The Optimism Collective: Experimenting with Non-Plutocratic Governance
The Optimism Collective is embarking on a bold experiment in non-plutocratic governance and funding public goods, aimed at shaping a more aligned internet. In this article, we delve into our agile approach to governance, iterating relentlessly to establish a robust and enduring system.
Vision Unveiled: Optimism’s Path to Global Governance
Last month marked a pivotal moment as we unveiled our vision for Optimism’s governance system. For years, the question was often “when token?” Yet fewer asked “why token?” The answer is straightforward but profound: to decentralize control of the network for the mutual benefit of the protocol and its stakeholders.
As Ethereum moves towards global scalability, so too do the stakeholders of the Superchain. This presents a historic opportunity to foster a new era of the internet—one governed by and for its users.
The Next Episode
Blockchain governance is still in its infancy, with many exciting experiments underway. However, developing a governance system that fosters innovation, self-expression, and liberty will take time.
- We have set a guiding north star for the Optimism Collective.
- Yet, we recognize that achieving the ideal governance model will require iterative refinement over decades, not merely years.
Thus, the Optimism governance will undergo repeated cycles of self-destruction and reconstruction, each iteration aiming to build a more resilient and sustainable system.
A Living Constitution
Accompanying the recent announcement was the Working Constitution of the Optimism Collective. This foundational document includes:
- Experiments in governance overseen by the Optimism Foundation.
- Development of the Citizens’ House to balance short-term incentives with long-term vision.
- An explicit self-destruct mechanism for the constitution itself, ensuring continuous adaptation and improvement.
Initial Commit: OPerating Manual v0.1
Today, we release the first operating manual for the Collective, v0.1. This document empowers the Token House to perform key functions like upgrades and treasury allocations, while laying the groundwork for future iterations.
The Role of the Optimism Foundation
The Optimism Foundation plays a crucial role in realizing the Collective’s vision:
- Managing experiments in Retroactive Public Goods Funding and identity-based NFTs.
- Maintaining and improving the OPerating Manual for agile governance.
- Executing on-chain transactions as directed by the Collective.
The Foundation, led by industry veterans and governance experts, is actively seeking new talent to join its mission.
v0.2: The Citizens’ House
Following the launch of the Token House and Airdrop #1, attention turns to the Citizens’ House—an identity-driven component of the Collective’s governance.
The Citizens’ House, governed by holders of Citizenship NFTs, will experiment with identity-based governance, focusing on funding public goods beneficial to the Optimism and Ethereum ecosystems.
Embracing the Future
The rise of Ethereum L2 presents an unprecedented opportunity to shape a human-centric internet. Together, as a community, we are poised to make a significant real-world impact through innovative governance and collaborative effort.
Let’s embrace this opportunity, build a resilient governance model, and set a precedent for future generations of Optimists.
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