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The DAO Returns With $220 Million Ethereum Security Endowment From Unclaimed 2016 Funds

Grants will be allocated through DAO‑native mechanisms such as quadratic and retroactive funding.

Overview

  • The project announced its revival on X with the message "TheDAO is back," signaling a new chapter nearly a decade after the 2016 exploit.
  • Reports indicate more than 70,500 ETH—cited by some as 75,000 ETH—will be redeployed into a fund valued at roughly $220 million.
  • $13.5 million is earmarked for security grants to be distributed via DAO processes including quadratic funding, retroactive public goods funding and ranked‑choice RFPs under The DAO Fund.
  • The remaining 69,420 ETH is planned to be staked on Ethereum’s Beacon Chain to create an endowment expected to generate about $8 million annually at current rates.
  • Coverage from Unchained, CoinDesk and CoinCentral reports involvement or talks with Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation, though formal confirmations from all parties have not been issued.