Case StudyArbitrum Research & Development Committee
Castle Labs was elected as the Research Member within Arbitrum's ARDC, selected over Blockworks, Messari, and The Block. Five published deliverables that shaped DAO funding, governance, and incentive programs.
2025 | Concluded
The Brief
Arbitrum's DAO needed independent research that could set strategic direction, not just describe it. The ARDC was formed to embed researchers directly into governance workflows, producing deliverables that would inform funding decisions, risk mitigation, and ecosystem positioning. Castle was elected to serve as the committee's Research Member, responsible for setting the research agenda and delivering outputs that carried real weight in DAO deliberations.
They governed. We researched.
What We Did
- Set the research agenda for the ARDC, defining which questions mattered most for DAO governance
- Acted as both lead researcher and peer reviewer (e.g., for Nethermind), ensuring rigour across all committee outputs
- Partnered with DefiLlama Research on three major deliverables, combining Castle's ecosystem knowledge with quantitative analysis
- Published all research on the Arbitrum governance forum, ensuring transparency and community access
- Designed a builder support pipeline that reshaped the DAO's approach to growth and impact funding
Published Deliverables
Governance Risks and Mitigations in Arbitrum
Published research on governance vulnerabilities and quorum risks, catalyzing an increase in delegated voting power across the ecosystem.
Supporting Nethermind
Recommendations for DAO Grant Programs
Delivered targeted grant program recommendations for D.A.O. Season 3, strengthening Arbitrum's funding strategies.
In partnership with DefiLlama Research
Sequencer Revenue Sustainability Analysis
Analyzed sequencer fees and settlement costs, accounting for congestion and competitive margin compression to establish a vision for sustainable revenue generation.
As a reviewer to Nethermind
Incentive Program Assessments & Recommendations
Delivered structured incentive analysis, actionable recommendations, and boilerplate templates that were referenced across DAO discussions.
In partnership with DefiLlama Research
Arbitrum Ecosystem Mapping & Positioning Recommendations
Developed granular ecosystem mapping at the product and pool level, helping Arbitrum identify underpenetrated verticals and capture emerging market share.
In partnership with DefiLlama Research
Impact
Strengthened Arbitrum's funding strategies by delivering targeted grant program recommendations for D.A.O. Season 3.
Catalyzed strategic objective setting within the DAO by designing a builder support pipeline that reshaped the community's approach to growth and impact funding.
Supported governance recovery by publishing research on governance vulnerabilities and quorum risks, catalyzing an increase in delegated voting power across the ecosystem.
Informed new incentive program designs through structured incentive analysis, actionable recommendations, and boilerplate templates referenced across DAO discussions.
Enabled targeted growth initiatives by developing granular ecosystem mapping at the product and pool level, helping Arbitrum identify underpenetrated verticals.
Castle's ARDC research didn't just inform decisions. It shaped the structures through which Arbitrum allocates capital, manages risk, and grows its ecosystem.
Commission Research That Moves Markets
Same rigour. Same ecosystem depth. Your protocol's research agenda, executed by Castle.
Scope My Research