A. Delegation Address: rahulgoel.near
B. Forum Username: rahulgoel007
C. Twitter Username: rahul_goel_007
D. Website (optional): N/A
E. Target Voting Participation: I will participate in all proposals but abstain from votes if a conflict of interest arises.
F. History of Interactions with NEAR Protocol: I have been actively involved in the NEAR ecosystem since early 2021. In December 2021, I began my journey as a Community Moderator for NEAR. Over time, I expanded my contributions by serving as a moderator for the NEAR Digital Collective (NDC) and taking on the role of Social Media Manager, where I managed NDC’s social media presence.
In late 2023, I was elected as a member of the NEAR Digital Collective’s Transparency Commission (TC). In this role, I reviewed and voted on proposals, ensuring accountability and addressing transparency concerns raised by the community. The Transparency Commission was a proposed V1 Governance Body designed to uphold transparency and trust within the ecosystem. You can view my nomination for this position here
Currently, I am part of the NEAR Community Squad, where I manage moderation for NEAR Community Socials and provide essential support to the ecosystem. My extensive involvement with NEAR underscores my unwavering dedication to its growth and success. I am committed to continuing my contributions and leveraging my experience and skills to further strengthen and expand the NEAR ecosystem.
G. History of Governance Participation (in NEAR or other ecosystems): As a member of the NEAR Digital Collective’s Transparency Commission(TC), I actively participated in on-chain validation of community-submitted complaints and contributed to the decision-making process to resolve these issues. My role involved ensuring transparency and accountability within the ecosystem by thoroughly reviewing cases and collaborating with the individuals to reach fair and informed conclusions.
Also, I have worked with other DAOs like Merchants of NEAR in the NEAR Ecosystem.
H. Top 3 Priorities for the NEAR Ecosystem:
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Ecosystem Growth & Real-World Use Cases: Encourage the development of applications that address tangible, real-world problems, increasing NEAR’s utility and adoption.
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Liquidity Inflow & Strategic Marketing: Attract liquidity inflow through targeted DeFi growth, partnerships, and engaging marketing strategies to boost NEAR’s global presence.
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Enhanced Validator Incentives & Network Decentralization: Design sustainable reward models for validators to ensure long-term network performance and security.
I. Reasoning for any past votes in the NEAR Ecosystem: During my period on the Transparency Commission (TC), I voted on various proposals, ensuring each decision was based on thorough analysis and alignment with the principles of transparency and accountability. Detailed records of my voting rationale and findings for investigation proposals are documented and can be verified here. There were significant flaws in V1, including the Transparency Commission (TC), which was essentially a powerless body. While the TC could share its reasoning and recommendations, the final decision on funding approvals ultimately rested with the community and other governing bodies. If there are any questions or concerns regarding my decisions, I welcome further discussion and can be reached on Telegram at @rahulgoel007.
J. Conflicts of Interest: NEAR community Squad.
K. Answer Hypothetical Delegate Scenario:
Prompt: The NEAR ecosystem is evaluating opportunities to stimulate onchain activity. In this hypothetical scenario, there are three different proposals for the Foundation to consider:
- A proposal to allocate incentives to DeFi protocol users to benefit protocol metrics.
- A proposal to establish a subcommittee to market the NEAR Protocol to developers and users.
- A proposal to establish a Protocol-Owned Liquidity position by the House of Stake on major DeFi protocols in the ecosystem.
- What additional information would you need from the proposers to make an informed decision?
- What key metrics would you evaluate to support or reject the proposals?
- How would you ultimately support and vote for these different proposals?
1. Proposal: Allocate Incentives to DeFi Protocol Users
a. Additional Information Required:
- Incentive Structure Details: Clarification on the types of incentives (e.g., token rewards, fee rebates) and their distribution mechanisms.
- Target Audience: Identification of user segments (e.g., new users, existing users, high-volume traders) to tailor effective incentives.
- Sustainability Measures: Strategies to prevent short-term participation spikes followed by rapid drop-offs, ensuring long-term engagement.
b. Key Metrics for Evaluation:
- Total Value Locked (TVL): Monitoring changes in the amount of assets held within NEAR’s DeFi protocols.
- User Retention Rates: Assessing the percentage of users who continue to engage over time.
