The Arbitrum Foundation, responsible for the Ethereum Layer 2 network Arbitrum, has announced a new initiative called the Gaming Catalyst Program (GCP). This program will allocate 200 million ARB tokens, valued at approximately $215 million, to support game development over the next three years. The goal is to increase the use of Arbitrum, Orbit, and Stylus among game developers and players.

Arbitrum Logo and Cover Art

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Arbitrum Foundation, which serves as the support organization for the Ethereum Layer 2 network Arbitrum, aims to capitalize on the growing interest in blockchain gaming. Traditionally, popular blockchain platforms for gaming projects have included Polygon, Immutable, Avalanche, and Solana.

Details on the Gaming Catalyst Program

First proposed in March and approved on June 7th with more than 75% of votes in favor, the GCP aims to distribute 200 million ARB tokens over two years. Key supporters of the proposal include L2Beat, Wintermute, and the gaming-focused Treasure DAO, while Blockworks Research and Camelot DAO opposed it.

Treasure DAO

Following the approval, Treasure DAO commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "Arbitrum is the home of gaming — let's make some magic happen." The program is designed to support both new and early-stage developers with grants of up to 500,000 ARB, or about $525,000. Established developers can apply for larger investments, which may include a value share component such as tokens or equity.

How the Funds will be Distributed

Funds from the program will also cover infrastructure-related bounties and operational expenses. A team will be appointed to manage the daily operations of the program, and a five-member council with expertise in gaming, venture capital, data analysis, and DAO governance will provide strategic oversight. This council will have the authority to veto investment decisions and team appointments to ensure proper allocation of funds according to the DAO's objectives.

The Arbitrum Foundation Logo

The GCP includes a financial framework that caps operational expenses at $25 million. Any spending beyond this limit will require explicit DAO approval. Arbitrum's Gaming Catalyst Program aims to foster innovation and growth in blockchain gaming, positioning the Layer 2 network as a key player in the industry.