Introduction: The Next Chapter of Eden Fractal
Eden Fractal stands at a transformative moment in its journey—a time to build upon our established foundations while embarking on an ambitious new chapter. After nearly three years of dedicated experimentation, consistent community building, and technical innovation, we are now positioned to launch Eden Fractal Epoch 2: a comprehensive framework designed to fulfill our vision of implementing fractal decision-making processes throughout society.
This document serves multiple purposes. It provides a guide for the Eden Fractal community as we implement Epoch 2, offering an organized place for collaboration and alignment around the key components necessary for successful implementation. It synthesizes our discussions and strategic planning over the past year, distilling the wisdom and insights from countless hours of dialogue into actionable steps. At the same time, this document stands as an educational resource for others interested in implementing fractal processes in their own communities.
Eden Fractal began on June 8th, 2022, inspired by the principles outlined in Daniel Larimer's "More Equal Animals: The Subtle Art of True Democracy" and the fractal governance frameworks developed through the ƒractally initiative and Genesis Fractal. From our inception, we have served as a consistent heartbeat for the fractal ecosystem—hosting over 118 events, pioneering the Respect Game, developing innovative consensus processes, and fostering dozens of fractal communities.
Throughout Epoch 1, we've witnessed the emergence and growth of complementary communities like Optimism Fractal (now with over 60 events) and ZAO Fractal, alongside experiments in numerous other contexts. We've distilled abstract concepts of fractal democracy into tangible, accessible systems like the Respect Game, and we've built sophisticated technical infrastructure across multiple blockchain networks.
While we've accomplished a great deal during Epoch 1, our mission remains in its early stages. We've helped hundreds of people experience better decision-making processes, but our vision encompasses billions. The implementation plan outlined in this document marks our transition from primarily experimental and conceptual work to more structured implementation and measurable impact.
Eden Fractal Epoch 1: Foundations and Achievements
Before detailing our path forward, it's worth reflecting on the substantial achievements of Eden Fractal Epoch 1, which has established the foundation upon which Epoch 2 will build.
Origins and Early Development
Eden Fractal emerged from a community deeply interested in fractal democracy following the publication of "More Equal Animals." The initiative began with a proposal by Dan Singjoy in June 2022, drawing together participants who had been exploring these concepts through Genesis Fractal and the broader Eden community.
From the beginning, Eden Fractal centered around what we now call the Respect Game—a coordination mechanism where participants evaluate each other's contributions to build reputation through peer consensus. For the first 75 weeks, we consistently played these games, distributing Respect to participants who contributed to the ecosystem.
Technical and Process Innovation
Throughout Epoch 1, we pioneered numerous technical innovations:
- Eden Plus Fractal: A sophisticated consensus process combining delegate election with contribution evaluation, creating a framework for democratic coordination
- Cagendas: A collaborative agenda-setting game allowing communities to democratically determine discussion topics
- Fractalgram: Developed around week 20, providing a streamlined interface for the Respect Game
- Technical Infrastructure: Supporting implementations across multiple blockchains and networks
Community Building and Education
Our educational contributions have been equally significant:
- Eden Town Hall: 55 episodes documenting in-depth discussions about fractal democracy
- Video Documentation: Over 100 produced videos capturing our events and developments
- Cross-Community Collaboration: Supporting the growth of Optimism Fractal, ZAO Fractal, and other initiatives
- Vision and Mission Development: Refining our understanding of what we're building and why, leading to clear articulations of our purpose
Recent Progress
Over the past six months, Eden Fractal has experienced a remarkable resurgence. We've hosted consistently engaging events, exploring sophisticated topics such as tripartite governance structures, AI integration, and democratic fund distribution. We've formulated comprehensive strategies for implementing our vision and collaboratively developed the framework for Epoch 2.
This recent period has been characterized by a strategic focus on preparing for Epoch 2, with numerous discussions about technical implementations, governance structures, and the specific elements needed to move from theoretical frameworks to practical implementation.