- Cost per Active User: Calculating the expenditure required to acquire and retain each active user.
c. The long-term growth of DeFi depends on keeping users actively involved, not just creating short-term activity spikes. I would consider supporting this proposal if the team creates a clear, step-by-step reward plan that gradually reduces over time. It’s also important to educate users about how DeFi works. Regular performance checks should be done to measure the program’s success, find areas to improve, and make sure participation stays genuine and valuable even after the rewards end.
2. Proposal: Establish a Subcommittee to Market NEAR Protocol
a. Additional Information Required:
- Strategic Plan: A comprehensive marketing strategy outlining target demographics, key messages, and chosen channels.
- Budget Allocation: Detailed financial planning, including allocations for campaigns, events, and content creation.
- Success Metrics: Defined KPIs such as website traffic growth, developer sign-ups, and social media engagement rates.
- Subcommittee Member Selection & History: Subcommittee member’s experience, success metrics, DevRel, etc.
b. Key Metrics for Evaluation:
- Developer Onboarding Rates: Tracking the number of new developers building on NEAR.
- User Acquisition Costs: Measuring the expense involved in attracting each new user.
- Brand Awareness Levels: Utilizing surveys and web analytics to gauge recognition and perception of the NEAR brand.
c. Marketing plays a crucial role in expanding NEAR’s user base and developer community. I would support this proposal if it presents a well-defined strategy that emphasizes DevRel activities, localized outreach, and measurable outcomes like developer sign-ups, social media engagement, and wallet creation and also collaborates with existing NEAR DEV and marketing teams for quick results.
3. Proposal: Establish a Protocol-Owned Liquidity Position
a. Additional Information Required:
- Risk Assessment: Analysis of potential financial risks, including impermanent loss and market volatility.
- Operational Framework: Details on liquidity management, including decision-making processes and oversight responsibilities.
- Exit Strategy: Criteria and plans for withdrawing liquidity if necessary.
b. Key Metrics for Evaluation:
- Liquidity Depth: Measuring the availability of assets in trading pairs to facilitate large transactions without significant price impact.
- Revenue Generation: Tracking fees and rewards earned from providing liquidity.
- Market Share: Assessing NEAR’s position relative to other protocols in terms of liquidity provision.
c. I would prioritize Protocol-Owned Liquidity because it helps the NEAR Foundation become more independent and less exposed to the risks of volatile external markets. This approach can strengthen key areas like the DeFi ecosystem, cross-chain connectivity, and overall visibility of NEAR. To fully support this, I’d want to see a clear plan for decision-making, risk management, and well-defined KPIs, such as TVL growth and efficient liquidity utilization.
L. What is your motivation for becoming a NEAR delegate?
My motivation to become a NEAR delegate comes from a genuine passion for building a stronger, more connected community. I believe in NEAR’s mission to make Web3 simple and accessible for everyone. I’ve seen myself grow along with this community.
As a delegate, my focus will be on driving sustainable, long-term growth of the ecosystem while keeping the community’s needs at heart. NEAR isn’t just a technology—it’s a community with the power to redefine the future of decentralization. I am excited and committed to contributing to this journey, empowering the community, and helping shape a brighter future for NEAR.
M. Anticipated Delegation Support: At this time, I have no delegation commitments. I will delegate my personal holdings.
Self-Assessment Criteria:
Total Score (9/10)
A. Experience (2/2):
- Experience with Regional Community Development, DeFi, and a deep understanding of NEAR Blockchain.
- Experience with governance in NEAR since I have worked as a TC member.
B. Diversity of Perspective (1/2):
- I bring a fresh perspective to the House of Stake, shaped by my experience in NEAR’s community and governance since 2021. From moderating discussions to serving on the Transparency Commission, I’ve seen how different voices contribute to the protocol’s growth. My goal is to represent viewpoints that may not always be heard but to help a more inclusive decision-making process.
C. Alignment with NEAR Ecosystem (2/2):
- I have been an active NEARian since early 2021 helping and growing NEAR Community.
- I have worked with NEAR Ecosystem projects directly or indirectly. So if the ecosystem grows, we as NEARians will grow together.
D. Governance Engagement (2/2):
- Actively voted during my time in TC.
- Engage at NEAR Forum for different proposals.
E. Conflicts of Interest (2/2):
- No conflict of interest with the HOS.
Delegate Code of Conduct
I have read and agree to the NEAR Delegate Code of Conduct.