Introduction: A New Chapter in Fractal Governance
Eden Fractal stands at a transformative juncture in its evolution. After nearly three years of development, experimentation, and community building, we have cultivated the foundations for a significant advancement in our mission to integrate fractal decision-making processes throughout society. Epoch 2 represents not merely a continuation but a strategic reimagining of how Eden Fractal can fulfill its vision, drawing on everything we've learned while establishing more sophisticated coordination systems to expand our impact.
This implementation plan serves multiple purposes. First, it provides a comprehensive guide for the Eden Fractal community to navigate the transition to Epoch 2, organizing the various elements that must be coordinated for a successful launch. Second, it documents our approach to creating a truly decentralized community governance system, potentially serving as a blueprint for other fractal communities. Finally, it establishes clear pathways for measuring progress and adapting our strategies as we grow.
Created through extensive community dialogue and drawing from years of practical experimentation, this plan represents our collective wisdom about how best to advance fractal governance principles. While we have a clear direction and strong consensus on major elements, this document remains collaborative—we welcome ongoing refinement as we implement these ideas and discover what works best in practice.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: A New Chapter in Fractal Governance
- Eden Fractal: Journey Through Epoch 1
- Origins and Evolution
- The Fractal Ecosystem Today
- Recent Accomplishments
- Purpose of This Document
- Strategic Timeline: Orchestrating a Thoughtful Transition
- Season Conclusion and Regenerative Interval
- Return and Transition Phase
- Official Epoch 2 Launch
- The Elements of Epoch 2
- Additional Considerations for Epoch 2
- Implementation Timeline
- Pre-Launch Phase (Current through May 22, 2025)
- Transition Event (May 22, 2025 - Event #120)
- Epoch 2 Launch (June 5, 2025 - Event #121)
- Bootstrap Phase (June-August 2025)
- Full Implementation Phase (August-November 2025)
- Reflection and Vision
- Honoring Our Achievements
- Vision for Epoch 2 and Beyond
- Conclusion: Collaborative Implementation
- Alternate Drafts
- Special Thanks
- Additional Resources
Eden Fractal: Journey Through Epoch 1
Origins and Evolution
Eden Fractal began on June 8th, 2022, emerging from deep philosophical roots in fractal democracy and the pioneering work in Daniel Larimer's "More Equal Animals: The Subtle Art of True Democracy." Following the publication of the ƒractally whitepaper and the experiences of the Genesis Fractal community, Eden Fractal was established as a dedicated community for implementing and refining these governance concepts.
From its inception, Eden Fractal has served as the heartbeat of the fractal ecosystem. For nearly 120 events spanning three years, our community has provided a consistent space for exploring, developing, and documenting fractal decision-making processes. We've witnessed the evolution from theoretical frameworks to practical applications, most notably in the development and refinement of the Respect Game—a cornerstone innovation that transforms how communities recognize contributions and build reputation-based governance.
During the first 75 weeks of Epoch 1, we actively played what would become known as the Respect Game, creating a substantial on-chain respect distribution among approximately 80 community members. This period saw tremendous technical innovation, with developers like Tadas creating tools such as Fractalgram that made these processes more accessible. Our community established the Eden+Fractal consensus process, pioneered Cagendas for democratic topic selection, and created extensive educational content documenting these experiments.
The latter part of Epoch 1 saw our focus shift toward strategic planning and ecosystem expansion. As we fostered complementary communities like Optimism Fractal and supported the emergence of initiatives like ZAO Fractal, our biweekly events became spaces for deeper discussion about how to scale these governance innovations. This period of strategic reflection has been essential for crystallizing our understanding of what works, what needs refinement, and how to structure our next phase of development.
The Fractal Ecosystem Today
Today, the fractal ecosystem encompasses multiple thriving communities implementing variations of fractal governance principles:
- Optimism Fractal has emerged as a vibrant community with 60 events, bringing together over 70 builders in the Superchain ecosystem to recognize contributions through the Respect Game and pioneering the Optimism Fractal Council governance model.
- ZAO Fractal has adapted these principles for music communities, hosting over fourty events where artists collaborate and recognize each other's work.
- Other experimental communities, including Alien Worlds Fractal and Aquedac, have contributed valuable insights and variations on these governance models.
