Complete Guide to Optimism RPGF

What is RPGF?

RPGF is Optimism's pioneering retroactive funding mechanism—contribute first, get rewarded later. No need to apply in advance; just build and you have a chance to be recognized.

Core Philosophy

"It's easier to agree on what was useful than what will be useful" Things that have already generated value are easier to evaluate, making retroactive funding fairer than upfront grants.

RPGF Rounds History

Funding Categories

1. OP Stack & Collective — Optimism protocol development
2. Developer Ecosystem — Tools, SDKs, documentation
3. End User Experience — DApps, wallets, UX improvements
4. Governance & Education — Governance tools, educational content

How to Receive RPGF?

1. Do valuable work in the Optimism ecosystem (no application needed)
2. When RPGF begins, submit Impact Attestation
3. BadgeHolders (voters) evaluate and vote on allocation
4. Funding distributed proportionally based on votes received

Ways to Increase Your RPGF Chances

• Publish impact data: User count, transaction volume, GitHub stars, downloads
• On-chain verifiability: The more on-chain proof, the better
• Community presence: Stay active in Optimism Discord/Forum
• Sustained contributions across rounds: Continuously maintained projects fare better than one-off initiatives

Application/Participation Links

• Agora (voting platform): https://vote.optimism.io
• RetroPGF official site: https://retrofunding.optimism.io
• Optimism Forum: https://gov.optimism.io

Difference from Traditional Grants