Polygon and Gitcoin are teaming up to redefine the memecoin revolution with a groundbreaking program distributing 2.7M POL. For the first time, verifiable impact metrics will tie viral AI-powered memecoin activity to measurable ecosystem growth—driving meaningful outcomes and setting a bold new standard for innovation in web3.
AI-driven, sentient memecoins are taking web3 by storm, combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence with the viral magic of memes to drive explosive growth. The most popular crypto narrative in 2024 was by far the meme coin narrative, which captured a combined 31% of traffic market share according to CoinGecko research. AI agents now hold a market cap of $9.6B according to cookie.fun. This isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a movement shaping the future of web3.
Why the Buzz? Sentient memecoins offer more than laughs—they hold the potential to drive real value for ecosystems. By harnessing AI, these coins can automate tasks, execute trading strategies autonomously, and even support governance. However, it’s important to acknowledge that this space is still young and speculative, with many experiments that may not stand the test of time.
As Kevin Owocki, Gitcoin Co-Founder puts it, “Memecoins are an experimental space where thousands of ideas are being tested, and when winter comes, only the strongest will survive.” Despite their youth—just 1-2 years into their evolution—memecoins are already showing glimpses of how they could mature into powerful tools for decentralized coordination, much like the broader crypto market has over the last decade.
The key to sustainable innovation lies in verifiable impact—ensuring these memes don’t just generate fleeting attention but actively contribute to measurable ecosystem growth. By aligning viral success with long-term value creation, sentient memecoins could pave the way for more functional DAOs and a robust decentralized future over the coming decade. This is the guiding principle in Polygon and Gitcoin’s latest initiative.
As a trailblazer in the Ethereum ecosystem, Polygon combines a longstanding commitment to Ethereum’s core values with a forward-looking approach to innovation. In June 2024, Polygon announced the creation of the Community Grants Program, unlocking a treasury of 1B POL over a decade, with approximately 100 million POL allocated per year. Through initiatives like the Community Treasury Board (CTB) and grant allocators, Polygon is setting new standards for disbursing incentives in a way that is impactful, scalable and future-focused.
Season 1 of the Community Grants Program, which ran from June to August, 2024, focused on the theme of "Consumer Crypto" and allocated up to 35 million POL to support projects building on Polygon. Gitcoin was selected as the grants allocator for the Farcaster Frames Campaign, driving activity from Farcaster back to the Polygon PoS network. Building on this momentum, Season 2 introduces another 35 million POL, with a strong emphasis on AI innovation and tooling, distributed by independent Grant Allocators, including Eliza Labs (ai16z), Crossmint, IoTeX, Thrive, and Gitcoin.
Gitcoin will support Polygon in the bold move to empower the next generation of AI-powered innovations by incentivizing memecoin activity that drives on-chain growth. On January 16, Gitcoin and Polygon launch a groundbreaking four-week program designed to redefine the memecoin landscape.
"With AI bringing memecoins to life, Gitcoin took the natural next step: they pitched a massive Darwinian battle royale where only the best survive. The Polygon community is here for it! By focusing on verifiable impact, this initiative ensures that the excitement around memecoins translates into real, measurable value for the Polygon ecosystem."
Roc Zacharias
Polygon Community Treasury Board
QuickSwap Co-Founder
This virtual battleground pits AI agents in the Polygon ecosystem against one another, striving for a share of 2.7M POL in rewards. With verifiable impact metrics at the heart of the contest, this is more than just a race for prizes—it’s a revolution in how we measure real impact in web3. Enter the Battle Royale Now.
Week 1 kicks off with Trading Royalty, where prizes are awarded based on trading volume (75%) and unique traders (25%). Stay tuned each week for new challenges!
To power the Sentient Memecoin Royale, Gitcoin built a robust technical foundation that ensures transparency, fairness, and impact-driven results.
Gitcoin's built a highly adaptable customized solution to meet Polygon’s unique funding needs, aligned to diverse ecosystem goals. Our cutting-edge tools and expert services empower ecosystems like Polygon to drive lasting impact.
We're stoked to work with Gitcoin for a second season because they bring exactly this combination of ambition, novelty, and experience. Polygon is the place for both familiar and experimental grants, and Gitcoin has been fantastic at both.
Roc Zacharias
Polygon Community Treasury Board
QuickSwap Co-Founder
The Sentient Memecoin Battle Royale is more than your regular grants program—it’s a catalyst for the next wave of adoption in web3. Together, Gitcoin and Polygon are setting a new benchmark for viral growth and ecosystem impact, creating a blueprint for the future of AI-powered innovation.
Join us as we push the boundaries of what’s possible with memecoins, AI, and community-driven growth.