The technical infrastructure supporting these communities has matured significantly. We now have robust implementations of the Respect Game on multiple networks, ORDAO for decentralized execution of community decisions, and tools like Fractalgram that make participation more accessible. Educational resources documenting these innovations have expanded dramatically, with hundreds of hours of recorded discussions and numerous written guides.
More details: The Fractal Ecosystem: Who, How, and Why
Recent Accomplishments
The past six months have been particularly fruitful for Eden Fractal. Our biweekly events have seen renewed engagement, with thoughtful discussions exploring topics like tripartite governance frameworks, dialectic tooling for collaboration, and capital allocation mechanisms for public goods funding. The quality and depth of these conversations reflect our community's growing maturity and the increasing sophistication of our governance models.
Throughout this period, we've worked diligently to refine our strategic direction for the next phase of Eden Fractal. Building on discussions that began with the original Epoch 2 proposal nearly a year ago, we've carefully considered how to structure our processes, what technical infrastructure we need, and how to create sustainable coordination systems for long-term growth.
As we approach our three-year anniversary, Eden Fractal has established itself as a pioneering community at the forefront of developing and implementing fractal governance principles. The groundwork laid during Epoch 1 provides a solid foundation for more ambitious efforts to integrate these processes throughout society.
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Purpose of This Document
This implementation plan serves as a comprehensive guide for organizing the transition to Eden Fractal Epoch 2. It brings together key insights from numerous community discussions, strategic planning sessions, and technical developments to create a coherent roadmap for our next phase of evolution.
Specifically, this document aims to:
- Provide Strategic Clarity: Organizing the key elements required for a successful Epoch 2 launch and ensuring alignment on critical decisions and timelines.
- Establish Implementation Pathways: Creating clear plans for deploying technical infrastructure, reviving community institutions, and introducing new governance processes.
- Document Collective Wisdom: Capturing the insights and consensus from extensive community discussions to guide our development over the coming months.
- Serve as Educational Resource: Offering a transparent view of how fractal communities can implement sophisticated coordination systems for others who may follow similar paths.
While primarily focused on Eden Fractal's specific implementation, this document also contributes to a broader understanding of how fractal decision-making processes can be structured and scaled. The elements described herein represent not just theoretical concepts but practical solutions emergent from years of experimentation and refinement.
This is a living document that will evolve as we proceed through implementation. Community members are encouraged to suggest refinements, contribute additional perspectives, and help improve our approach as we learn from experience.
Strategic Timeline: Orchestrating a Thoughtful Transition
The transition to Eden Fractal Epoch 2 follows a carefully sequenced timeline that provides space for both reflection and preparation. This strategic pacing recognizes the significance of the shift we're undertaking and ensures all necessary components can be properly developed.
Season Conclusion and Regenerative Interval
Our current season of Eden Fractal concludes with event #119 on April 10th, 2025, marking the end of six months of consistent community building and strategic development. Following this event, we'll observe a six-week regenerative interval—parallel to similar breaks in Optimism Fractal and Optimism Town Hall communities—creating ecosystem-wide space for technical advancement and strategic alignment.
This deliberate pause provides multiple benefits: it allows for focused development of technical infrastructure, particularly the ORDAO deployments and frontend enhancements; it creates space for reflection on our progress and refinement of our plans; and it helps prevent contributor burnout by acknowledging the need for cyclical patterns of activity and rest.
Return and Transition Phase
Eden Fractal will return with event #120 on May 22nd, 2025, which will serve as the final event of Epoch 1. This session will focus on transition preparation and implementation planning, providing an opportunity to process developments that occurred during the break and finalize arrangements for Epoch 2.
The transition event allows us to make final adjustments to our plans based on technical progress, community feedback, and any new insights that emerged during the break. This creates a more thoughtful transition rather than an abrupt shift between epochs.
Official Epoch 2 Launch
The inaugural event of Eden Fractal Epoch 2 (event #121) will take place on approximately June 5th, 2025, deliberately coinciding with Eden Fractal's three-year anniversary. This symbolic alignment creates a natural narrative arc that honors our journey while emphasizing forward momentum.
The launch of Epoch 2 marks the beginning of a new 12-event season that will run until approximately November 2025, with a one-event break scheduled for mid-season. This structure provides consistent touchpoints for community engagement while maintaining sustainable rhythms of activity.
