1inch events Grant Proposal Q3-Q4 2024 - Q1 2025
Simple Summary
The 1inch has been an active participant in the crypto community, having participated in multiple events during 2024: sponsored 14 conferences and hackathons, participated in 72 speaking opportunities, organized 15 networking events with total geographical coverage of 21 countries on 4 continents. These events have resulted in tens of thousands of user acquisitions. This proposal is now seeking funding to cover our participation in 14 events during Q3-Q4 2024 & Q1 2025 as sponsor or organizer and cover expenses for non-sponsorship speaking opportunities during 2024-2025. All the events are crypto-related conferences or hackathons focused on developing new decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions and expanding the DeFi and Web3 ecosystem.
The list of events:
ETHCC Networking event, July 2024, Brussels
EDCON, July 2024, Tokyo
TUM blockchain conference, September 2024, Munich
Token2049 Singapore Networking events, September 2024, Singapore
ETH Global Singapore, September 2024, Singapore
Hackathon: Innovating for a Better Tomorrow, October 2024, online / Dubai
HK Fintech Week, October 2024, Hong Kong
SmartCon, November 2024, Hong Kong
Presentation of 1inch & Bruce Lee Family Partnership, October 2024, Hong Kong
1inch x Bruce Lee Family Merchandise campaign, 2024-2025
DevCon week networking events, November 2024, Bangkok
ETH Global Bangkok sponsorship package upgrade, November 2024, Bangkok
Australian Crypto Convention Networking event, November 2024, Sydney
Binance Blockchain Week Dubai Networking event, November 2024, Dubai
1inch Davos’25 - Shaping Tomorrow’s Financial Landscape Through DeFi
Satoshi Roundtable, January 30 - February 4 2025, Dubai
ETHGlobal Taipei, April 2025, Taipei
Paris Blockchain Week, April 2025, Paris
Non-sponsorship speaking opportunities include multiple valuable conferences, hackathons and meetups where 1inch team participates on a non-paid basis as keynote speakers, panel discussion participants or workshop participants. The estimate for non-sponsorship speaking opportunities is based on 2024 budget for similar opportunities.
Total Grant Value $2 244 911 in USDC.
This amount includes: sponsorship packages, events costs, merchandise, photo & video production and all needed operational expenses. The amount for non-sponsorship speaking opportunities includes only travel-related estimated expenses.
Abstract
The objective of this grant is to allocate funds for sponsoring events that elevated the 1inch brand’s visibility, strengthened its reputation, expanded the company’s reach, and amplified 1inch’s impact within the global DeFi arena. Through supporting relevant events, we aim to promote the 1inch brand, forge relationships with prospective partners, gather valuable feedback to enhance our product offerings and better address customer needs, boost user adoption, and attract new contributors and community members. We selected only those events that resonate with the 1inch’s values and objectives, with a strong emphasis on blockchain, DeFi, community engagement, and overall impact.
Motivation
1inch aims to build the most valuable community in Web3 while driving the growth and expansion of its ecosystem. As DeFi evolves rapidly, 1inch remains at the forefront of innovation. Participating in events plays a key role in promoting 1inch ecosystem, driving adoption, launching new initiatives, strengthening brand awareness, and educating and onboarding new users. The selected events represent top-tier, highly regarded crypto gatherings, chosen based on their strong reputation, past successful 1inch participation, and strategic geographic reach across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania to engage with the global crypto community.
The list of events 1inch has participated as a sponsor during 2024.
The Events DAO Proposal 2024 was 100% fulfilled.
The media files from each event can be seen in the 1inch events 2024 media folder.
As a sponsor, 1inch received prominent brand exposure at sponsored events, including logo placement on event websites, banners, marketing materials, and social media promotion. Additionally, 1inch representatives had the opportunity to speak at selected events, participate in panel discussions, and engage with attendees at a 1inch-branded booth, further establishing 1inch as a leader in the DeFi space.
Specification
The events participation budget includes:
Sponsorship package
Booth construction
Merchandise
Operational expenses
Photo and video production services
Specification of the expenses:
Descriptions of each event and specifications of the packages.
Total Grant Value $2 244 911 in USDC.
Recipient of funds: 1inch Events Team via 1inch Labs
Receiving address for funds distribution: eth:0xda38862974B83DAF69CB18A9aEA898e3847b3b38
All funds will be sent to the Events Team after the Proposal passes, for immediate distribution to cover all the expenses for the sponsorship packages, the venues for side events and organizational processes.
Rationale
The listed events are designed to foster the growth and advancement of the blockchain ecosystem while enhancing the presence and influence of the 1inch brand within the crypto space. We see participation in these carefully selected events as essential to achieving this objective. By offering a grant to facilitate the organization and execution of a series of conference sponsorships, we are actively contributing to the expansion of the 1inch and the overall development of the DeFi ecosystem.
