Our project, Project Merlin, actively contributes to the growth of the Open Source Software (OSS) ecosystem by providing decentralized, transparent, and community-driven solutions that enhance accessibility and innovation in Web3 development. Below are specific ways in which Project Merlin expands the current ecosystem:

Decentralized Crowdfunding for OSS Projects:

Through MerlinCap DAO, our platform enables open source developers to receive decentralized funding for their projects. The community votes on which projects to fund, promoting democratic decision-making and rewarding contributors for their involvement.
This model encourages the development of new OSS projects by providing a clear pathway for funding without relying on traditional VC or centralized platforms.
Collaboration and Talent Sourcing:

Merlin’s Guild, our freelance marketplace, facilitates the collaboration of OSS developers and professionals across multiple blockchains. This enables open source projects to quickly find and hire talent for specific tasks, enhancing the speed and quality of OSS development.
By providing a marketplace where freelancers can be paid in cryptocurrency, we lower entry barriers for global participation in OSS projects.
Enhanced Community Engagement:

With Excaliber, our on-chain engagement platform, we encourage users to participate in blockchain-based quests and earn rewards for their contributions to OSS projects. This gamified system fosters deeper involvement in the ecosystem, helping build strong, active communities around open source projects.
Launchpad for Open Source Projects:

Avalon Launchpad offers a decentralized platform for OSS projects to conduct Initial Decentralized Offerings (IDO), enabling early community investment. This allows open source developers to secure initial funding while also growing a loyal, engaged user base from the outset.