Strategic Timeline: Orchestrating a Thoughtful Transition
Our approach to implementing Epoch 2 follows a carefully considered timeline, designed to provide adequate space for both technical development and community adjustment:
Season Conclusion and Regenerative Interval
Current Season Closure:
- April 10th, 2024: Final event of our current season (Event #119)
- This marks the conclusion of six months of consistent community building and strategic development
Strategic Development Interval:
- Six-week break following April 10th
- Parallel to similar breaks in Optimism Fractal and Optimism Town Hall
- Creating ecosystem-wide space for technical advancement and strategic alignment
- During this time, technical development will continue, particularly on the ORDAO frontend and other infrastructure
Return and Transition Phase
Return Event:
- May 22nd, 2024: Return event (Event #120)
- This will serve as the final Epoch 1 event, focused on transition preparation
- Opportunity to process developments from the break and finalize Epoch 2 arrangements
- Last adjustments to implementation plans before official launch
Official Epoch 2 Launch
Inaugural Epoch 2 Event:
- June 5th, 2024 (approximate date): First Epoch 2 event (Event #121)
- Deliberately coinciding with Eden Fractal's three-year anniversary
- Symbolic and practical milestone marking our evolution from experimental phase to more structured implementation
- Beginning of bi-weekly events with Respect Games and potential Eden Town Hall sessions
This strategic sequence provides numerous benefits. The break allows sufficient time for technical development, particularly the ORDAO frontend that Tadas has expressed interest in building. The transitional event gives us a final opportunity to address implementation challenges before fully committing to our new structures. And the alignment with our anniversary creates a natural narrative arc that honors our journey while emphasizing forward momentum.
The Elements of Epoch 2
Like gardeners tending to vital seeds,We cultivate eight elements with care,Each component essential to succeed,Together growing something wondrous and rare.
Through our extensive discussions over the past year, particularly during our Eden Fractal #118 event and ongoing strategic planning sessions, we've identified eight key elements that must be implemented for Epoch 2 to succeed. These elements represent the foundational components of a thriving fractal community—each one essential to our overall success.
The following elements are presented in approximate chronological order based on implementation priority:
1. ORDAO Deployment
The deployment of ORDAO (Optimistic Respect-based DAO) on Base represents the technical foundation upon which all other elements depend. This system will enable on-chain execution of community decisions through the original Eden Fractal Epoch 1 Respect distribution, providing both executive and initial legislative functionality for our community. Implementation requires completing a JSON configuration file and technical deployment work.
2. Respect Game Implementation
The reintroduction of regular Respect Games serves as the cornerstone of our Epoch 2 vision, creating both a practical mechanism for contribution recognition and the foundation for our governance structure. Key decisions include selecting an appropriate game prompt, potentially refining our mission statement, and establishing operational parameters. This must be implemented by the first Epoch 2 event.
3. Fractalgram Configuration
Both the new Fractalgram web application and the original Telegram client version require configuration to support Eden Fractal Epoch 2. This involves enabling the Eden Fractal organization in the apps, configuring them to work with the ORDAO smart contracts, and establishing appropriate administrative structures. This technical work is essential for smooth gameplay experiences.
4. Eden Town Hall Revival
The reintroduction of Eden Town Hall, following a similar model to Optimism Town Hall, will provide a dedicated forum for proposal discussion and community deliberation. This would occur immediately after Eden Fractal events, using Cagendas for democratic topic selection, with decisions about recording, production, and resource allocation to be determined.
5. Legislative Consensus Process
Establishing a formal legislative consensus process represents a significant governance development for Epoch 2. Current discussions favor implementing ORPOLS—an adaptation of the Optimistic Respect-based Executive Contract (OREC) mechanism for legislative functions, featuring a two-stage voting process with robust safeguards against controversial actions.
6. Participant Agreement Implementation
Developing and implementing a participant agreement similar to the Optimism Fractal model will help protect the community as it grows, providing clarity around video recording, content sharing, and expectations. This document will ideally be approved via ORDAO and integrated with the Hats protocol for access management.
7. Intent Document Creation
Following the Optimism Fractal example, creating a comprehensive intent document will provide specifications for the Respect Game, consensus processes, and community operations—essentially serving as an operating manual for Eden Fractal. This will evolve according to community consensus while providing clarity for all participants.