The Elements of Epoch 2
Like artisans crafting a masterpiece, We blend each element with care, Respect games and governance processes, A symphony of cooperation rare. As roots become branches, as seeds become trees, Our fractal patterns grow and thrive. With each component thoughtfully placed, Our vision becomes truly alive.
The successful implementation of Eden Fractal Epoch 2 requires careful coordination of several essential elements. Each represents a foundational component of our governance structure, combining to create a coherent system for fractal decision-making. These elements have emerged through extensive community dialogue, practical experimentation, and strategic planning over the past year.
The following sections provide an overview of each element, with more detailed specifications to be developed in separate documents. These elements are presented in approximate chronological order of implementation, though many will develop in parallel.
Additional Considerations for Epoch 2
Additional considerations for potential implementation include:
- Website and Educational Resources: Updating our website and documentation to reflect Epoch 2 changes and improve user onboarding
- Product and Service Development: Exploring how Eden Fractal can support community members and teams contributing to the fractal ecosystem
- Institutional Development: Strategizing how to establish long-term growth and sustainability by supporting institutions and businesses dedicated to fractal governance processes
- Strategic Metrics: Developing systems to measure our progress and impact
- Marketing and Educational Outreach: Supporting initiatives that raise awareness and increase understanding about Respect Games and fractal democracy
- Communication Channel Strategy: Consider the best ways to organize the Eden Fractal telegram chat (which has many outdated topics) and other communication channels
Each of these elements will be detailed in separate documents linked from this implementation plan, providing comprehensive information about rationale, implementation details, technical considerations, and timelines.
Implementation Timeline
The implementation of Eden Fractal Epoch 2 follows a carefully sequenced timeline that acknowledges dependencies between elements and establishes realistic milestones for development. This timeline provides a high-level overview of when each element should be implemented, with more detailed timelines available in the individual element documentation.
Pre-Launch Phase (Current through May 22, 2025)
During this period, we focus on technical preparation and finalization of our approach:
- ORDAO Deployment: Complete JSON configuration and implement ORDAO smart contracts on Base
- Fractalgram Configuration: Configure both the Telegram client and web application for Eden Fractal
Transition Event (May 22, 2025 - Event #120)
This final Epoch 1 event serves as our preparation for launch:
- Participant Agreement: Draft initial version based on Optimism Fractal model
- Planning Refinement: Continue community discussions to finalize details of each element
- Technical Review: Confirm successful deployment of ORDAO and other technical infrastructure
- Game Prompt Decision: Finalize the Respect Game prompt for Epoch 2
- Time Change: Decide if we should meet at 16 UTC starting on June 5th
- Eden Town Hall Format: Determine specific implementation approach for revival
- Community Preparation: Ensure all participants understand the upcoming changes
- Participant Agreement: Begin implementation and signing process
- Intent Document: Introduce initial draft for community review
Epoch 2 Launch (June 5, 2025 - Event #121)
The official beginning of Epoch 2 includes:
- Respect Game Implementation: Begin playing the Respect Game with the selected prompt
- Eden Town Hall Revival: Launch the first Eden Town Hall session following the main event
Bootstrap Phase (June-August 2025)
The first half of the season focuses on building foundations:
- Respect Accumulation: Build the new respect distribution through regular gameplay
- Legislative Process Development: Refine the ORPols approach while using ORDAO for interim governance
- Intent Document Refinement: Develop and approve the comprehensive community manual
- ORDAO Frontend Completion: Implement enhanced interfaces for governance participation
Full Implementation Phase (August-November 2025)
The second half of the season brings all elements to full operation:
- Legislative Consensus Launch: Transition from bootstrap governance to the full consensus process
- Capital Allocation Implementation: Begin formal experiments with community-directed funding
- Ecosystem Integration: Enhance connections between Eden Fractal, Optimism Fractal, and other communities
- Progress Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of implemented elements and identify refinements
This timeline serves as a general roadmap while maintaining flexibility for adjustments based on technical progress, community feedback, and new opportunities that may emerge. Each element has dependencies that may accelerate or delay specific implementations, and the community will use its consensus processes to navigate any necessary adjustments.
Reflection and Vision
As we prepare to embark on Epoch 2, we stand at a unique moment that invites both reflection on our journey and visualization of the path ahead. Eden Fractal has evolved from an experimental initiative to a robust community with tested processes, sophisticated technical infrastructure, and a clear strategic direction.
