The exciting journey of our DAO in an excellent initiative for the community called NDC has come to an end. It has been a very interesting, eventful and, most importantly, a very productive year.
During this time, our team has created a huge amount of unique and useful content for the Near Protocol ecosystem. Degens created buzz and tried to break out of the information vacuum of the Near Ecosystem with the help of various directions. We think we did a great job.
Thank you so much for giving our team the opportunity to show up.
We would like to mention the people without whom the launch and support of NDC Degens would have become impossible.
@Dacha @MarcusNEAR @haenko @zavodil @AlexUstas @Dk_51 @rexux_in @kiskesis @chloe
What is Degens? Who are we?
Degens is a team of professionals and enthusiasts dedicated to creating and promoting high-quality content within the Near Protocol ecosystem. NDC Degens started operations in July 2023 with support from MDAO and have since become a significant participant in the Near ecosystem. Degens comprises a community of experts, researchers, and content creators who aim not only to advance Near Protocol but also to attract new users and developers, making the ecosystem more accessible and understandable.
Each member of our team undergoes a rigorous selection process, including application forms, preliminary selection, interviews, and a test period. This ensures that only the most competent and motivated individuals join the team.
The goals and objectives
The main goal of the NDC Degens project is to create and distribute high-quality content that contributes to the development and popularization of the Near Protocol ecosystem. To achieve this goal, we have set the following objectives:
-
Information and Education:
Creating educational content for new users and developers to facilitate their integration into the Near ecosystem. -
Attracting New Members/Users:
Using various methods and strategies to attract new users and developers to the Near ecosystem. -
Community Support and Development:
Providing support to existing ecosystem participants through the publication of useful information, guides, and news. -
Improving Content Quality:
Continuously enhancing the quality of created content by implementing new approaches and methodologies. -
Effective Resource Distribution:
Utilizing the Tier Level System (TLS) to ensure fair distribution of rewards among team members based on their contributions.
The main directions of activity for NDC Degens include:
- Content Creation:
We create diverse content (articles, guides, videos, infographics) to inform and educate users about Near Protocol. This content is published on platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, CoinMarketCap, Medium, and others.
- Development and Implementation of TLS System:
The TLS (Tier Level System) objectively assesses and rewards team members based on KPIs and metrics. It consists of four levels, where Level 1 corresponds to the highest reward and Level 4 to removal from the team.
- Website Creation:
We have developed our own website where we publish essential information for team members, including documentation, content requirements, KPIs, and metrics. The website serves as a centralized resource for all project-related information.
- Public Degens Initiative:
Public Degens is a unique system that allows anyone to showcase their content creation skills and receive rewards. Two iterations of this initiative have been conducted, one involving Near Social and the other without blockchain.
- Interviewing and Selecting New Members:
Over 150 interviews have been conducted to select over 20 top candidates during the project’s existence. We continuously seek talented individuals willing to join the team and contribute to the project’s development.
- Experimentation with Methods and Approaches:
We continually experiment with different approaches to content creation and team management to identify the most effective strategies. This includes adjusting metrics, increasing KPIs, and implementing new indicators like referrals.
Thus, NDC Degens operate in various directions, providing comprehensive support and development for the Near Protocol ecosystem. Our team aims for continuous improvement and achieving high performance in our activities.
Overview by months
The NDC Degens team began its existence in July 2023 in a testing mode with the support of MDAO. At the start of its operations, the team consisted of 10 active participants and 2 leaders. Candidates for the NDC Degens Main Team underwent several stages of selection: filling out a form, preliminary selection, interviews, a test period, and final acceptance into the team. NDC Degens has selected over 20 top candidates, and the number of interviews conducted has exceeded 150. We continuously improved our activities and experimented with approaches to determine the best directions of work and identify the most active team members.
How did NDC Degens change by stages?
First Stage: Creation and Formation. July - November 2023. Supported by MDAO.
