LFDT Kenya

A learning group for zero knowledge and SNARK application development.

Most organizations on Ethereum are effectively anonymous. Contracts are deployed to nameless addresses, treasury wallets have no verifiable link to the org that controls them, and AI agents operate with no on-chain accountability. For protocols and DAOs trying to build credibility and operate transparently, this is a real problem — and it's one that existing tooling hasn't solved.

Open source is the foundation of Web3, but most ecosystems still fund it like a series of short-term projects instead of long-term public infrastructure. As decentralized networks grow, the real challenge is no longer just building software. It is maintaining the critical code, tooling, standards, and contributor communities that keep the ecosystem secure, usable, and resilient.

This session explores what an architecture for sustaining open source in Web3 should look like. We will examine why traditional grant models often fall short, how maintenance differs from feature delivery, and why decentralized ecosystems need clearer coordination structures without recreating centralized control. The discussion will introduce models such as decentralized OSPOs and open maintenance frameworks as practical ways to align governance, funding, accountability, and contributor support.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how Web3 ecosystems can move from reactive funding toward intentional stewardship of open source infrastructure.