Cardano in Oceania: A community-led strategic plan for investing in growth.
On-chain changes
Informational action. No on-chain effect; the vote signals opinion only.
Abstract
The Cardano in Oceania 2025–2026 strategy and budget is a comprehensive plan designed to ignite Cardano’s growth in a strategically important region. By investing in people (capacity building and community), projects (hackathons and pilots), and promotion (marketing and storytelling), we create a virtuous cycle: more talent and awareness leads to more projects, which lead to real adoption and success stories, which in turn attract even more talent and partnerships. This aligns closely with Cardano’s mission of building a world-changing ecosystem – starting locally in Oceania, with ripples globally.
Motivation & rationale
This initiative is aligned with the principles of the Cardano Constitution and directly contributes to the network’s growth and adoption. By expanding Cardano’s presence in Oceania, the project strengthens decentralisation, reduces reliance on specific geographic regions, and enhances the network’s global resilience.
Oceania provides a unique and valuable testbed for piloting community-driven growth and adoption strategies. Its diversity of cultures, economies, and geographies allows for experimentation with scalable models of grassroots activation that can later be replicated in other regions worldwide. By engaging local communities, universities, businesses, and civic organisations, Cardano in Oceania demonstrates how decentralised technologies can deliver tangible impact at the community level.
This initiative promotes inclusion by welcoming underrepresented voices into Cardano’s governance and innovation processes, making the ecosystem more diverse and representative. It ensures transparency by openly publishing plans, progress, and evidence, reinforcing accountability and trust. It fosters collaboration by linking developers, educators, and enthusiasts locally with the broader global Cardano community, in line with the Constitution’s call for cooperative, community-driven development.
Finally, it prioritises sustainability by investing in durable community structures, education programs, and partnerships that will support Cardano’s growth and adoption for generations to come.
In short, Oceania is where Cardano can prove that decentralised, community-driven growth and adoption works.
Executive summary
Cardano in Oceania will deliver a practical engine for adoption by building a regional business-development track — training and mentoring local advocates, aligning efforts with global ecosystem teams, and pursuing real pilots with enterprises, startups, academia, and public agencies. In parallel, it will map the people, projects, and capabilities across the region into an interactive network, then use that map to convene roundtables, spot gaps, and actively match talent to opportunities so Cardano projects ship faster.
Momentum comes from hands-on community activation and clear storytelling: a stronger presence at major tech events, a flagship hackathon, a cadence of local meetups and governance workshops, and an integrated marketing push that empowers community content creators, surfaces regional case studies, and localises outreach for Oceania audiences. Together, these streams turn strategy into visible outcomes and a repeatable model other regions can adopt.
We request that DReps and other assessors review the full details of our strategic plan, which includes the program of work, budget breakdown, milestones and KPIs, available at https://cardano-in-oceania.github.io. To ensure the immutability of the content on this website, the hash of the Git commit for the markdown and other files used to build the website (using the GitHub Pages feature) is available in the “References” section of this metadata and in the footer of the website. By including the website hash in this metadata, it is included as part of generating the metadata hash submitted with this governance action on-chain.
Amount
The total amount requested through this budget is 778,000 ada.
Administration of the Cardano Funds
The administration of funds for this proposal will be conducted in a transparent, accountable, and constitutionally aligned manner. To ensure proper oversight, the following processes and roles are defined:
Administrator
The budget will be administered by selfdriven Services, acting in good faith on behalf of the Cardano community. The administrator will manage disbursements, verify milestone evidence, and uphold the principles of fairness and transparency. All administration activities will be traceable, with references to GitHub commits and IPFS hashes to guarantee immutability.
Milestone Processing
Funds will be released on a milestone-by-milestone basis. For each milestone, the proposer must submit clear evidence of completion to the GitHub repository maintained by selfdriven Services. Evidence may include documentation, educational resources, participation data, or other relevant deliverables. Milestones will be processed efficiently, and funds will not be unduly withheld once requirements have been met.