In its initial month, NDC Degens operated experimentally with support from MDAO. Despite being launched under NDC, we did not secure funding from them, which we attribute to the incompetence of the then NDC and GWG teams. Nevertheless, NDC Degens were able to launch in the form in which you can see:
- Our charter was created: Charter
- Our website was launched: Website
- The TLS system was implemented: TLS System
- An open group for all interested parties was formed: Telegram Group
- Initial metrics were established: Metrics
- A team of 10 members was formed, conducting over 30 interviews in the first week of recruitment: Form
After establishing these foundational elements, we were able to commence full-fledged operations, which immediately began yielding results. By assembling a team of professional content creators within the Near Protocol ecosystem, many of whom were familiar with Degen Army or were true OGs in the ecosystem, our performance significantly improved.
August
We experimented with content approaches and developed a new strategy. August marked a rapid rise in results (over 100%), prompting us to increase metrics by 30%, anticipating growth in TLS and performance indicators in the following months.
September
Despite losing a key member, the team continued to work actively. Our focus shifted to creating content about development on the Near Protocol, making it easier for new developers to integrate into the ecosystem.
October and November
We observed steady growth across key metrics in all areas. The team streamlined workflows and focused on enhancing the quality of work within the NDC Degens Main Team.
October report; November Report;
Second Stage: Growth and Scaling. December 2023 - May 2024.
NDC Degens as part of NDC Starting December 2023, NDC Degens transitioned from MDAO support to funding from NDC, as planned. This transition allowed us to increase the budget and expand the team to 16 members.
December
Nearly all NDC Degens members achieved results at TLS1 level, confirming the team’s high level of professionalism.
January
We launched the first iteration of Public Degens as a widget on near.social. This initiative enabled anyone to join NDC Degens and showcase their content creation skills. Over 50 interviews were conducted, and 4 new members were selected for the core group. KPIs increased by 40%.
March
The most productive month for NDC Degens. We set records for Twitter activity, attributed to team strengthening and the rise in the cryptocurrency market.
April and May
We set a record for the number of referrals attracted to the ecosystem. The quality of content significantly improved, and we successfully balanced the Link Clicks metric across all team members. Expansion of the core NDC Degens group increased the team to 19 members and allowed for more balanced allocation of responsibilities. Content creation improved, and metrics, such as Targeting, saw significant increases.
Key Performance Indicator (KPIs)
The metrics we set for ourselves and the results of achieving them.
You can see in detail the changes in statistics as the team moves to NDC, the main team expands and the budget increases.
Detailed Twitter Report.
Total Referrals
Impressions by month
Reddit and Content direction
Total number of subscribers by month
Number of Tweets by month
Targeting direction
Issues and Solutions
Lack of professionals in the community
We observed that a significant number of candidates did not meet the minimum requirements in terms of their knowledge of the ecosystem and the quality of their content. Despite conducting over 150 text interviews, only 19 individuals met our standards.
Public Programs Without Candidate Selection Do Not Succeed
Our experience with two versions of Public Degens highlighted that programs without pre-screening candidates often attract individuals looking for quick financial gains. Moving forward, we will implement candidate assessments before evaluating their content.
Transparency Issues with Trust
Several GDAO leaders faced challenges due to the lack of transparency in the operations of Trust Consuls. A week without feedback and comments on proposals prompted us to publicly address the issue, leading to responses and clarifications from Trust. Transparency and decentralization should remain key priorities for the Near Protocol community.
Financial report
In the early stages of NDC Degens’ formation, we received support from MDAO, without which we would not have achieved such results or formed such a strong team. From August 2023 to November, NDC Degens DAO was exclusively funded by MDAO. Starting from December 2023 to May 2024, we transitioned to funding from NDC.