By sponsoring the listed events, 1inch achieved several key objectives:
Brand Awareness – Event sponsorships provide a powerful platform to showcase 1inch ecosystem and its products to a highly targeted and influential audience. Sponsorship not only boosts brand recognition and media exposure but also unlocks new co-marketing opportunities, further amplifying visibility.
Building Trust and Credibility – Aligning with reputable events allows 1inch to strengthen its position alongside established industry leaders. Active participation in keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions enables 1inch representatives to demonstrate expertise, reinforcing trust among potential users and partners. Engaging in high-profile events and hosting side gatherings facilitates direct interaction with the audience, fostering stronger community loyalty.
Increase Network Volume – Event sponsorships provide a direct avenue for engaging with potential users, partners, and developers within the DeFi ecosystem. By highlighting the unique features and benefits of its products, 1inch can expand its user base, onboard new participants, and encourage developers to build with 1inch solutions. These events serve as a vital platform to educate attendees on the advantages of decentralized finance and demonstrate how 1inch tools can help them navigate the DeFi landscape more effectively. Additionally, direct engagement with the community allows 1inch to gather valuable product feedback, enhance user experience, understand customer needs, and spark new ideas. Events also serve as an excellent opportunity for recruiting top-tier developers.
Forge Strategic Partnerships – sponsoring top crypto events enables 1inch to connect with and collaborate alongside leading projects, fostering relationships with professional market makers, resolvers, DeFi protocols, and venture capital firms. These interactions open doors for strategic partnerships, integrations, and cross-platform synergies that drive mutual growth and innovation within the 1inch.
Expand Market Reach – Sponsoring events across various geographic regions enables 1inch to enter new markets and connect with diverse user groups. Each event serves as a gateway to regional DeFi communities, allowing 1inch to build a local presence, gain insights into market dynamics, and adapt its offerings to better meet the specific needs of each region.
Sponsoring events aligned with the goals and values of 1inch presents a strategic opportunity to amplify brand visibility, increase the volume and user base, foster user adoption, forge partnerships, and expand into new markets. By allocating funds towards event sponsorships, 1inch can position itself as a frontrunner in the DeFi industry, driving innovation and providing users with access to optimal decentralized exchange solutions.
Considerations
Event Management
The 1inch Events Team takes charge of managing the events. The 1inch Events Team brings extensive expertise in event management, with a proven track record of successfully organizing events worldwide.
Alignment with goals and values
The selected events align with 1inch’s objectives and values, emphasizing DeFi, blockchain technology, community engagement, and industry impact. Sponsoring these events allows 1inch to strengthen its visibility, reputation, community connections, and influence within the global DeFi ecosystem.
Opportunities for brand exposure
As a sponsor, 1inch gains significant brand visibility at selected events through logo placement on event websites, banners, marketing materials, and social media promotions. Additionally, 1inch representatives get the opportunity to speak at key events, participate in panel discussions, and engage with attendees at a branded booth - further solidifying 1inch’s position as a leader in the DeFi space. Distributing high-quality merchandise also enhances brand awareness and increases social media mentions.
KPI’s
The proposed metrics for evaluating event success include: overall event attendance, growth in 1inch user base before and after each event, media engagement and mentions, quantity and quality of leads (potential partners and collaborations), number of side events hosted, speaking engagements, submissions at hackathons, relevant candidate sourcing and hires, Developer Portal subscriptions, and applications for the Community Builders Program.
Potential for user adoption and strategic partnerships
Event sponsorships offer a valuable opportunity to engage directly with potential users, partners, and developers in the DeFi space. By highlighting the unique features and benefits of its products, 1inch can expand its user base and onboard new participants into its ecosystem. Additionally, these events serve as a hub for collaboration with leading projects and DeFi protocols, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships, integrations, and cross-platform synergies that foster mutual growth and innovation.
Market expansion
By expanding the geographic reach of its events, 1inch gains the opportunity to enter new markets and connect with diverse user bases. Each event serves as a gateway to regional DeFi communities, allowing 1inch to build a local presence and strengthen its engagement within these ecosystems.
Cost-effectiveness
The total grant value of $2 244 911 in USDC includes sponsorship packages, co-organization of side events, merchandise and all necessary operational expenses. This represents a cost-effective investment in enhancing the visibility, reputation, and influence of 1inch in the global DeFi ecosystem.
This initiative has strategically amplified 1inch’s brand visibility, fostered user adoption, enabled key partnerships, and supported expansion into new markets through targeted event sponsorships. By investing in this approach, 1inch has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the DeFi industry, driving innovation and delivering users optimal decentralized exchange solutions.