The NLnet Foundation, a globally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to supporting open internet technologies, has officially announced a strategic partnership with ARES, an emerging protocol focused on decentralized virtual world infrastructure. As part of this collaboration, NLnet will provide $2 million worth of ecosystem airdrop support to ARES, aimed at incentivizing early developers, community contributors, and ecosystem builders to co-create an open, composable, and user-owned digital future.
ARES: The On-Chain Operating System for Virtual Worlds
ARES is positioned as a foundational protocol for building the next generation of virtual worlds. It is committed to creating a decentralized, scalable, and immersive digital ecosystem. In its initial phase, the project focuses on three core infrastructure modules:On-chain Identity System: A verifiable and portable identity protocol that enables users to move freely across different virtual environments.
Composable Asset Protocol: Enables virtual items (e.g., gear, props, land, characters) to be combined, decomposed, or inherited, allowing developers to create complex asset logic.
Spatial Interaction Standards: Establishes unified standards for environments, behaviors, and physics, lowering the barrier for content creators and improving cross-platform consistency.
In parallel, ARES is advancing the design of its native blockchain, built for high-performance data transmission, low-cost interactions, and optimized compatibility with immersive real-time environments.
No Centralized “Metaverse,” Only Open-Source “Worlds”
ARES envisions a future where virtual worlds are not dominated by a few large tech platforms but are co-created, co-governed, and co-owned by countless decentralized networks. ARES aims to become the core toolchain for building on-chain metaverse experiences, empowering developers, creators, and everyday users with true digital ownership, creation rights, and seamless migration capabilities.Collaboration with NLnet Foundation: Embedding Governance into Open Virtual Space
Founded in 1997, the NLnet Foundation is one of Europe’s earliest champions of open-source technology and digital rights. It has supported projects like Tor, Jitsi, Nostr, and GNUnet. NLnet’s decision to support ARES is rooted in the project's:Deep commitment to decentralization;
Long-term governance-first design approach for virtual spaces;
Dedication to open-source principles and digital sovereignty for users.
The partnership will take the form of “Funding + Oversight + Open Collaboration,” supporting ARES in developing its modular protocol and interaction standards while encouraging open licensing of key components for broader adoption across the on-chain metaverse ecosystem.
$2 Million Ecosystem Airdrop Launched to Empower Early Builders
To catalyze early participation, ARES will roll out an airdrop incentive program totaling $2 million, including:Developer Incentives: Contributions to protocol modules, plugin development, and open-source initiatives.
Creator Grants: Support for designing virtual scenes, assets, and immersive storytelling.
Community Airdrops: Rewarding test users, governance participants, and community contributors.
Direct Grants: Available for research institutions and teams collaborating through the NLnet ecosystem.
The airdrop will be executed on-chain using a transparent, verifiable model, with oversight from the ARES governance community. Full participation guidelines will be announced via ARES' official website and social channels.
Bridging into the Binance Ecosystem for Full-Stack Incubation
ARES has formally applied to join the Binance ALPHA Incubation Program this month, aiming to leverage Binance's robust ecosystem for a full-stack incubation journey—from protocol architecture and dev tools to early community onboarding.The project also plans to develop compatibility bridges with BNB Chain, opBNB, and ZK ecosystems to enable seamless cross-domain asset flow and identity portability.
A Call to Future Builders
The ARES core team shared:“ARES is not a 'token-launching metaverse' project — it is a protocol built for builders. Through our partnership with NLnet, we hope to inspire a new generation of decentralized world creators, returning digital experiences to what they should be: open, composable, and user-owned.”
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