Season 4 closed with more creator output than any season before it.
Long-form explainers, threads, visual breakdowns, community-facing content across Korea, Japan, LATAM, France, and Hong Kong. The work shaped how Season 4 was understood both inside and beyond the River community.
That contribution deserves recognition. And recognition works best when the people closest to the work get to weigh in.
S4 Best Creators is a community-led campaign. RIVER Stakers decide which creators shaped the season. The Top 30 share $1,500 RIVER and 150,000 River Pts.
No algorithmic ranking. Voting power comes from staked RIVER, following the governance framework already live on River.
Vote here → app.river.inc/fun
How Voting Works
The campaign runs across two weekly rounds, from April 27 to May 11.
- Voting is open to any address holding Staked RIVER
- Each address votes once per round
- Two rounds total, snapshots refresh weekly
Voting power is derived directly from the staking position on-chain. The formula follows the River Staking Parameters for Activation
Voting power = staked amount × multiplier
| Epoch | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 3 Months | 1x |
| 6 Months | 2x |
| 9 Months | 4x |
| 12 Months | 8x |
Longer commitment carries heavier weight. The same logic that governs River Staking applies here.
Weekly Snapshots
Each round uses the previous Saturday's snapshot.
- Round 1 (April 27 to May 4) uses the April 25 snapshot
- Round 2 (May 4 to May 11) uses the May 2 snapshot
Because snapshots refresh weekly, participants can adjust between rounds. Extending an epoch, increasing stake, or both, all reflect in the following snapshot.
Worked Example
An address stakes 1,000 RIVER for 6 months before voting opens.
| Round | Snapshot | Stake | Multiplier | Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | April 25 | 1,000 RIVER | 2x | 2,000 |
| Round 2 | May 2 | 1,000 RIVER | 2x | 2,000 |
Same address opens a second position of 500 RIVER for 12 months before May 2:
| Round | Snapshot | Positions | Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | April 25 | 1,000 RIVER, 6 months (2x) | 2,000 |
| Round 2 | May 2 | 1,000 RIVER, 6 months (2x) + 500 RIVER, 12 months (8x) |
6,000 |
| Total across both rounds | 8,000 | ||
Total voting power across both rounds: 8,000, compared to 4,000 without the additional stake.
The design rewards continued commitment throughout the voting period, not just position at a single point in time.
Candidate Pool
Candidates are drawn from creators active across Season 4. Submissions remain open throughout the voting period, and the pool expands as new entries come in.
Creators can submit their own work. Community members can nominate others.
Submission → https://forms.gle/4cN9AxrzpMJzmcg27
Who Can Submit
- Active participation in Season 4
- Demonstrated reach or community influence
- Submission through the official form before voting opens
Content types include written posts, threads, videos, tutorials, community contributions, and any original work that brought River to a wider audience.
Reward Distribution
The Top 30 receive a pyramid distribution across four tiers, weighted by final vote share. Top 10 carry approximately 77% of both pools.
Rewards will add to each winner's S5 balance on River4fun, linked through their connected X handle.
| Rank | Per Creator | Tier RIVER | Tier River Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $300 RIVER + 40,000 River Pts | $300 | 40,000 |
| #2 to #3 | $175 RIVER + 20,000 River Pts | $350 | 40,000 |
| #4 to #10 | $75 RIVER + 5,000 River Pts | $525 | 35,000 |
| #11 to #30 | ~$16.25 RIVER + 1,750 River Pts | $325 | 35,000 |
| Total | $1,500 | 150,000 |
Final ranking is determined by aggregated votes across both rounds. Rewards are distributed within one week of voting closing.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 25 (Sat) | Round 1 snapshot |
| April 27 | Voting opens, Round 1 begins |
| May 2 (Sat) | Round 2 snapshot |
| May 4 | Round 2 begins |
| May 11 | Voting closes |
| Week of May 12 | Results published, rewards distributed |
How to Participate
For voters:
- Stake RIVER if not already staked
- Add a new staking position to increase voting power for the next round
- Review candidate and cast a vote each round
For creators:
- Submit your S4 work through the form
- Share your submission with the community
- Track your position on the leaderboard as votes come in
Vote here: app.river.inc/fun
Why This Matters
Governance at River is built on one idea: influence should follow commitment.
River Staking applies that logic to protocol governance. S4 Best Creators applies the same logic to recognizing the people who built the season's public narrative. RIVER stakers who have committed to River's direction decide which creators shaped it.
Season 4 was shaped by its creators. The community decides who stood out.
About River
River is building the first chain-abstraction stablecoin system that connects assets, liquidity, and yield across ecosystems.
Powered by the omni-CDP stablecoin satUSD, River allows users to collateralize assets on one chain and mint on another — natively earning, leveraging, and scaling across networks.
River App | @RiverdotInc | Telegram | Discord | Docs
