and the XRPL we recommend you take the free courses on the Learning Platform and/or review the documentation at XRPL.org.
How do I start building on XRPL?
I don’t know if XRPL Grants is the right program for me.
How can I learn more?
If you have any other questions, please contact us at info@xrplgrants.org.