Polkadot’s PolkaWorld Community Halts Operations Amidst OpenGov Controversy

PolkaWorld, one of the largest Chinese communities within the Polkadot ecosystem, has announced the ceasing of its operations. This decision comes following the rejection of its proposal to secure official funding, leaving the community in a state of limbo for the past two weeks.

OpenGov’s Impact On Polkadot Community

PolkaWorld expressed its deep disappointment in a Twitter post, stating:

It’s super sad to say that PolkaWorld’s proposal was rejected, and we’ve been halted operations for half a month now. It is the first time we’ve had to pause in the four years and three months since we started in 2019.

The root cause of this crisis can be traced back to the implementation of Polkadot’s OpenGov initiative, spearheaded by none other than the founder of Polkadot, Gavin Wood. 

OpenGov aimed to usher in a more decentralized and democratic governance model while improving the efficiency and transparency of the Polkadot Treasury. However, the system has faced its fair share of controversies, particularly in treasury management.

Under the previous governance system, a “professional” council elected by DOT holders evaluated proposals based on their expertise. PolkaWorld suggests that this approach should be integrated into the OpenGov system to maintain a level of informed decision-making.

Additionally, PolkaWorld interviewed some DOT holders who raised concerns about applicants converting treasury funds into cash, potentially harming the community’s interests. They proposed exploring alternative forms of funding, such as USDT or other tokens.

All DOT holders must understand that the treasury empowers and enriches the Polkadot ecosystem. If OpenGov results in the departure of talented teams, it could be a significant setback.

PolkaWorld encourages a more optimistic perspective on these changes, emphasizing that OpenGov is an upgrade and optimization for Polkadot. They urge the community to adapt and guide the system in the right direction rather than abandoning it outright.

The fate of PolkaWorld serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and teething issues that can arise when implementing novel governance systems, even within the most promising blockchain projects like Polkadot. 

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