December 18, 2024

The NLnet Foundation, a globally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to supporting open internet technologies, has officially announced a strategic partnership with ARES, an emerging protocol focused on decentralized virtual world infrastructure. As part of this collaboration, NLnet will provide $2 million worth of ecosystem airdrop support to ARES, aimed at incentivizing early developers, community contributors, and ecosystem builders to co-create an open, composable, and user-owned digital future.

ARES: The On-Chain Operating System for Virtual Worlds

ARES is positioned as a foundational protocol for building the next generation of virtual worlds. It is committed to creating a decentralized, scalable, and immersive digital ecosystem. In its initial phase, the project focuses on three core infrastructure modules:
 
On-chain Identity System: A verifiable and portable identity protocol that enables users to move freely across different virtual environments.
Composable Asset Protocol: Enables virtual items (e.g., gear, props, land, characters) to be combined, decomposed, or inherited, allowing developers to create complex asset logic.
Spatial Interaction Standards: Establishes unified standards for environments, behaviors, and physics, lowering the barrier for content creators and improving cross-platform consistency.
In parallel, ARES is advancing the design of its native blockchain, built for high-performance data transmission, low-cost interactions, and optimized compatibility with immersive real-time environments.

No Centralized “Metaverse,” Only Open-Source “Worlds”

ARES envisions a future where virtual worlds are not dominated by a few large tech platforms but are co-created, co-governed, and co-owned by countless decentralized networks. ARES aims to become the core toolchain for building on-chain metaverse experiences, empowering developers, creators, and everyday users with true digital ownership, creation rights, and seamless migration capabilities.

Collaboration with NLnet Foundation: Embedding Governance into Open Virtual Space

Founded in 1997, the NLnet Foundation is one of Europe’s earliest champions of open-source technology and digital rights. It has supported projects like Tor, Jitsi, Nostr, and GNUnet. NLnet’s decision to support ARES is rooted in the project's:
Deep commitment to decentralization;
Long-term governance-first design approach for virtual spaces;
Dedication to open-source principles and digital sovereignty for users.
The partnership will take the form of “Funding + Oversight + Open Collaboration,” supporting ARES in developing its modular protocol and interaction standards while encouraging open licensing of key components for broader adoption across the on-chain metaverse ecosystem.

$2 Million Ecosystem Airdrop Launched to Empower Early Builders

To catalyze early participation, ARES will roll out an airdrop incentive program totaling $2 million, including:
Developer Incentives: Contributions to protocol modules, plugin development, and open-source initiatives.
Creator Grants: Support for designing virtual scenes, assets, and immersive storytelling.
Community Airdrops: Rewarding test users, governance participants, and community contributors.
Direct Grants: Available for research institutions and teams collaborating through the NLnet ecosystem.
The airdrop will be executed on-chain using a transparent, verifiable model, with oversight from the ARES governance community. Full participation guidelines will be announced via ARES' official website and social channels.

Bridging into the Binance Ecosystem for Full-Stack Incubation

ARES has formally applied to join the Binance ALPHA Incubation Program this month, aiming to leverage Binance's robust ecosystem for a full-stack incubation journey—from protocol architecture and dev tools to early community onboarding.
The project also plans to develop compatibility bridges with BNB Chain, opBNB, and ZK ecosystems to enable seamless cross-domain asset flow and identity portability.

A Call to Future Builders

The ARES core team shared:
“ARES is not a 'token-launching metaverse' project — it is a protocol built for builders. Through our partnership with NLnet, we hope to inspire a new generation of decentralized world creators, returning digital experiences to what they should be: open, composable, and user-owned.”
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