Arbitrum to Unlock $250M for Ethereum Gaming

To strengthen the gaming ecosystem on Ethereum's layer-2 network, more than $250 million in Arbitrum tokens will be unlocked over the next three years. This move follows significant backing for a DAO proposal now up for vote by token holders.

Arbitrum to Unlock $250M for Ethereum Gaming

Arbitrum, a scaling solution for Ethereum, offers quicker and more cost-effective transactions than the mainnet. It has drawn several notable gaming projects, such as the Xai layer-3 network, Treasure's Infinity Chains, Proof of Play’s on-chain gaming network, AnimeChain, and the upcoming ApeChain, which will support Bored Ape Yacht Club-themed initiatives using ApeCoin.

Despite the significant gaming activity already happening on Arbitrum, its supporters are eager to foster even more growth in this area.

The Gaming Catalyst Program (GCP) is designed to boost gaming on the network, allocating 225 million ARB tokens (over $255 million) over three years. This includes 200 million ARB specifically for gaming projects and an additional 25 million ARB for managing the funding campaign.

These tokens will be strategically distributed across two key initiatives. The first, aimed at builder onboarding and growth, will allocate 160 million ARB tokens to attract and support game developers. This funding will be provided through grants or direct investments in individual projects.

The second initiative, infrastructure bounties, will receive 40 million ARB tokens to develop the necessary tooling and technical infrastructure to support the gaming community on the Arbitrum network.

"Publishers and developers will undergo a stringent evaluation process to ensure alignment with the proposal's goals and Arbitrum DAO's values," the DAO proposal states. This process includes forming a council of five gaming experts to oversee the program, alongside support from the Arbitrum Foundation.

Currently, the vote has reached quorum with nearly 83% positive votes, down from around 98% as of Thursday. Voting concludes on June 7. Treasure praised the positive response in a tweet on Wednesday, noting that the proposal was "on track to being unlocked for Treasure and other gaming-focused entities within the Arbitrum ecosystem."

The program plans to fund 100 to 200 games over three years, launch more than 50 Arbitrum Orbit chains, and attract more projects to migrate to Arbitrum compared to other Ethereum scaling solutions.

However, the proposal recognizes that the impact of these funding initiatives will take time to materialize. Most games supported by this program won't go live this year, especially since grant applications are not anticipated to open until June or July.