Dispute Resolution
In the event of disagreement regarding milestone delivery, determinations made by the selfdriven Services Financial Administrator will be considered final and binding in the first instance. However, proposers retain the right to escalate disputes to the Cardano community by submitting an Info-Action to the DReps, including all relevant evidence. If more than 50% of DReps vote in favour of the appeal, the administrator will recognise this decision and co-sign the transaction accordingly. This ensures that ultimate oversight remains with the decentralised governance process, in line with the Constitution.
Cardano Addresses
- Treasury funds will be received into addresses specifically designated for this proposal. To safeguard neutrality and accountability:
- The addresses will be delegated to the Auto-Abstain DRep, ensuring they are not used to influence governance decisions.
They will also remain unstaked to any Stake Pool Operator (SPO), ensuring that funds cannot generate staking rewards or confer advantage to specific pools.
Through these measures, administration of the budget ensures that funds are responsibly managed, that milestones are verifiable and tied to real outcomes, and that disputes can be resolved transparently within Cardano’s governance framework.
More information about selfdriven Services is available at https://selfdriven.services. A link to the document and hash available in the Reference.
Reporting
All reporting for this initiative will be conducted in a transparent, open, and verifiable manner, directly tied to the obligations and milestone processes outlined above.
Milestone Evidence
In accordance with the Processing of Milestones obligation, evidence for each milestone will be submitted to the GitHub repository maintained by selfdriven Services. This evidence will include reports, educational materials, event records, governance engagement summaries, and other outputs relevant to the stated objectives.
Frequency of Reports
Reports will be provided at the completion of each milestone. Each report will contain:
- A description of activities undertaken and alignment with the proposal’s objectives.
- A summary of outcomes, including metrics such as participation numbers, partnerships formed, or educational content delivered.
- Links and hashes to all supporting evidence, stored in GitHub and/or IPFS.
- A financial statement showing allocation and expenditure for the reporting period.
- Community Oversight.
Reports will be made publicly available, enabling the Cardano community to review and provide feedback. Any disputes regarding reported outcomes will follow the Dispute Resolution process described earlier, whereby appeals may be made through the DReps Info-Action mechanism.
Auditing
In alignment with Article IV.4 of the Constitution, provision is made for an independent auditor to verify reporting accuracy, compliance with milestones, and adherence to governance principles.
Constitutionality checklist
Purpose
This proposal establishes a community-led regional budget that catalyses real-world Cardano adoption throughout Oceania — standing up a business-development track, mapping and convening the ecosystem, and scaling hands-on community engagement, governance, and education. The goal is to deepen decentralisation and inclusion while turning strategy into visible, real-world pilots and a repeatable model other regions can adapt for sustainable, long-term growth.
Article III.5: The process of on-chain governance
- The proposal has been submitted in a standardised, legible format.
- All supporting documentation is published with URLs and hashes (GitHub commits and IPFS references) to ensure immutability and verifiability.
- The proposal includes a clear title, abstract, rationale, and supporting materials sufficient for governance decision-making.
Article IV.2: Funds administration
- An administrator (selfdriven Services) is specified, fulfilling the requirements of this provision.
- The proposal defines an internal process for fund administration using milestone submissions, dispute resolution mechanisms, and transparent reporting, all consistent with decentralised governance principles.
Article IV.3: Net-Change Limit
- The requested amount does not exceed the current Net-Change Limit.
- Treasury withdrawals under this budget are therefore constitutional and compliant with the safeguard against excessive expenditure.
Article IV.4: Auditor
- The proposal makes provision for an independent auditor to verify milestone evidence and financial accountability.
- This ensures compliance with constitutional audit requirements.
Guardrails
- This proposal is subject to TREASURY-04a, as it defines a Cardano blockchain ecosystem budget.
- Approval requires a threshold of >50% of the DReps’ active voting stake.
