I have a bittersweet taste about the results of the recent Zcash Foundation Minor Grants.
I'm happy for those selected, since they are related to the technology that moves the strings behind the courtains of the Zcash ecosystem, and improving the backend may impact the way us, the community, interact with such ecosystem.
But I think I’m on the side of those who voiced their sadness for the fact that the same community giving life to said ecosystem was not considered in this voting.
Maybe it's normal for those on the coding side of the building to feel the urge to improve the code as much as they can, and for those on the user side of it to try to boost all about community, but the fact is there could have been a little more parity that, in the long run, would have been better for Zcash than focusing only on development projects.
There were educational, promotional projects oriented to educate the people on the importance of financial privacy and freedom, and how they can use Zcash to enjoy and defend those rights, that could help bring new users to an ecosystem that will not grow like we want it to if there's no one using the awesome tech behind it.
Banks are not a powerful Titan because of their technology, they are because people is already convinced that there's nothing better, and the system keeps making sure it is that way through promotion and education. When a kid reaches a certain age they must open a savings account, you must save your money for retirement, you need a credit to buy a house, and so on.
If there were no people convinced about any of these things, banks wouldn't even exist, not matter how good their tech is.
Maybe we could find a way to make sure the votes are better distributed between tech projects and community projects, maybe we could find a better balance to keep the machines running while aknowledging and celebrating the best ideas from those in charge of promotion and education.
That will not only keep the ecosystem improving and growing, but will keep those who share their ideas motivated because they are being considered.
I, personally, still feel incredibly happy because my contribution to Zcash has been very well recognized and rewarded, and In the process I've learned so much about the technology behind Zcash and crypto in general, a knowledge that helps me grow as an individual and share the best of it with those around me.
But I'd like to see other zcashers in our community having the same luck I've had, and having the oportunity to share the best they have with us and with the world, with the support and impulse that the Zcash family can provide.
I was thinking about a possible alternative to make this balance possible in the future, and I read this zpage by my fellow Zcasher Roosevelt, that shares some of my opinions and proposes a very viable solution.
We're human, and whatever system we implement will always be imperfect, but together we can keep improving our ecosystem while we keep growing and learning with it.