In Brief:
- Funding Allocation: The Avalanche Foundation has dispersed over $160,000 in grants from its Retro9000 program to six projects that enhance the Avalanche Layer 1 and developer tools.
- Project Selection: ChainArq, Orange Web3, Paradise Tycoon, The Grotto, FanHub, and TURF Network were the chosen projects from a snapshot taken on January 13, 2026.
- New Funding Methodology: The Retro9000 program has introduced the C-Chain Round, evaluating projects based on real transaction data and AVAX burn rate.
Avalanche Awards Over $160,000 in Grants to Layer 1 Builders
The Avalanche Foundation announced more than $160,000 in grants to six projects under its Retro9000 grant program. This program rewards developers creating Layer 1 solutions and tooling on the Avalanche mainnet. The recipients, selected based on a snapshot on January 13, 2026, include ChainArq, Orange Web3, Paradise Tycoon, The Grotto, FanHub, and TURF Network. These teams are currently in the process of fulfilling KYB and KYC prerequisites for fund receipt.
Projects Driving Real Usage on Mainnet
Retro9000 is known for funding projects that show substantial on-chain activity and development rather than potential-based proposals. The highlighted projects in this fourth cohort have already demonstrated significant contributions to the Avalanche ecosystem by establishing functional Layer 1 solutions and infrastructures.
Shift to Usage-Based Funding
Parallel to the announcement of the fourth cohort, the Avalanche Foundation unveiled the Retro9000 C-Chain Round. This new phase represents a shift from wallet-based voting to a scoring system grounded in actual use data, as determined by the AVAX burning rate through transactions. A public leaderboard will rank projects based on the volume of AVAX burned, with the top 40 projects by the end of each round eligible for rewards. The initial C-Chain round is set to start on March 2, 2026, with the next L1 and Infrastructure Tooling round snapshot on July 14, 2026.
Incentives for Community Participation
The grant program also supports community engagement through a referral system. Community members who refer projects that eventually receive funding will be rewarded with up to $3,000 in AVAX for each project in each round.
Highlight on Paradise Tycoon
One noteworthy project among the recent grant recipients is Paradise Tycoon by Finnish developer Empires Not Vampires. The game, running on its bespoke Paradise Chain tailored for its gaming needs, allows players to build and develop tropical islands without combat, focusing instead on social collaboration and a player-driven economy. Since its launch, Paradise Tycoon has amassed over 1 million players, with 250,000 active monthly users. Its financial ecosystem is centered around the MOANI token, integral to trading and auction activities within the game.
As these projects continue to evolve and capitalize on the new funding model, the Avalanche network stands to experience enhanced growth and diversification across its blockchain and application offerings.
