This article is part of the Inside The Collective series dedicated to guiding developers and community members through the ecosystem. From getting and staking RIF, to submitting and voting for proposals, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this series.
Whitelisting is the process of pre-approving wallet addresses (or users) to access something limited – like a token sale, NFT mint, beta app, or rewards program. If you’re on the whitelist, you’re in. If you’re not, you’ll have to wait or sit out.
It helps filter access. Projects use whitelisting to prevent spam, bot attacks, and unfair advantages (like whales scooping up all supply). It also allows them to prioritize early contributors, active community members, or people who meet certain criteria.
Each project has its own system. You might need to:
Join early and be active
Complete a task or application
Hold a token or NFT
Go through a KYC/KYB or verification process
It’s about proving you’re legit and aligned with the community/project.
Here, whitelisting means a builder has completed two steps:
Once both are complete, the builder’s wallet is marked Whitelisted on-chain and they become eligible to receive rewards from the Collective Rewards program or Grants.
A proposal is submitted (by the builder) through the DAO. The community votes to approve or reject the builder based on their project and alignment. Builders are encouraged to share more on the governance forum and promote their proposals.
Yes, but they don’t have to. Anyone with enough voting power can propose on a builder’s behalf after KYC is done.
Whitelisting ensures that funds from the Collective are going to real, verified builders with community backing – not random wallets. It protects the treasury and keeps the builder selection process transparent and participatory.