Skip to main content
Skip to main content
Polkadot logo

Polkadot, Kusama and Gitcoin: Building the Future

Polkadot and Kusama are onboarding to the Gitcoin platform, strengthening the foundations of the Web 3.0 ecosystem and expanding the opportunities for developers to earn from open source projects.

By PolkadotJune 16, 2020

Polkadot and Kusama are onboarding to the Gitcoin platform, strengthening the foundations of the Web 3.0 ecosystem and expanding the opportunities for developers to earn from open source projects.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for us with the launch of the genesis block of the Polkadot blockchain network. This is a landmark step towards our mission to contribute to Web 3.0, a fair, secure, and resilient internet that inherently protects user interests.

As part of this mission, we are excited to join up with Gitcoin in our shared goal of growing the open-source ecosystem, creating more opportunities for the wider community to cocreate a better system for all.

The Gitcoin Community

Gitcoin is a thriving platform built on the Ethereum blockchain that provides paid opportunities for developers to find their “tribe” and contribute to interesting and meaningful open source projects.

The platform has been running since 2017, supporting the community using a combination of bounties (usually small projects), hackathons, and grants.

These are announced, allocated, and paid through the platform using smart contracts, avoiding the need for an intermediary.

In addition to supporting all ERC20 tokens, we are thrilled that Gitcoin is now integrating Polkadot and Kusama tokens (DOT and KSM) into its tech stack, making us one of the first full integrations outside of the Ethereum ecosystem.

Building together

Our first joint venture with Gitcoin is the 'Build Polkadot' Bounty Challenge, running to June 11th, with a total of 6K DAI to be won for supporting the Polkadot ecosystem.

Over the coming year, Web3 Foundation is funding a series of Polkadot-related hackathons on Gitcoin. Polkadot is a multi-chain network, with sharded chains (parachains), interoperability (transfer of data, assets, or tokens across blockchains) and bridges to external blockchains, so the potential projects promise to be interesting and challenging. Keep an eye on the Web 3 Foundation page https://gitcoin.co/web3foundation/active for notifications and Gitcoin’s Hackathon page to register when ready.

The Future of Work

The crypto space is ideally positioned to be on the cutting edge of the future of work, creating ways for developers to work independently on projects that excite them. Our collaboration with Gitcoin builds on our existing general and open grants programs and our commitment to fund the development and advancement of decentralized open-source projects.

Together we enter in the spirit of the win-win cooperation mentality of the blockchain community in general, with everyone working towards the common goal of building open source projects to create a better, safer internet for all.

Become part of the Polkadot community

Things change rapidly in the Polkadot universe. We have provided lots of ways for members of the wider community to keep up to date with what’s going on. Join us on your preferred medium as we head into exciting times.

Join the discussion on Telegram and Riot, or subscribe to Polkadot's newsletter. Learn more about Polkadot in the Polkadot Lightpaper and the Polkadot Wiki. Want to join the core growth team behind Polkadot? Join the Polkadot Ambassadors.

Join the Kusama community

There is a lot going on every day in the Kusama community, from network upgrades, to new Treasury proposals, to wild community competitions. The Kusama community has been thriving since 2019 and there are plenty of ways to get plugged in.
Join the discussion on Telegram and Riot, or subscribe to Kusama's newsletter. Learn more about Kusama on our website and in the Kusama Wiki. Want to join the core growth team behind Kusama? Join the Ambassador Program.

From the blog

Governance, side by side: Polkadot, Ethereum, and NEAR

Decentralized Mic pulled together experts from leading experts from Polkadot, Ethereum, and NEAR to discuss decentralized decision-making approaches, address participation challenges, and explore the potential impact of AI on future governance models.

Where real-world value meets access: How Polkadot powers RWA and DePIN

Polkadot is making real-world assets and infrastructure accessible through tokenization, unlocking new opportunities in finance and energy for everyday participants and communities.

Understanding DeFi: A starter guide to decentralized finance

DeFi transforms traditional finance by replacing banks and brokers with smart contracts on blockchain networks. Discover how dapps enable lending, trading, and earning interest without intermediaries—and how Polkadot’s interoperability brings these tools together for a connected financial future.

The evolution of digital ownership: How tokenization is transforming gaming, music, and beyond

Tokenization is redefining digital ownership in gaming and music, enabling players and artists to control their assets. With blockchain, NFTs, and Polkadot’s interoperability, digital economies are becoming more decentralized, secure, and accessible.

Web3 funding playbook for builders, creators, and founders

Discover funding opportunities in the Polkadot ecosystem, from grants and bounties to venture capital and community-driven fundraising. Explore pathways for builders at every stage, with insights on securing support for DeFi, DePIN, AI, gaming, and real-world asset tokenization.

From speculation to sustainability: Top ETHDenver takeaways

ETHDenver 2025 highlighted Web3’s shift toward sustainability, emphasizing talent development, decentralized governance, and aligned incentives. Polkadot’s insights reinforced the industry’s move beyond speculation toward long-term, community-driven growth.

Build, Play, Connect: Join Polkadot at ETHDenver 2025

Get ready for ETHDenver 2025 with Polkadot! Join Polkadot for keynotes, hacker houses & parties, immersive booth experiences, and hands-on workshops. Whether you’re building, playing, or connecting, there’s something for everyone at one of blockchain’s biggest events.

The most impactful blockchain use cases in 2025 and why Polkadot is leading the way

Explore the top blockchain trends of 2025, from decentralized AI and tokenized assets to enterprise adoption and Web3 gaming. Learn how projects powered by Polkadot are shaping the future of finance, infrastructure, and digital identity.

Decentralization’s ripple effect: How Web3 is rewriting digital sovereignty

Centralized platforms dictate access, control data, and pose security risks, leaving individuals without control over their digital presence. Decentralization offers a resilient alternative, paving the way to a digitally sovereign future.

Developing Analog's Timechain: Why we chose Polkadot SDK

Discover why Analog chose Polkadot SDK to power its Timechain, leveraging modularity, security, and forkless upgrades to create a seamless interoperability hub for multichain and cross-chain dapp ecosystems.

Polkadot Roundup MMXXIV

Dive into Polkadot Roundup MMXXIV for an in-depth look at 2024 milestones, including high-performance rollups, decentralized governance, and exciting expansions. Discover how Polkadot is evolving into a next-level web3 platform—plus a sneak peek at Polkadot 2, Polkadot 3, and the JAM protocol supercomputer.

Unifying Polkadot’s developer docs: A new chapter for builder experience

The PaperMoon team, supported by a Decentralized Futures grant, launches the Polkadot Developer Documentation Hub, a unified platform that simplifies developer onboarding and provides access to essential resources. This marks a transformative step for builders in the Polkadot ecosystem.