# David - Delegate Proposal

**URL:** <https://gov.near.org/t/david-delegate-proposal/40710>\
**Category:** Governance\
**Tags:** delegates\
**Created:** [February 16, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://gov.near.org/t/david-delegate-proposal/40710 "2025-02-16T02:57:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mirzdame](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/gov.near.org/mirzdame/32/53860_2.png) [@mirzdame](https://gov.near.org/u/mirzdame)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://gov.near.org/t/david-delegate-proposal/40710/1 "2025-02-16T02:57:08Z")

</div>

## Delegate Questionnaire

**A. Delegation Address** : 0xmirzdame.near

**B. Forum Username** : mirzdame

**C. Twitter Username** : mirzdame

**D. Website (optional)**: –

**E. Target Voting Participation** : 100% — except for where there is a clear conflict of interest.

**F. History of Interactions with NEAR Protocol** :

I joined the NEAR Foundation in June 2024 as Chief of Staff, where I have been primarily focused on helping design & implement initiatives that enhance the operational efficiency, flow of information and culture of collaboration within NF and the ecosystem’s core nodes. Some public facing examples include:

1. Opening the Eco Collab meeting to more external presenters & teams
2. Hosting an Ecosystem Offsite in Bangkok for key partners & nodes
3. Setting up a public Ecosystem page (incl. ecosystem maps, comms & rituals, calendars, etc.) and ensuring a a unified workspace repository is used cross-functionally
4. Transparency into NF’s KPIs and ecosystem roadmap, via regular public comms and trackers
5. Supporting in the setup of NEAR city hubs (WIP)
6. Sourcing talented & experienced founders to join the NEAR ecosystem (WIP)

Prior to formally joining the NEAR ecosystem, I followed its journey since 2021 and invested at various points of time.

**G. History of Governance Participation (in NEAR or other ecosystems)**:

I was responsible for research, evaluation and selection of the governance structure of the Taiko DAO (the first based rollup on Ethereum). We ultimately decided on a novel optimistic dual governance structure, with plans to introduce stake-weighted voting at a later stage.

**H. Top 3 Priorities for the NEAR Ecosystem** :

1. Improve our user onboarding tools and experience (e.g. wallets, explorers, analytics), and bring it to feature and quality parity with incumbent ecosystems. The coordination & focused execution of the Infrastructure Committee, DevHub, Founder Success + many project teams is key to this. We need to fix our plumbing & be ready to capitalize on the many growth catalysts we have scheduled for H1 2025

2. Harmonize & focus NEAR’s marketing efforts and cement our positioning as THE premier location for AIxCrypto builders. There needs to be a simple left- and right-curve pitch for ‘Why Near?’ and we need to explore ways to get more (loud) advocates on CT & across crypto

3. Give the community greater powers (via HoS) to hold core ecosystem nodes & the foundation accountable & transparent. This is the only way to ensure all stakeholders stay long-term aligned and focused.

**I. Reasoning for any past votes in the NEAR Ecosystem** : n/a

**J. Conflicts of Interest** : I currently work at the Near Foundation and wherever this may present a (real or perceived) conflict with my ability to vote I will abstain.

**K. Answers to the Hypothetical Delegate Scenario** :

> **1. A proposal to allocate incentives to DeFi protocol users to benefit protocol metrics**
>
> a. Additional information needed to make an informed decision
> 
> - Criteria for DeFi protocol selection, source & size of incentives, duration, criteria for user eligibility, success criteria of initiative, tracking methodology, risk assessment
> 
> b. Key metrics to evaluate
> 
> - An applicable cost/benefit metric (e.g. ROI, CAC, etc.), TVL, trading volume, open interest, net inflows, sticky-ness of inflows
> 
> c. How I would support & vote
> 
> - Generally support/vote yes — if there are clearly defined criteria for selection and success, demonstrated cost efficiency, clear ownership & tracking, alignment with NEAR’s key pillars (AI, Intents, Chain Abstraction) and long-term objectives. And on condition that incentives are stopped if there is meaningful change to any of the above criteria/requirements

