July 2025
Hey builders! Welcome to our latest CR guide. Collective Rewards is where consistent contributors get ongoing incentives, while building the future of Bitcoin. This isn’t just funding - it’s a long-term community engagement.
First things first: What’s the difference between Grants and Collective Rewards?
Grants = One-Time Funding
- Fixed amount with milestones & tranches
- Ends when project is complete
- Who it’s for: Builders creating new projects on Rootstock, teams integrating with the ecosystem, specific feature development, marketing campaigns, research initiatives
Collective Rewards = Recurring Incentives
- Bi-weekly reward cycles
- Community-backed incentives
- Long-term engagement within the DAO
- Who it’s for: Established builders with live products, ongoing ecosystem contributors, projects generating consistent value/transactions on Rootstock
Think of it as:
- Grants = funding to do what you do in Rootstock / “I need a kickstart to build this specific project”
- Collective Rewards = rewards for providing added value to Rootstock “incentives from the community because they love what I’m building”
So… How do Collective Rewards Work?
Rewards are distributed bi-weekly: based on the backing you’ve received from RIF stakers. Once backers support you, rewards will continue to be distributed to you each cycle (backers can readjust their support anytime).
You share success: Set your “Backer Reward %” to incentivize community support. Higher % typically attracts more backing. You can adjust this percentage anytime with a 7-day cooldown.
Performance matters: More ecosystem value = more backing = more rewards.
Step-by-Step: Becoming an Activated Builder
Step 1: Complete KYC
Submit KYC Google Form here. You will then receive an email requesting more information. Once submitted, wait for approval!
Step 2: Create Discourse Proposal
Post on Discourse using the format described in this thread.
Required Template:
Project Name: [Your Project Name]
Submission Date: [DD.MM.YYYY]
Team: [Name, Role & LinkedIn/GitHub links]
Sector: [Infrastructure/DeFi/Gaming/Consumer/Tools]
Project Stage: [Live/Beta/Scaling]
Links to Deck/Video/Images**: [YouTube, demo links, pitch deck]
Links to Socials: [Twitter, Telegram, Discord]
Description: [Brief overview of what you're building]
Mission: [Your project's core purpose and problem being solved]
Product: [How your product serves Rootstock users]
Traction: [Key metrics - volume, transactions, users, TVL]
- Total Volume: $X
- Transactions: X
- Active Users: X
- Additional metrics/dashboards
Step 3: Submit On-Chain Activation
- Go to RootstockCollective dApp
- Ensure you have at least 1,000 stRIF staked (minimum)
- Create Proposal → Select “Join builder rewards”
- Fill in:
- Builder Name: How you’ll appear in leaderboards
- Proposal Name: [YYMM Builder Activation] ProjectName
- Link to your Discourse proposal
Step 4: Community Voting
- Engage with the community to get proposal votes
- The community can vote either YES/NO/ABSTAIN
- Voting is live for one week
- If quorum is reached with a positive voting outcome and KYB approved: You’re activated and eligible for rewards!
Managing Your Rewards
Claiming: Visit “My Collective” after each cycle to claim rewards
Updating Strategy: Change your Backer Reward % anytime (7-day cooldown)
Staying Activated: Keep building, maintain community backing, stay engaged
Requirements
Ongoing Commitments:
- Live, functional application
- Regular development progress
- Community engagement
- Generate real Rootstock ecosystem value
Pro Tips
- Start with working product, not just ideas
- Engage community before applying
- Ship regularly to keep backers engaged
- Share updates in Discord/Discourse
FAQ
Q: Can I have both grants and rewards? A: Yes! Many builders use grants to build, then activate for ongoing rewards.
Q: What if I don’t get backing? A: No backing = no rewards. Focus on building value and engaging the community.
Q: How long does activation take? A: Approximately ~2-3 weeks (KYB + discussion + voting)
Ready to join the Bitcoin builder economy? Questions? Join our Discord or post on Discourse
*Collective Rewards are temporarily unavailable in the following regions: United States of America, South Sudan, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Yemen, Haiti, Russia and Ukraine territories occupied by Russia.