- Once approved, subsequent withdrawals pertaining to this budget will proceed only in accordance with the reporting, obligation, and dispute resolution processes set out in this proposal.
Conclusion
Cardano in Oceania represents a forward-looking investment in decentralisation, inclusion, and sustainability. By extending Cardano’s reach into Oceania, this initiative strengthens the network’s global resilience, broadens representation in governance, and builds durable structures for education and collaboration.
This proposal embeds accountability and constitutional alignment through:
- Obligations that define responsibilities for milestone delivery.
- Milestone Processing that ensures evidence is submitted, reviewed, and publicly verifiable.
- Dispute Resolution that offers community-based appeals via DReps.
- Reporting that ensures transparency and financial accountability.
- Auditing that provides an independent safeguard.
Together, these mechanisms provide a strong framework of checks and balances. By approving this budget, the Cardano community affirms its commitment to an inclusive and globally distributed ecosystem, ensuring Oceania’s voices, talents, and ideas contribute to Cardano’s long-term growth and success.
Rationale highlights
Why some of the largest DReps voted for and against, in their own words.
"Cardano in Oceania" is an inspiring, community-led initiative, and I deeply respect the team’s passion. However, I voted No, as I believe it would be more appropriate to start with a smaller budget through Catalyst. While the vision is compelling, its...
"Cardano in Oceania" is an inspiring, community-led initiative, and I deeply respect the team’s passion. However, I voted No, as I believe it would be more appropriate to start with a smaller budget through Catalyst.
While the vision is compelling, its success heavily depends on the team’s execution. Factors such as content quality, DRep development, business partnerships, and local transaction growth are all difficult to forecast and require significant trust.
Many similar initiatives have received funding in the past, yet few have delivered clear, measurable outcomes. Therefore, I recommend starting small and building up success incrementally.https://cardano-in-oceania.github.io/how/
KPI-related Concerns:
- Tracking wallets and transactions specific to Oceania seems difficult and potentially impractical.
- The goal of onboarding three new Catalyst participants feels modest compared to the ecosystem’s scale.
- Government or partner collaborations should be proposed with specific scopes and budget allocations.
- BD training plans should identify candidates, their backgrounds, and expected results up front.
- Since Oceania is largely English-speaking, global outreach in English may be more effective than region-specific campaigns.
「Cardano in Oceania」は、地域コミュニティ主導の素晴らしい取り組みであり、チームの情熱に深く敬意を表します。しかし私は、Catalystを通じてより小規模な予算で始める方が適切だと考え、反対票を投じました。
この提案のビジョンは魅力的ですが、成功はチームの実行力に大きく依存します。コンテンツの質、DRepの育成、ビジネス連携、ローカルのトランザクション増加など、どれも予測が難しく、信頼が前提となります。
過去にも同様の提案が資金提供を受けましたが、明確で測定可能な成果を上げた事例は多くありません。そのため、まずは小さな規模で始め、実績を積み重ねるアプローチを推奨します。https://cardano-in-oceania.github.io/how/
KPIに関する懸念点：
- オセアニア地域に限定したウォレット数やトランザクション数の追跡は、現実的に困難と思われます。
- Catalyst参加者3社という目標は、エコシステム全体の規模に対して控えめに感じられます。
- 政府や団体との連携は、具体的な内容と予算を明記した形で提示すべきです。
- BD人材の育成については、候補者のプロフィールや期待される成果を事前に示すことが望ましいです。
- オセアニアは主に英語圏であるため、地域特化よりグローバルな英語圏全体を視野に入れた発信の方が効果的かもしれません。
The Cardano Foundation, as a DRep, votes YES on the "Cardano in Oceania" budget info action. We believe the initiative is strategically sound and deserves a principled vote. A PDF version of this rationale is also made available. This proposal is a...
The Cardano Foundation, as a DRep, votes YES on the "Cardano in Oceania" budget info action. We believe the initiative is strategically sound and deserves a principled vote.
