When I first became involved with the Stacks ecosystem, what stood out most was the energy and genuine enthusiasm coming from all parts of the community. You could really see this spirit in action with SIP-031. The proposal was all about helping our ecosystem grow, and it was great to watch how everyone in the community came together to make it happen. What started as a big idea turned into something real thanks to everyone’s effort.

Going through the governance process again, it really stood out how much people in the Stacks community care and get involved. With SIP-031, there was a lot of back-and-forth on the forums, live AMAs, and plenty of discussion on Twitter and livestreams. It felt like everyone was willing to listen and share their thoughts.

I’ve written before about developer work and financial transparency for the Stacks Foundation, and SIP-031 was interesting because you could see firsthand how open conversations and a common goal can push things forward. All the comments, questions, and votes showed that people actually pay attention and want to be part of the process.

In this post, I’ll go over the main points of the SIP-031 process, focusing on how the community influenced things along the way. Looking back, it’s clear that this kind of engagement is what makes decentralized governance work.

When SIP-031 launched as a draft on May 27, 2025, it was clear that refining the draft would be a collaborative process. Titled Fueling Stacks Builders & Growth, the draft was shared on the Stacks Forum as a true work in progress. The authors included placeholders and comments to encourage feedback, and I appreciated their openness and desire for real community input right from the start.

People responded quickly on the forums, sharing their thoughts, questions, and suggestions. There was a clear interest in supporting builders and growing Stacks, and it was good to see so many different perspectives come in to help shape the proposal.

Building on the energy from the initial draft, we saw SIP-031.1 arrive on June 4, 2025; a revised version shaped by the community’s thoughtful feedback. I watched as a new forum thread, SIP-31.1: A New Draft Arrives, became a hub for deeper discussion, with the updated proposal directly addressing earlier concerns. Notably, it clarified that grants would be inclusive for all builders and introduced a token burn mechanism to keep the Endowment in check.

It was exciting to see forum participants (builders, experts, and governance enthusiasts alike) digging into the technical, economic, and long-term vision behind these changes. Ecosystem leaders were right in the mix, answering questions and shaping the proposal in real time. For me, this phase really highlighted how our community’s collective expertise and passion make the SIP process a true co-creation.

Ecosystem leaders also hosted a series of Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions. I found events especially rewarding. There’s something powerful about seeing faces and hearing voices behind the usernames and witnessing firsthand how feedback and questions directly shaped the proposal. It’s a reminder that governance isn’t just a process; it’s a living, breathing collaboration.

Alex Miller, one of the SIP co-authors and the CEO of Hiro, also hosted several open office hour conversations to field questions and concerns from the community. These touchpoints with the community were a big turning point in sentiment around the SIP, where Stacks builders and users responded positively to leaders becoming more engaged with them.

• AMA 1 (June 3, 2025): The first session focused on introducing SIP-031 and outlining its goals. Community members raised questions about implementation timelines and resource allocation, sparking a lively discussion that informed subsequent revisions.
• AMA 2 (June 10, 2025): The second AMA dove deeper into the revisions made in SIP-031.1. It also included insightful remarks from venture investor Hivemind, where Hivemind’s founder Matt Zhang publicly voiced his support for the SIP.
• AMA 3 (June 17, 2025): The third AMA focused on governance considerations and next steps. Research advisory firm House of Chimera attended as a guest speaker and they discussed their support for the SIP, with opinions backed by their research.

These AMAs and conversations provided clarity and helped everyone feel more involved and connected to the process. The recordings are available and ensure anyone who was unable to attend is able to listen in.

On June 6, 2025, the Stacks community participated in a Governance CAB livestream hosted by DeOrganized Media. The livestream offered an in-depth look at the SIP-031 review process by the Consideration Advisory Board. The session featured discussions on technical feasibility, economic viability, and governance alignment, with community members joining to ask questions and share insights.

The Stacks ecosystem has also attracted attention from institutional investors, adding further momentum to the process. Several prominent venture capital firms have voiced support via X posts. The insights from these influential voices, who have significant skin in the game, offered a fresh perspective, as major investors bring deep consideration to Stacks’ potential and future direction.

• Tim Draper (@TimDraper): On June 12, 2025, Draper praised Stacks’ innovation and SIP-031’s treasury framework, pledging a “Yes” vote. Post
• Union Square Ventures (USV) via Albert Wenger (@albertwenger): On June 11, 2025, Wenger noted USV holds STX and is supportive of SIP-031. Post
• Hivemind Capital Partners (@HivemindCap): On June 10, 2025, Hivemind expressed optimism about the SIP’s commitment to builders, users, and the STX asset. Post
• Placeholder via Chris Burniske (@cburniske): On May 30, 2025, Burniske endorsed SIP-031 remarking the proposal can create further growth while keeping emissions low. Post
• Sypher Capital (@syphercapital): On May 27, 2025, Sypher signaled support for SIP-031 to encourage ecosystem growth. Post

These endorsements from investors like Draper Associates, USV, Hivemind, Placeholder, and Sypher Capital reflect growing confidence in Stacks’ trajectory.

As of Wednesday, June 25th, the vote for SIP-031 is now live.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, challenged, and championed this proposal. The future of Stacks is bright because of you. I’d love to see every STX token holder join in and cast their vote. This is your chance to help shape what comes next for this important proposal and the future of Stacks.