Uniswap DAO Allocates $12 Million of UNI for 20% Stake in Ekubo's Upcoming Governance Token

Uniswap DAO Invests $12 Million in Ekubo

The Uniswap DAO has made the decision to invest 3 million UNI tokens, equivalent to $12 million, from its treasury into decentralized exchange Ekubo. In return, Uniswap will receive a 20% share of a potential governance token.

Elevating Ekubo as Core Developers

Moody Salem, the founder of Ekubo, expressed his belief that this move is an important step in decentralizing the development of the Uniswap protocol. He sees it as effectively onboarding the Ekubo team as core developers for Uniswap.

Vote Results and Token Holders

The vote on Snapshot resulted in 21 million UNI tokens in favor of the investment and 12 million tokens against. This means that 63% of the voting tokens supported the move. Notably, five token holders accounted for 97% of the votes in favor.

Evidence of Contribution to Uniswap

Salem highlighted his previous role as an engineer lead at Uniswap and his significant contributions to its codebase. He also mentioned that Ekubo currently has $2.5 million locked in its smart contracts on Starknet, according to DefiLlama.

Usage of Tokens and Plans for Governance Token

The 3 million UNI tokens will be liquid and used to fund Ekubo’s operations while also contributing to the Uniswap protocol. Within one month after the proposal’s passing, Ekubo plans to create a governance token with 20% of its supply allocated to the Uniswap DAO’s treasury. The remaining tokens and any potential distribution will be under Ekubo’s control.

Opposition and Criticisms

Despite the majority vote in favor, there was significant opposition to the proposal. Critics raised concerns about the role of governance and accountability for Uniswap, questioned the implied $60 million token valuation, and expressed doubts about the thoroughness of due diligence.

Hot Take: Evaluating the Uniswap DAO’s Investment in Ekubo

The Uniswap DAO’s decision to invest $12 million in Ekubo demonstrates its commitment to decentralization and expanding development capabilities. By onboarding Ekubo as core developers, Uniswap aims to leverage their expertise and contribute to the growth of the protocol. However, opposition to the proposal highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and careful evaluation of token valuations. As this partnership unfolds, it will be essential for both parties to address these concerns and ensure that the investment aligns with the best interests of the Uniswap community.