> **2. A proposal to establish a subcommittee to market the NEAR Protocol to developers and users.**
>
> a. Additional information needed to make an informed decision
> 
> - Objective and rationale on why a subcommittee for marketing is preferred over other approaches. Committee member selection and required skills, budget, success metrics, operational rituals
> 
> b. Key metrics to evaluate
> 
> - Share of Voice, user/dev acquisition & retention rates + cost of acquisition
> 
> c. How I would support & vote
> 
> - Unlikely to support/vote no — generally skeptical of committee-based decision making w.r.t subjective areas such as marketing, where creative control is often required to ensure high-quality execution and consistency in messaging

> **3. A proposal to establish a Protocol-Owned Liquidity position by the House of Stake on major DeFi protocols in the ecosystem.**
>
> a. Additional information needed to make an informed decision
> 
> - Rationale, amount & duration of provided liquidity, pool/protocol selection criteria, expected return (if any), other success criteria, risk management & execution
> 
> b. Key metrics to evaluate
> 
> - Expected return, liquidity/market depth, aggregate trade volume, TVL
> 
> c. How I would support & vote
> 
> - Generally support/vote yes — as long as above elements are all addressed, but would perform extra scrutiny given risk to treasury & ecosystem that mismanaged POL can pose.

**L. What is your motivation for becoming a NEAR delegate?**

I 100% believe in NEAR’s vision of a truly User-owned AI and Internet, and the belief that AI is the last technological wave. But besides ideology, I am financially and professionally invested in wanting NEAR as a whole to succeed, and so I am naturally aligned in doing what I believe is in the best long-term interest of the ecosystem. Taking part in HoS as a delegate, and performing this role dutifully, is just one more way that I can help and have an impact.

**M. Anticipated delegation support (if applicable):** No delegation commitments (so far) other than my personal holdings

## Self-Assessment Criteria

→ **Score (8/10)**

**A. Experience (2/2)**

_Experience may be smart contract development, DAO governance, protocol growth, community development, DeFi market operations, or other relevant backgrounds for the House of Stake._

Rating:

- 2 - Strong and relevant professional experience within the blockchain industry.
- 1 - Light experience in any of the above categories.
- 0 - No relevant experience.

**Notes** : Worked full-time in crypto since 2020, as investor, operator & founder, across firms such as Goldman Sachs, Taiko & my own project called Bulletin. Given past experience in setting up a DAO & its governance from ground-up I believe I am well placed to evaluate and opine on most proposals.

**B. Diversity of Perspective (2/2)**

Rating:

- 2 - The Delegate brings a unique perspective to the House of Stake compared to other delegates.
- 1 - The Delegate brings an underrepresented perspective to the House of Stake.
- 0 - The Delegate brings a common perspective to the House of Stake.

**Notes** : Having worked across TradFi, VC and now operations I believe I can bring a unique and pragmatic perspective to HoS. I base my decisions of proposals that display clarity of thought & communication, with the right amount of creativity and technical execution.

**C. Alignment with NEAR Ecosystem (2/2)**

Rating:

- 2 - The delegate is an active builder in the NEAR ecosystem with strong alignment. They will benefit enormously if NEAR grows.
- 1 - The delegate has some commitment to the NEAR ecosystem
- 0 - The delegate has no alignment with the NEAR ecosystem.

**Notes** : As noted above I am ideologically, financial and professionally aligned with the success of the NEAR ecosystem.

**D. Governance Engagement (1/2)**

Rating:

- 2 - The delegate has a strong track record of participating in the governance of NEAR or other ecosystems. The delegate was an active voter, vocal in the forums, and helped drive initiatives.
- 1—The delegate has participated in governance in NEAR or other ecosystems. This may have included voting, posting in the forums, or contributing to initiatives unpaid.
- 0 - The delegate has no track record of participation in onchain governance.

**Notes** : Scored 1 as I have not (meaningfully) participated in onchain governance but have a record of contributing in other forms to the governance process of other ecosystems.

**E. Conflicts of Interest (1/2)**

Rating:

- 2 - The delegate has no direct or indirect conflicts of interest with the House of Stake.
- 1 - The delegate has an indirect conflict of interest with the House of Stake.
- 0 - The delegate has a direct conflict of interest with the House of Stake.

**Notes** : Scored 1 given my employment at the NEAR Foundation

I have read and agree to the NEAR Delegate Code of Conduct.

Thank you for your consideration.