Public Goods Infrastructure
The philanthropic and research arm of the ARO ecosystem, funding the builders and researchers working on shared infrastructure for the digital economy.
The Foundation channels resources toward research, education, and open source tools that benefit the broader community. We operate across five programs: grants, fellowships, research, open source, and education.
Durable systems require shared foundations. Open protocols, accessible research, trained builders, and informed communities are prerequisites for a conscious digital economy, not side effects of one.
By the Numbers
Grants Awarded
$250K+
Research Papers
12
Active Fellows
8
OS Repositories
15
Next Review Cycle
Q3 2026
Bulletin
APR 2026 Q3 grant cycle open
MAR 2026 2026 fellows announced
FEB 2026 Identity Primitives v1.0 released
Programs
Grants Program
Rolling applications. Individual grants ($5K--$15K), infrastructure grants ($15K--$50K), and community grants ($5K--$25K). Review cycle: Q3 2026.
Fellowship Program
12-month residency with stipend, mentorship, and institutional support. 2026 cohort: 8 fellows selected from 200+ applicants.
Research Initiative
Working papers on tokenomics, soulbound identity, permissioned governance, and treasury management. Open submission.
Open Source
Protocol libraries, smart contract toolkits, and developer resources. 15 active repositories under MIT/Apache 2.0.
Education
Technical workshops, blockchain bootcamps, and curriculum development for university partnerships.
Latest Publications
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