July (test month) without rewards
August+september (10,000$) MDAO Funding
2 leaders + 9 Degens
| TLS NOW | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 3.5 | 1 | 198.3 |
| 2 | 3 | 594.9 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 2 | 3 | 594.9 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 5 | 991.5 |
| 2 | 3 | 594.9 |
| 45 | 8924 |
October (10,000$) MDAO Funding
2 leaders + 9 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.5 | 2 | 318.4 |
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| 1.5 | 4 | 636.8 |
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| 3 | 1.7 | 270.6 |
| 2 | 3 | 477.6 |
| 3.5 | 1 | 159$ |
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| 1 | 5 | 796.4 |
| Total | 41,7 | 6641 |
November (10,000$) MDAO Funding
2 leaders + 10 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 2 | 3 | 301.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 2.5 | 2 | 201 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 5 | 502.7 |
| Total | 55 | 5529.6 |
December (10,000$) NDC Funding
2 leaders + 10 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 3 | 1.7 | 95.31 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 2 | 3 | 168.21 |
| 1 | 5 | 280.35 |
| 2 | 3 | 168.21 |
| Total | 52.7 | 2955 |
January (20,000$) NDC Funding (4,000$ for leaders payout)
14 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 2.5 | 2 | 130.2 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 2 | 3 | 195.3 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 1 | 5 | 325.6 |
| 65.1 stake | 65 | 4234 |
February (20,000$) NDC Funding (4,000$ for leaders payouts)
14 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 2 | 3 | 93.82 |
| 2 | 3 | 93.82 |
| 1.5 | 4 | 125.1 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 1 | 5 | 156.38 |
| 31.276 | 65 | 2033 Near |
March (20,000$) NDC Funding (4,000$ for leaders payouts)
14 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 1 | 5 | 161 |
| 32.2 | 70 | 2254 |
April (22,500$) NDC Funding (4,000$ for leaders payouts)
17 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 2 | 3 | 119.7 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 2 | 3 | 119 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 2.5 | 2 | 77.8 |
| 1 | 5 | 194.5 |
| 3 | 1.7 | 66.13 |
| 38.9 | 74.7 | 2909 |
May (22,500$) NDC Funding (4,000$ for leaders payouts)
15 Degens
| TLS | DP | Near Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 2 | 3 | 138.45 |
| 2 | 3 | 138.45 |
| 2 | 3 | 138.45 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 2 | 3 | 138.45 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.5 | 2 | 92.3 |
| 1 | 5 | 230.75 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46.15 | 2954 |
Conclusion
The experiment with NDC Degens, which began in July 2023, proved to be a significant milestone in the development of the Near Protocol ecosystem. Let’s consider the key aspects and conclusions that will help improve similar initiatives in the future.
Contribution to the Near Protocol Ecosystem
1. Improving Content Quality and Engagement
NDC Degens made a substantial contribution by creating high-quality content aimed at developing and popularizing the Near Protocol ecosystem. Interaction with the community through social media, publications, and educational materials contributed to increasing knowledge and engagement levels among users.
2. Unique Approach to Team Management
The implementation of the TLS system demonstrated the effectiveness of objectively assessing each team member’s contribution. This system facilitated fair distribution of rewards and maintained motivation within the team.
3. Improving Coordination and Communication
Centralizing all necessary documentation and information on one platform (the website and Telegram channel) helped new members adapt quickly and enabled the core team to efficiently execute tasks. We believe that having a centralized source of information is crucial for any team’s success.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Future Initiatives
1. Strict Selection and Support for Professionalism
The experiment underscored the necessity of a stringent selection process to ensure high-quality work. In the future, maintaining high standards in team selection will minimize risks and enhance productivity.
2. Public Programs and Pre-moderation
The experience with Public Degens showed that public programs without pre-screening candidates do not yield desired results. Future initiatives should prioritize the preliminary evaluation of candidates.
3. Transparency and Communication
Opaque governance practices posed challenges for NDC Degens. To ensure the success of future initiatives, transparency and regular interaction with governance bodies are essential. This will help avoid misunderstandings and expedite decision-making processes.
Final thoughts
The experiment with NDC Degens has greatly benefited the Near Protocol ecosystem by improving content quality, introducing fairness in team management, and enhancing coordination. Taking into account the lessons learned, future initiatives can be even more successful and efficient.
The Degens have done a great job for the NEAR ecosystem. 
leaders Lolson and Baxoff are the best 
