Istanbul, on the shores of the Bosphorus and formerly known as "Byzantium" and "Constantinople," was a key stop along the ancient Silk Road and serves as a Schelling point where East meets West.

Between 2017 and 2019, Ethereum's Metropolis phase included two hard forks—“Byzantium” and “Constantinople”—laying the foundation for Ethereum’s transition from PoW to PoS, and its evolution from the quiet "Homestead" era to the bustling "Metropolis" stage. From November 13–19, 2023, Ethereum’s annual developer gathering, DevConnect, will take place in Istanbul.

We hope to help more Chinese-speaking builders attend DevConnect in person—an event with the highest concentration of developers in the decentralized world—and engage in face-to-face exchanges with the global community. However, international airfare may pose a barrier, especially for independent developers. To address this, GCC has partnered with numerous Chinese-speaking communities and media outlets to launch a free flight initiative, sponsoring 10 outstanding builders from Chinese-speaking regions with round-trip tickets to attend Ethereum’s DevConnect in November!

Application Link：

https://commotion.page/view/uPTuF3Wvuohy9G6Wsb2r

Deadline：October 18, 23:59 GMT+8

What is GCC?

GCC stands for Universal Digital Commons of Global Chinese Community. We aim to build a community of Chinese-speaking builders within the global digital commons, providing incentives for contributors in this space, attracting more builders to participate, and channeling greater funding into public goods projects. Our goal is to improve the current situation where Chinese-speaking regions contribute relatively little to blockchain public goods and receive insufficient financial support. GCC has previously funded Gitcoin Grants 15 & 18, as well as the Gitcoin Grants Beta Round.

GCC is interested in various digital public goods projects, particularly those related to Web3 infrastructure, decentralized science, security and anti-fraud, crypto education, policy advocacy, and decentralized governance within the global Chinese-speaking community. We hope our support will have a positive and transformative impact on the quality and quantity of public goods worldwide.

Website：https://gccofficial.org/

Twitter：@GCCofCommons

What is DevConnect?

DevConnect is a week-long, decentralized developer event organized by the Ethereum Foundation. Unlike other crypto conferences, DevConnect does not feature a central summit or main stage. Instead, it consists of numerous self-organized smaller events, aiming to bring all Ethereum developers together in one location to sync up and collaborate.

As stated on its homepage, the Ethereum Foundation chose Istanbul as the host city for DevConnect 2023 “to leverage its unique position as a bridge between East and West… The city’s distinctive blend of history, culture, and modernity will provide an inspiring backdrop for the global Ethereum developer community to gather, collaborate with passionate groups, and drive innovation forward.”

View Schedule：https://devconnect.org/schedule

What can you gain?

✈️ A flight ticket to Istanbul: In this bear market, we understand that not every Chinese-speaking builder can easily afford long-distance international travel. If you're hesitating about attending, we hope GCC’s support can help remove your concerns.

✨ Engage with core Ethereum builders: DevConnect is Ethereum’s most densely attended developer event. You’ll have the chance to meet and exchange insights with the world’s top Ethereum developers in person.

🚀 Learn cutting-edge technologies: Attend technical talks and workshops to dive deep into the latest trends in the Ethereum ecosystem and find inspiration for your own projects.

🌍 Explore Turkey: Beyond the conference, you'll also have the opportunity to experience Turkey’s rich culture and beautiful landscapes while building connections with developers from around the world.

How to Apply?

You must meet the following criteria:

1. You must be an active Ethereum builder whose native language is Chinese, with relevant technical experience or project background; involvement in public goods projects is a plus;

2. Complete the application form, sharing your basic information, past experiences/work, and your motivation for applying;

3. Applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English; including relevant English proficiency proof is advantageous;

4. Ensure your passport and visa are valid to allow smooth travel arrangements.

How Will We Select Recipients?

GCC is committed to supporting public goods development in Chinese-speaking regions and fostering exchanges between Chinese-speaking builders and the international community. However, due to barriers in language, culture, geography, and the challenges of international travel in recent years, engagement between Chinese-speaking builders and the core global developer community remains limited.

To identify builders aligned with GCC’s mission, we will prioritize developers—especially independent developers without full-time salaried positions—followed by product managers and UI/UX designers. We will not consider applicants from marketing, operations, or investment roles at this time. Final selection of the 9 sponsored recipients will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of demonstrated skill level (e.g., via GitHub or other portfolios), experience and familiarity with public goods projects, and completeness of the application.

Additionally, one lucky recipient will be selected through a Twitter giveaway hosted by GCC. For specific rules, please follow @GCCofCommons. The giveaway will run concurrently with the application process.

If selected, we will contact you promptly to confirm travel details. Reimbursement will be on a reimbursement basis, with a maximum of 5,000 RMB per person; any excess costs must be covered by the applicant.

(We recognize no selection process is perfect. If you are not selected this time, please don’t be discouraged. GCC continuously supports outstanding public goods projects. If you wish to apply for project funding, please visit our website and fill out the Public Goods Funding Application.)

GCC’s resources are limited. We hope to inspire more organizations and individuals to join us in making greater contributions to Chinese-speaking public goods initiatives. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or partner for this flight sponsorship program, please reach out via Twitter or Telegram @HAZELHU.

👉 Flight Sponsorship Application Link