Introduction
This document addresses important clarifications regarding Eden Fractal's epoch timeline, specifically concerning the transition from Epoch 1 to Epoch 2. Recent conversations with Rosmari and Tadas have highlighted the need to provide clarity about announcements made in 2024 and our current plans for officially launching Epoch 2.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Happened in August 2024
- The Reality: A False Start
- Why This Happened
- Taking Responsibility
- The Path Forward: Official Epoch 2 Launch
- Community Flexibility and Governance
- Conclusion
What Happened in August 2024
In August 2024, around Eden Fractal events #105 and #106, I announced that we were entering Epoch 2 of Eden Fractal. Multiple messages were shared in our Telegram chat, including my message on August 12th, 2024 stating "we're stepping into Epoch 2 of Eden Fractal on Wednesday, August 14th." During that period, both I and community members like Rosmari shared messages indicating that we had entered or started Epoch 2.
These announcements were made with genuine intention to implement the Epoch 2 proposal that had been developed over the preceding months. However, upon reflection and practical experience, it became clear that we had not actually achieved the key components outlined in the original Epoch 2 vision.
The Reality: A False Start
What occurred in August 2024 can best be described as a "false start" for Epoch 2. While we announced the transition and began discussing it as if we had entered the new epoch, the fundamental changes that define Epoch 2 were not actually implemented:
Missing Key Components:
- ORDAO was not deployed on Base
- The Respect Game was not reintroduced to Eden Fractal
- The legislative governance processes outlined in the Epoch 2 proposal were not established
- The technical infrastructure needed for seamless participation was not ready
Why This Happened
Several factors contributed to this premature announcement:
Technical Underestimation: I drastically underestimated the technical complexity and time required to properly implement the Epoch 2 infrastructure. What I expected to take a month or two actually required nearly a year of development work.
Overcommitment: At the time, we were running Eden Fractal events, Optimism Fractal events, and Optimism Town Hall back-to-back each week. This intense schedule led to rushed decision-making and over-promising on timelines.
Development Challenges: While developers like Tadas, Vlad, and Abraham made significant progress on applications…. various technical issues, integration challenges, and competing responsibilities meant that the tools needed for Epoch 2 weren't ready for seamless community use in 2024.
Premature Execution: Rather than waiting until all systems were properly tested and ready, I proceeded with the announcement because we had committed to the timeline, even though it felt rushed and incomplete.
Taking Responsibility
I take full responsibility for this confusion. Words matter, and it's important to do what we say we'll do. By announcing Epoch 2 before we were actually ready to implement its core features, I created unnecessary confusion for community members who have been following our progress closely.
This experience has taught me valuable lessons about the importance of:
- More accurate technical timeline estimation
- Ensuring infrastructure is fully ready before major announcements
- Better communication about uncertainty and development progress
- Not over-committing when managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
- Being more careful about not trying to accomplish too much at once
The Path Forward: Official Epoch 2 Launch
Given this context, I believe the best path forward is to officially launch Eden Fractal Epoch 2 on June 5th, 2025 (our 121st event). This timing makes sense for several important reasons:
Technical Readiness: ORDAO is now properly developed and ready for deployment on Base, and the supporting infrastructure has matured significantly over the past year.
Strategic Alignment: June 5th, 2025 coincides with Eden Fractal's three-year anniversary, creating a meaningful milestone that honors our journey while marking a genuine new chapter.
Clean Numbers: Starting Epoch 2 after exactly 120 events (10 seasons of 12 events each) provides clear organizational structure and makes our history more navigable.
Actual Implementation: Unlike the August 2024 announcement, we will actually implement the core Epoch 2 features: reintroducing the Respect Game, deploying ORDAO, establishing new governance processes, and building on Ethereum through Base.
Community Flexibility and Governance
Eden Fractal's community is small enough and cohesive enough to handle this kind of strategic adjustment. While I'm using my current authority as moderator and founder to make this clarification, I welcome community feedback and discussion. If there's significant disagreement, we could formalize this decision through an ORDAO proposal once that system is deployed.
However, I believe most community members will appreciate having clarity on this matter and will be supportive of an approach that prioritizes actually delivering on the Epoch 2 vision rather than maintaining a timeline that was based on premature announcements.
Conclusion
What we announced in August 2024 can be understood as an extended planning phase for Epoch 2, or as Epoch 1.5 if we need a label for that period. The important thing is that we're now ready to officially launch Epoch 2 with all the features and infrastructure that will make it a meaningful evolution for our community.
I'm excited to officially launch Eden Fractal Epoch 2 on June 5th, 2025, and I appreciate everyone's understanding and flexibility as we navigate this clarification. This experience will help us communicate more precisely about major transitions in the future.
Thank you for your patience and continued participation in Eden Fractal's journey.