What is this about?

This discussion revolves around an investigation into NFTEarth's activities during the Arbitrum on Gitcoin Grant Funding Fest. The investigation was initiated due to multiple community members flagging NFTEarth as a potential "bad actor" and their STIP proposal. The investigation, led by ZER8, found that NFTEarth's leadership is closely linked to L2DAO, a known bad actor in the web3 community. There was also evidence of misuse of funds and inappropriate reactions such as threatening round admins and using alternate accounts to simulate the appearance of an upset community¹. As a result, Plurality Labs decided to exclude NFTEarth from receiving the matching funds payout from the recent Gitcoin on Arbitrum Funding Fest and remove their eligibility from all Plurality Labs grant programs¹.

How is the community reacting?

The community reaction is mixed. NFTEarth and 0xWeston defended their actions, asserting that they were being unfairly targeted due to their innovative and competitive approach. They accused the investigation team of involvement in various unfounded and illogical malicious activities^3,5. 0xMaestro also defended the NFTEarth team, stating that the accusations are based on a single forum post written by a paid individual and that Dicaso and FractalVisions have been defaming the NFTEarth team for almost a year⁴.

On the other hand, GrantScams thanked ZER8, DisruptionJoe, FractalVisions, and Dicaso for ending NFTEarth's activities on Arbitrum and warned the community to be wary of their new efforts⁹.

Why this is positive?

The positive aspect of this situation is the proactive action taken by the community and Plurality Labs to investigate and address potential misconduct. This demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the web3 ecosystem and ensuring that funds are used appropriately. The community's active participation in the discussion also shows a high level of engagement and concern for the ecosystem's health.

Why this is negative?

The negative aspect of this situation is the allegations of misconduct and misuse of funds by NFTEarth and their connection to L2DAO, a known bad actor in the web3 community. This has led to a heated debate within the community, with accusations and counter-accusations being made. The situation has also resulted in NFTEarth being excluded from receiving matching funds payout from the recent Gitcoin on Arbitrum Funding Fest and their removal from all Plurality Labs grant programs¹. This could potentially impact the development of their projects and the overall health of the web3 ecosystem.