8. Capital Allocation Framework
Establishing mechanisms for the community to make recommendations on funding distribution will enable practical testing of our governance systems while supporting ecosystem growth. This will begin with a modest fund of $1,000 committed by Dan Singjoy, distributed according to community consensus through democratically created splits contracts.
Additional considerations for potential implementation include:
- Time Change Consideration: Potentially shifting Eden Fractal events from 17 UTC to 16 UTC to accommodate participants in Eastern Europe
- Website and Educational Resources: Updating our website and documentation to reflect Epoch 2 changes and improve user onboarding
- Strategic Metrics: Developing systems to measure our progress and impact
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 successful launch of Epoch 2 requires careful coordination of multiple elements according to a thoughtful timeline. While detailed timelines for each element are available in their respective documents, this section provides a high-level overview of the implementation sequence.
Phase 1: Pre-Launch Development (April-May 2024)
During our strategic break and the return event, we will focus on:
- ORDAO Deployment: Complete JSON configuration and technical deployment on Base
- Fractalgram Configuration: Configure both versions to support Eden Fractal
- Agreement Development: Draft participant agreement and prepare for community review
- Respect Game Planning: Finalize game prompt and operational parameters
- Eden Town Hall Planning: Establish format and resource allocation approach
Phase 2: Launch and Initial Operations (June-August 2024)
Beginning with our first Epoch 2 event:
- Respect Game Implementation: Begin regular gameplay with agreed prompt
- Eden Town Hall Revival: Launch discussions following Eden Fractal events
- Agreement Adoption: Begin community signature process
- Intent Document Development: Draft and refine through community input
Phase 3: Governance Evolution (September-November 2024)
Following approximately three months of Respect accumulation:
- Legislative Process Activation: Transition from bootstrap phase to full implementation of legislative consensus process
- Capital Allocation Framework: Begin community recommendations for fund distribution
- Continuous Refinement: Iterative improvement of all systems based on practical experience
This phased implementation acknowledges both technical realities and community dynamics, allowing us to establish the fundamental elements immediately while gradually introducing more sophisticated governance components as our Epoch 2 Respect distribution builds sufficient depth.
Vision for Epoch 2: Accelerating Implementation and Impact
Epoch 2 represents our transition from primarily experimental and conceptual work to more structured implementation and measurable impact. Our vision for this next phase encompasses several key elements:
Living Our Principles: By implementing a tripartite governance structure within our own community, we demonstrate the practical value of the coordination systems we advocate. This "practicing what we preach" approach provides both credibility and valuable learning opportunities.
Scalable Participation: The reintroduction of regular Respect Games creates clear, engaging pathways for meaningful participation that can accommodate growing community size without sacrificing quality of contribution or recognition.
Technical Maturation: The development of more sophisticated technical infrastructure, including ORPOLS implementation and ORDAO frontend enhancements, enables more seamless coordination while maintaining democratic principles.
Sustainable Resource Flows: Exploration of fund distribution mechanisms represents a step toward sustainable support for development of fractal decision-making processes, creating virtuous cycles of contribution and recognition while testing and showcasing capital allocation processes for others to implement and learn from.
These elements combine to create a more mature, impactful Eden Fractal that maintains its experimental spirit while developing more structured mechanisms for collective action. By strengthening our community while advancing our broader mission, we position ourselves to extend the reach of fractal decision-making processes far beyond our current boundaries.
Conclusion: A Blueprint for Collective Growth
The implementation of Eden Fractal Epoch 2 represents more than just a new phase in our community's development—it serves as a blueprint for how democratic coordination can scale while maintaining genuine human connection. By carefully integrating the elements outlined in this document, we create a framework that both serves our immediate community needs and provides a replicable model for other communities.
This implementation plan is intentionally designed as a living document, one that will evolve through collaborative refinement as we progress through Epoch 2. The decisions we make in our upcoming sessions will fundamentally shape Eden Fractal's next phase of development, and we invite all community members to engage deeply with these considerations.
By drawing on our shared experience while remaining open to new possibilities, we can design an Epoch 2 implementation that honors our foundational principles while enabling new levels of coordination and impact. Together, we can create a thriving ecosystem that makes the benefits of fractal decision-making processes accessible to communities worldwide.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Tadas and Rosemary 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.
Additional Resources