Connext (connext.network) is a cross chain protocol that allows users to quickly and inexpensively transfer tokens and data across chains, and builders to create secure cross chain applications. It’s intended for high-frequency transfers and works by leveraging liquidity pools provided by routers on the sending and receiving chains without introducing any new trust assumption. Connext has been the first protocol to connect Optimism and Arbitrum in a trustless way back in 2020.

The current version of the protocol has been live for more than 1 year with $1.4B+ in volume.

We recently made 2 critical announcements:

Amarok 24, our first network upgrade. Connext will adopt a modular architecture and build on top of Nomad, an optimistic communication protocol that will guarantee the security of the network;
We are transitioning into a DAO with the launch of the $NEXT token 76
We are big supporters of the Ethereum ecosystem and we want to help Optimism to succeed.

These are the synergies that we can work together on:

Help develop cross chain apps (xApps) based on Optimism: thanks to Connext, builders that want to operate on multiple chains don’t have to actually deploy on multiple chains, but can just choose Optimism as a central hub and execute secure cross chain operations from there, without the need of the user to ever leave the L2.

Increase the TVL by bringing more liquidity and more users to Optimism

We propose to use the allocated OP for (2), while incentivizing (1) with educational activities such as guides, videos (check the "Burning Bridges channel on Youtube), AMAs, and the Connext Grants program