Link to Medium: https://medium.com/@txbchain/texas-blockchain-a-month-in-review-f3bda9d02d94

Dive into the events, achievements, and milestones that mark the beginning of a promising year for Texas Blockchain.

President’s Note

Julian Saks

Texas Blockchain is raising the standard for university blockchain organizations in 2024. Our journey continues with our research, labs, incubator, and fund divisions, as well as the introduction of the Longhorn DAO and a dev ops team. Our aim with these monthly reports is to actively engage our students, faculty, and partners, ensuring everyone is connected in the Texas Blockchain experience. We hope you enjoy reading.

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Fund: Nurturing Ideas and Setting Examples

Head: Savindu Wimalasooriya

With the early stages of the semester and ongoing recruitment, TXB Fund crafted a pitch for January. The team–led by Savi–and Sree–head of Labs–pitched Nosana, Restake, and Solana, not only strengthening their bullish Solana ecosystem thesis but also setting an inspiring example for the incoming cohort this semester.

DevOps: Powering Blockchain Development

Head: Shantikiran Chanal

Closing the month on a high note, Texas Blockchain’s DevOps Division celebrates significant achievements. The division has become an active node for the Ripple EVM sidechain, shaping its direction through their involvement in TXB DAO’s proposals. DevOps is proud to announce the development of the Quai Network GPU miner, which is set to enhance mining efficiency and contribute to the Quai Network’s growth. Looking ahead, they’re gearing up for node hosting for Base and Aleo, showcasing their commitment to diversify their involvement in the blockchain space. The team is actively working on the necessary setups and configurations to ensure a smooth and efficient deployment. They are now better positioned to take on any node hosting tasks and are eager to collaborate with networks seeking reliable node hosters. Exciting times ahead as they continue making strides in the blockchain landscape.

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Labs: Building Technical Foundations

Head: Sree Duggirala

The Labs Division kicked off January with Base Camp, delving into (re)learning Solidity foundational material, connecting the stack, and mastering important SDKs. The team’s dedication to learning and hands-on experience positions them as key contributors to the technical prowess of Texas Blockchain. They are looking forward to attending ETHDenver soon!

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on a journey of growth, collaboration, and groundbreaking achievements in the months to come!

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Incubator: A New Chapter of Innovation

Head: Cole Anderson

TXB Incubator welcomes fresh faces and bids farewell to dedicated leader, Safi Modi. The Texas Blockchain Team thank him for his invaluable contributions and wish him the very best in his future endeavors. As Cole Anderson takes the helm as the new director, TXB Incubator gears up for an exciting semester. With Maanav Porwal as Head of Mentors, Harish Kolli as Head of Startups, and Vishnu Sreenivasan as Head of Talent, the Incubator is poised for innovation and growth. The upcoming 10-week program starting February 7th promises to be a journey of collaborative excellence.

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DAO: Navigating Blockchain Opportunities

Head: Viren Govin

The TXB DAO Division voted on Origin Protocol proposals and secured approval for voting on Ripple proposals. The team also initiated consulting frameworks for startups like Atlas and Heirloom, with Kado, Medallion, and AnyKraft consulting beginning soon. Texas Blockchain is excited to see the upcoming collaborations on the horizon for DAO. Check out DAO’s votes below!

DAO Vote #1: Enable locking of OETH collateral + Add Convex Frax locking strategy. DAO voted Yes. https://snapshot.org/#/ousdgov.eth/proposal/0xba0787415b63d4463a12197078011f4e834e3504a666d00fcbff4e48abb59066

DAO Vote #2: RFC: Implement AI for OGV Buybacks Using Autonolas (OLAS). DAO voted Yes. https://snapshot.org/#/ousdgov.eth/proposal/0x794eeea20c2fe16cabc5c5aff3f5bca215d74f297c332bbe99aef883f97addb5

DAO Vote #3: Increase the minimum veOGV required for new proposals. DAO voted 30,000 veOGV. https://snapshot.org/#/ousdgov.eth/proposal/0xb2b6b0192bbba96da4abdfc6f86fed2f436d0012620107450b0608aa9c0799ba

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Research: Pioneering Long-Term Opportunities

Head: Esha Bora

January witnessed the Research Division actively seeking long-term research opportunities for students at UT Austin. With six students exploring projects on topics such as AMMs, MEV, and yield maximization, the division has laid the groundwork for in-depth exploration and collaboration with professors and graduate students. TXB Research is shaping up to be at the forefront of advancing blockchain knowledge within the academic community.

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Media: Curating Content and Community Engagement

Head: Melinda Wang

The Media Team spearheaded new initiatives in January, focusing on producing more content and enhancing awareness of Texas Blockchain’s various divisions. From informative recap posts on events like Hackathons and Investment Pitches to introducing division members on the website, the team is committed to keeping the community informed and engaged.

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