Honoring Our Achievements
Eden Fractal Epoch 1 has achieved remarkable progress in advancing fractal decision-making processes:
- Process Development: We've refined core mechanisms like the Respect Game from conceptual frameworks to practical implementations with demonstrated value.
- Technical Infrastructure: Our community has fostered the development of essential tools including Fractalgram, ORDAO, and integration with mechanisms like Hats Protocol.
- Educational Resources: Through consistent documentation via videos, articles, and discussions, we've created a substantial body of knowledge about fractal governance.
- Community Cultivation: We've maintained a space for collaboration that has directly inspired multiple complementary communities and influenced governance thinking beyond our immediate ecosystem.
- Strategic Clarity: We've progressively refined our understanding of both our vision and the practical steps needed to achieve it, culminating in our current implementation plan.
These achievements, while significant, represent just the beginning of what's possible with fractal decision-making processes. They have provided the essential foundations—the roots and seedlings—that will enable more substantial growth during our next phase.
Vision for Epoch 2 and Beyond
Epoch 2 represents a transition from foundation-building to more deliberate expansion and implementation. Our vision for this next phase includes:
- Living Our Principles: By implementing sophisticated governance systems within our own community, we demonstrate the practical value of fractal processes while learning through direct experience.
- Technical Maturation: Enhancing our tools and infrastructure to make participation more accessible, governance more transparent, and coordination more effective at scale.
- Ecosystem Growth: Supporting the expansion of the fractal ecosystem by providing models, documentation, and practical support for complementary communities.
- Sustainable Resource Flows: Establishing mechanisms that enable effective resource allocation while creating paths toward long-term sustainability for fractal development.
- Educational Impact: Producing high-quality resources that make fractal governance concepts accessible to broader audiences and facilitate adoption in diverse contexts.
- Implementation Partnerships: Building relationships with organizations and communities that can benefit from fractal decision-making processes, providing avenues for practical application.
While Eden Fractal has accomplished much, our mission of integrating fractal decision-making processes throughout society remains in its early stages. The roots we've cultivated will now support more visible growth—branches extending outward and, eventually, fruits that demonstrate the transformative potential of these governance innovations.
Epoch 2 is not merely a continuation but a strategic evolution that applies everything we've learned toward more effective implementation and broader impact. Through careful coordination of the elements outlined in this plan, we position Eden Fractal to fulfill its mission with greater effectiveness and reach.
Conclusion: Collaborative Implementation
The transition to Eden Fractal Epoch 2 represents both a culmination of our journey so far and the beginning of a new chapter in our development. By thoughtfully implementing the elements outlined in this plan, we create the conditions for expanding the impact of fractal decision-making processes while demonstrating their value through our own community governance.
This implementation plan serves as a guide rather than a rigid prescription. As we proceed, we'll undoubtedly discover new insights, encounter unexpected challenges, and identify opportunities for refinement. The governance processes we're establishing are designed precisely to enable this kind of adaptive learning, allowing our community to navigate complexity while maintaining alignment with our core values and mission.
We invite all community members to engage deeply with these implementation efforts. Whether through technical contributions, participation in governance discussions, or sharing insights from your experience, each perspective enriches our collective wisdom. The success of Epoch 2 depends not on perfect execution of predetermined steps but on our ability to collaborate effectively in responding to emerging needs and opportunities.
As we approach our three-year anniversary and the launch of this new epoch, we have much to celebrate and even more to anticipate. The foundations established during Epoch 1 have positioned us to make significant strides toward our vision of integrating fractal decision-making processes throughout society. With thoughtful implementation of the elements outlined here, Eden Fractal enters a new phase of development—more coordinated, more impactful, and more closely aligned with the transformative potential we've always envisioned.
Alternate Drafts
DRAFT 1: Epoch 2 Implementation Plan: Fulfilling Eden Fractal’s VisionDRAFT 2: Epoch 2 Implementation Plan (READ THIS AND CONSIDER USING)Special Thanks
Special thanks to Tadas and Rosmari who, in addition to contributing tremendously to Eden Fractal throughout its first epoch, have inspired many of the ideas in this document and helped formulate them through both our bi-weekly events and outside calls. Their insights have been invaluable in creating clarity around our path forward.
We also express gratitude to everyone who has participated in Eden Fractal Epoch 1, making it such a special and transformative journey. Your contributions have laid the groundwork for what promises to be an extraordinary next chapter.