A PDF version of this rationale is also made available.
This proposal is a professional and grassroots effort to create a regional hub for Cardano. The plan to develop a repeatable model for ecosystem growth is a valuable strategic objective. We also note the inclusion of a milestone-based funding model and a framework for KPIs, which demonstrates a commitment to accountability. The team consists of active and credible community members.
Recommendations for a Treasury Withdrawal Proposal
While we support the direction of this info action, a subsequent treasury withdrawal proposal or revised info action should be significantly strengthened by addressing the following areas:
- A More Focused Scope: The current strategy is broad, aiming to deliver initiatives across multiple verticals (government, enterprise, non-profits) at once. Our recommendation is to narrow the focus of this proposal to one or two key areas where the team has existing networks. This would likely yield faster, more tangible results and build a stronger foundation for later expansion.
- Establishment of Baseline Data: The proposal outlines KPIs for growth but lacks baseline data on the region's current status (e.g., DRep participation, developer activity). To accurately measure the impact of the initiative, we would expect a treasury withdrawal proposal to include this starting-point data.
The Cardano Foundation, as a DRep, votes YES to signal our support for this type of strategic, community-led initiative and to encourage the proposers. We are confident that a more focused plan with clear baseline metrics would present a compelling case for funding, and we look forward to reviewing a revised proposal at the info action or treasury withdrawal stage.
NOTE on 'Internal Voting':
The fields constitutional and unconstitutional below reflect the CF governance teams' individual opinions whether they are for or against the proposal. Reason for this inconsistency is, that CIP-136 is at the moment only applicable to CC rationales, but we want to record the internal opinions of our DRep assessment transparently as well.As a DRep, I decided to vote NO for the proposal: Cardano in Oceania: A community-led strategic plan for investing in growth. A PDF version of this rationale is also made available. Recently, 37 out of 39 proposals were approved, which means a significant...
As a DRep, I decided to vote NO for the proposal: Cardano in Oceania: A community-led strategic plan for investing in growth.
A PDF version of this rationale is also made available.
Recently, 37 out of 39 proposals were approved, which means a significant portion of the budget has already been allocated. Many of these proposals focused on booths, marketing, and support for local communities. Meanwhile, Fund14, where hackathon-related proposals could be submitted, has just closed.
While I appreciate the intent behind this new proposal and believe it could have a positive impact, I think projects within the same category should be submitted and reviewed together. That way, they can compete on equal footing, making it easier to select the strongest ideas and manage total spending for the year.
In my view, this proposal should have been submitted earlier, alongside the others that were recently approved. As it stands, it feels like it overlaps with initiatives that have already received Treasury funding.
As a DRep, I’ve committed to prioritizing support for builders over marketing initiatives. Rejecting this proposal aligns with that commitment, especially during the first year of on-chain governance.
Soon, a major proposal will request 50M ADA to inject liquidity into Cardano DeFi—and possibly another to support Bitcoin DeFi. These initiatives are far more critical to ecosystem growth. With this year’s NCL set at 350M ADA, we need to be selective and strategic. I’d strongly prefer not to see us approach that limit too quickly.
I’d prefer to see this proposal submitted next year, once the new NCL is approved and we begin planning the 2026 budget. That timing would allow it to be properly evaluated alongside other initiatives and ensure more strategic allocation of funds.
Until then, the team can think about using Catalyst Fund15.
This is the info action side of things, and I'll vote it through to get it to the next stage of treasury withdrawal. I have full confidence in the team. I am a part of it too, but in the next phase I'd be abstaining from the vote as its a clear conflict of...
This is the info action side of things, and I'll vote it through to get it to the next stage of treasury withdrawal.
I have full confidence in the team. I am a part of it too, but in the next phase I'd be abstaining from the vote as its a clear conflict of interest voting for a proposal that I am a part of for funding the business development and growth here in Oceania.