Long as DRep of the Minswap protocol

Temp Check Discussion
1

Summary

This proposal is to vote on the election of Long, Founder of Minswap, as a DRep representing the Minswap ecosystem in Cardano Governance.

Background

As the largest decentralized exchange on Cardano, Minswap sits at the center of the network’s on-chain economy, facilitating trading activity, liquidity provision, and token launches. Given the growing importance of governance in directing treasury resources and defining ecosystem priorities, it is essential that leading DeFi builders are represented in governance decision-making.

As the founder of Minswap, I nominate myself as a candidate for DRep. Having built through Cardano’s earliest infrastructure constraints and scaled Minswap into the network’s leading DEX, I seek to represent DeFi centric interests within Cardano governance.

I wrote before about how the Cardano treasury is unsustainable: but DeFi can save it. DeFi and DEXs in particular are the main drivers of on-chain activity for blockchains. If we want the Cardano treasury to be sustainable (and keep growing, not just spending), we need to bring in more DeFi users. Governance must focus on practical initiatives that generate real adoption, measurable activity, and long-term value for the ecosystem.

What drives me

Since discovering Cardano in 2020, I’ve been driven by its vision, principles, and community. Building Minswap from a Catalyst proposal into the largest DEX in the ecosystem required launching through Cardano’s earliest technical challenges.

These experiences shaped my conviction that real adoption comes from usable products, deep liquidity, and active markets. I believe treasury resources must prioritize initiatives that drive on-chain usage, economic sustainability, and competitive positioning for Cardano globally. You can read more about why I decided to become a DRep.

My delegation address

drep1yty2qpvmmsvk5jzcjctuxr8v5264cz5sr965ryygxj9ae5seg7gah

Principles for Voting Rationale

  • Focus on sustainable on-chain value and treasury returns: support proposals that generate transaction volume, liquidity, and fee activity that can ultimately flow back into the treasury.

  • Proven practice over unproven theory: prioritize initiatives with demonstrated adoption models rather than purely experimental or theoretical frameworks.

  • Increase Cardano competitiveness: evaluate governance decisions against external market benchmarks to ensure Cardano attracts users, builders, and capital.

  • Financial oversight: ensure treasury spending remains transparent, auditable, and accountable.

  • Lean operational structures: promote efficient fund allocation with minimal bureaucracy and clear deliverables.

Conclusion

This vote represents an opportunity to strengthen DeFi representation within Cardano Governance by electing a builder who has played a central role in driving on-chain activity and liquidity.

Voting Options (to be extracted for the onchain vote)

  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
1 Like
2

Hello Long! I strongly support you becoming a DRep, but I do think it would be better if it’s without the “of the Minswap protocol”. I think, as the founder of the largest Cardano DEX by TVL, you have enough merits and credibility so as to become a DRep.

What I don’t understand is what the difference is between becoming a DRep and becoming Minswap’s DRep. If there are any, then it would be important to clarify the differences. If there aren’t any, then naming yourself “Minswap’s DRep” can be misleading and I would request a change in wording.

Another thing that worries me is the mixed responsibilities between Minswap Labs being the DAO managing members and those of being a DRep. Would there be any operational changes in terms of DAO fund management and delegation?

All in all, I strongly believe you have a lot to offer as a DRep, but I worry about doing it “in representation of Minswap”. I believe these roles ought to be kept independent.

In any case, I do believe

1 Like
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You have my vote! Glad we have you representing Minswap to the larger Cardano community

1 Like
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Long, I fully support your candidacy.
Your proven track record in building DeFi on Cardano gives strong confidence that you will drive sustainable growth for both Cardano and Minswap.

5

Long the Minswap and Minswap is Cardano

Couldn’t think of a better candidate