Reputation Mechanics Overview
This is a high-level summary. See Deep Dive section for greater detail.
Last updated
This is a high-level summary. See Deep Dive section for greater detail.
Last updated
(See for more information.)
Evo-Labs created the DAO Governance Framework (DGF), a software framework for building by providing a which enables decentralized organization. An essential aspect of any organization is to specify the protocols governing acceptable member behavior. In a it is especially important that these protocols be formalized and automated with open source smart contracts processed by distributed computing. is the process of specifying and updating these protocols.
DGF gives DAO founders the template structure to formally specify the protocols for 1. , 2. review procedures, and 3. the process for updating the protocols, themselves. These are alternately described as 1. , 2. , and 3. governance, respectively.
The most important function of a DAO, its workflow, determines the reward mechanism. The workflow process answers the question of why anyone would ever choose to participate in a DAO. The failure to build sophisticated and balanced incentive mechanisms is the primary reason for the failure of any DAO. DGF relies on (called REP) for all its governance mechanisms. analyzes the meaning, value, and security of a REP token design.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
A self-governing entity where membership is defined by holding reputation tokens.
EvoLabs Governance Framework (EGF)
The structural blueprint that outlines how the DAO operates, including its rules and protocols.
Client
A blockchain platform supporting smart contracts and native currency transactions.
Client Fungible Proprietary Token (CFPT)
The native fungible currency of the client blockchain.
Matrix
A federated communication platform used for off-chain interactions.
Reputation (REP)
A non-fungible token (NFT) representing a participant's influence and contribution within the DAO.
Forum
An on-chain collection of posts serving as a record of contributions and discussions.
Validation Pool (VP)
A consensus mechanism used to validate contributions and adjust reputation scores.
Work Evidence (WEV)
Proof of completed tasks submitted by workers.
Work Smart Contract (WSC)
A contract facilitating engagements between workers and customers for specific tasks.
Availability Smart Contract (ASC)
A contract where workers stake their reputation to signal their availability for work.
Membership in an EvoLabs DAO is established by owning at least one reputation token minted by the DAO. These tokens grant voting rights and entitle holders to a share of the DAO's revenues. Each reputation token has a numeric, non-negative value that can change based on the outcomes of Validation Pools, which are consensus-driven processes assessing contributions.
The Forum acts as an on-chain ledger of posts, each with a unique ID and potentially multiple authors. Posts may include weighted citations of prior posts, creating a time-directed, weighted directed acyclic graph (WDAG) that maps the flow of information and influence within the DAO.
Validation Pools are initiated by transferring CFPT to the DAO along with parameters specifying conditions like duration and target posts. They mint new reputation tokens proportional to the received CFPT. Existing reputation holders can stake their tokens for or against the Validation Pool (VP). The outcome affects the distribution of new and existing reputation tokens and the allocation of CFPT among reputation holders.
- Implements an ERC-20 token standard to represent reputation.
- Allows internal functions such as minting, burning, and updating tokens based on Validation Pool outcomes.
- Manages posts and their relationships.
- Supports posts with multiple authors, each assigned a weight summing up to 1.
- Enables citations of other posts with weights between -1 and 1.
- Accepts CFPT to initiate validation of a specific post.
- Mints reputation value in proportion to the fungible currency tokens.
- Awards reputation to winning voters and propagates reputation to cited posts up to a certain limit.
- Facilitates transactions between customers and workers.
- Manages fees, assigns work, and handles submission of work evidence.
- Initiates Validation Pools to approve completed work.
- Allows workers to stake reputation tokens to signal their availability.
- Assigns work to available workers when called by a Work Smart Contract.
- Adds the EvoLabs Governance Framework widget to a Matrix room.
- Initializes the reputation token on-chain by deploying an EGF REP contract, which includes Forum and Validation Pool logic.
- Mints initial reputation tokens to distribute among founding members.
- Creates a WSC outlining terms and conditions for tasks.
- Makes the WSC available in the widget for customers to engage by sending CFPT.
- Engages the Availability Smart Contract to stake reputation tokens, indicating readiness for specific work contracts.
- Stakes can occur on-chain or include a signed transaction for future execution.
- Executes the WSC on-chain by transferring CFPT.
- A deterministic algorithm assigns a worker based on availability and stakes, ensuring fair selection.
- The customer notifies the selected worker via Matrix.
- Submits proof of completed tasks through a Matrix message.
- Includes a client signature from the worker and may include a Matrix signature from the customer.
- Cites other posts representing contributions to the work.
- Upon approval in a Validation Pool, the worker receives reputation and CFPT rewards.
- Expresses interest by signing Matrix messages with their client wallet.
- Earns initial reputation by having contributions cited in approved Validation Pools, akin to code inclusion in a production release.
- Utilizes a rollup contract to batch multiple transactions, optimizing on-chain operations.
- A batch worker compiles activities into a rollup post and submits it for validation.
- If the batch worker fails to submit, the contract can replace them and initiate a Validation Pool to address the lapse.
- Forum Post: Contributions that can include weighted citations to other posts. Authors include signatures to earn reputation.
- Work Events:
- Stake Availability: Workers indicate availability for specific contracts by staking reputation.
- Request Work: Customers announce work requests and assigned workers using deterministic algorithms.
- Submit Work Evidence: Workers submit proof of work and initiate a Validation Pool for approval.
- Submit New Work Contract: Clients propose new WSCs and initiate Validation Pools targeting them.
- Initiate: Parameters include the target post, duration, token loss ratio, and quorum.
- In cases where unanimous consensus is expected, durations may be short, and token loss ratios may be high.
- For anticipated disagreements, longer durations and lower token loss ratios are set.
- Stake: Reputation holders stake for or against the target post.
- Result: The initiating client posts the outcome. Other clients monitor and can assume responsibility if needed.
- Rollup: Clients propose on-chain rollups by posting necessary data and executing a Validation Pool for consensus.
- Utilizes the `m.reference` relationship type in Matrix to index many-to-one relationships, such as:
- Validation Pools for each post.
- Stakes and results for each Validation Pool.
- Availabilities for each contract.
- Work evidence for each work request.
- Work requests for each work contract.
- Work contracts for each DAO.
- Duration: Timeframe for the Validation Pool.
- Token Loss Ratio: Potential loss of staked tokens based on the outcome.
- Quorum: Minimum participation required for a valid result.
Parameters are adjusted based on the expected level of consensus. For unanimous expectations, durations are short, and token loss ratios are high. For anticipated disagreements, longer durations and lower token loss ratios are set.
- Positive contributions increase a participant's reputation.
- Negative outcomes can reduce reputation, enforcing accountability.
- Citations allow reputation to propagate through the network, rewarding collaborative efforts.