Voting in Optimism’s Retro Funding Rounds is one of the best ways to make a real impact in the Ethereum ecosystem. But if you’ve ever participated, you know the process can sometimes be a little overwhelming. You’re suddenly presented with a massive list of projects, all of which are deserving, innovative, and impactful. How do you even begin to rank them?
Let’s face it, deciding which projects should get funding is not always as simple as picking your favorite restaurant for dinner. When the stakes are high, it can feel like an impossible task. That’s where Pairwise comes in — to help you vote in a way that’s not only manageable but with moments of delight as you work your way through lists, selecting left or right on pairs as they appear and leveraging the round-result ranking to help you make fund allocation calculations.
Pairwise is also participating in Retro Funding 6 as an applicant and we could use your support! Jump to the bottom of this article to find out how.
The Problem: Voting Overload is Real
Imagine this scenario: You’re a badgeholder in Retro Funding 6, ready to dive into voting, but suddenly you’re faced with 100+ projects, all clamoring for funding. Your mind races. Which one is the most impactful? How can you compare them all fairly? You try to sift through all the information, but before long, your brain starts feeling like it’s stuck in quicksand.
This cognitive overload is a genuine problem. Retro Funding is designed to distribute funds to the projects that truly deserve them, but when voters are overwhelmed, it’s easy to either rush decisions or disengage altogether. You want to make informed choices, but figuring out where to start? That’s a whole other challenge.
Enter Pairwise: The Vote-Sanity Saver
Here’s where Pairwise becomes your new best friend. Rather than forcing you to rank dozens or even hundreds of projects all at once, Pairwise simplifies the process by presenting you with just two projects at a time. It’s like a Web3 version of a "Would You Rather?" game. Which project made the bigger impact? Pick one, and then move on to the next set of two. Rinse, repeat, vote done.
How Does Pairwise Help?
Simple & Fast: Instead of sitting there for hours feeling like you’re drowning in options, Pairwise breaks it down. Just two projects. Side by side. You compare them, and in no time, you’re moving through the list. It’s like voting in bite-sized pieces!
Less Stress, More Fun: Remember those times when voting felt like a chore? With Pairwise, it’s different. The small, rapid comparisons keep your brain fresh and engaged. It’s more like playing a quick-fire game of “Which is Better?” rather than trying to cram for a final exam. No panic attacks, we promise.
No Math Degree Required: Don’t worry about trying to rank every single project perfectly. Pairwise’s algorithm is the true hero behind the scenes. It combines all the comparisons you (and other badgeholders) make, automatically creating a fair and accurate ranking. You don’t have to worry about the big picture—Pairwise takes care of that for you, like a Web3 Sorting Hat.
More Fair Results: This process of comparing two projects at a time levels the playing field. Projects get considered one-on-one, so you can give each project the attention it deserves. The final results? A more balanced, fair outcome that reflects the collective wisdom of the community.
Liquid Democracy: A Bold Step for Community-Driven Decisions
In Retro Funding 6, Optimism is pioneering an innovative approach to governance with an experimental application of liquid democracy, and Pairwise is right at the heart of this initiative.
Unlike traditional voting methods, liquid democracy gives you more flexibility in how you engage with Retro Funding. If you’re feeling uncertain or overwhelmed by the voting process, you can delegate your voting power on specific categories to others within the community who you believe will make informed decisions. In turn, delegates can pass along voting power to others if they prefer, allowing a fluid transfer of decision-making authority through trusted community members. This means your vote can go to someone you trust, without requiring you to dive into every detail yourself.
This experiment aims to help more people within the community contribute meaningfully without the mental load of assessing each individual project. By trying out liquid democracy, we’re exploring ways to make Retro Funding a more inclusive, decentralized, and manageable experience for everyone.
Ready to experience this yourself?
👉 Try liquid democracy in the current Retro Funding 6 round with Pairwise and see how this evolving approach can simplify your decision-making process while letting your voice be heard.
Why Pairwise Is a Game-Changer for RF6
In Retro Funding 6, Optimism is experimenting with expert and non-expert voters. Experts are likely super busy and already have many things on their mind. Non-expert voters likely have less experience calculating fund allocation. Pairwise is a game-changing tool that makes voting both time and mentally efficient.
By breaking the process down into smaller comparisons, Pairwise helps you:
Avoid decision fatigue: No more stressing over long lists and rankings.
Make quicker, more focused votes: Each project gets equal attention, and you can move faster.
Enjoy the voting experience: Let’s be honest—no one likes drowning in spreadsheets. With Pairwise, voting feels lighter and easier to tackle.
Contribute to a fairer process: Your choices matter, and the way you compare projects one by one results in more thoughtful and balanced outcomes for everyone.
The Pairwise Experience: How It Works
BADGEHOLDERS & GUEST VOTERS:
Go to the Optimism voting UI.
Allocate budget.
Click on "Vote using Pairwise."
Allocate budget again 🤯.
Rank your category.
Edit results and export to the main UI.
Cast your ballot.
Alternatively, come back to Pairwise for the experiment.
Pairwise in Action: Why You’ll Love It
Not only does Pairwise make the process easier, but it also creates a sense of fairness. Projects don’t have to compete for your attention in a crowded list—they’re presented head-to-head, taking out the noise.
Ready to Make Voting Fun Again? Try Pairwise!
With RF6 just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to simplify your voting experience. Let Pairwise take the headache out of ranking projects, so you can focus on the projects that really matter.
👉 Use Pairwise to cast your vote in Retro Funding Round 6. Voting doesn’t have to be stressful—Pairwise makes it quick, easy, and, dare we say, fun!
