PIP-1: Star Atlas DAO
SUMMARY
This proposal seeks the ratification of the decentralized, on-chain governance processes of the Star Atlas Decentralized Autonomous Organization (the “Star Atlas DAO”). Through the Star Atlas DAO, players and community members can propose, consider, and vote on changes that will steer the future of Star Atlas.
MOTIVATION
Star Atlas is the immersive gaming, economic, and social ecosystem set in the Galia Expanse, based on the evolving story of the Manus Ultima Divina (“MUD”), ONI Consortium, and Ustur factions, and defined by its global, decentralized community. Since its inception, Star Atlas has been guided by three overarching principles:
Community Owned & Community Built: Star Atlas community members should own their in-game assets, control over their gaming experiences, and receive support to build and contribute new features and experiences.
Quality & Safety: Star Atlas should be associated with the best that blockchain gaming can offer — an immersive, high-quality, and enjoyable experience for all.
Sustainable Governance: Star Atlas should be managed by its community in a way that optimizes for long-term growth and sustainability.
In keeping with these principles, this proposal takes an important step towards progressive decentralization by establishing the process by which community members can achieve on-chain consensus on matters that affect the future of all things Star Atlas.
The procedures in this proposal are intended to be simple in order to maximize resilience in the face of changing societal and technological conditions.
SPECIFICATION
The Star Atlas DAO
The Star Atlas DAO is composed of the decentralized, program-based governance system that enables persons locking and voting with POLIS tokens to form consensus on the development, management, and administration of the Star Atlas ecosystem.
The governance system comprising the Star Atlas DAO includes the following tokens and blockchain programs deployed to Solana mainnet:
POLIS Locker: Lock7kBijGCQLEFAmXcengzXKA88iDNQPriQ7TbgeyG
POLIS Locker Snapshots: snapNQkxsiqDWdbNfz8KVB7e3NPzLwtHHA6WV8kKgUc
DAO Proxy Rewarder: gateVwTnKyFrE8nxUUgfzoZTPKgJQZUbLsEidpG4Dp2
DAO Treasury: CuwnarNh7FEqZMmffFjRyWj54RecyS7zwFg1CxfzNudi
DAO Emissions: 5MPLVoZ2cJHy8gkvFu9tCTuqu9P8Fm8xz8Swpo6TfjDu
DAO Sales Account: NPCxfjPxh6pvRJbGbWZjxfkqWfGBvKkqPbtiJar3mom
ATLAS Locker: ATLocKpzDbTokxgvnLew3d7drZkEzLzDpzwgrgWKDbmc
The Scope of the Star Atlas DAO
The decisions made through the blockchain programs comprising the Star Atlas DAO shall guide the development, maintenance, and administration of any and all aspects of the Star Atlas ecosystem.
The Star Atlas DAO’s powers are subject to certain limitations, including:
Decisions must adhere to the overarching principles outlined in this proposal — Community Ownership & Community Built, Quality & Safety, and Sustainable Governance.
Decisions cannot violate the Star Atlas Terms of Service.
Decisions may not violate applicable laws and regulations, nor may they infringe on the rights of affected off-chain actors (in the absence of their consent).
The Star Atlas DAO is not directly vested with any legal entitlements, including intellectual property rights. Instead, it exercises direct influence over the actions of the Star Atlas Foundation, which provides the necessary support to carry out the Star Atlas DAO’s decisions.
The scope and nature of the decisions that the Star Atlas DAO may consider initially are limited and will expand gradually, consistent with the progressive decentralization of the Star Atlas ecosystem.
POLIS Improvement Proposals
The Star Atlas DAO renders decisions by voting on POLIS Improvement Proposals (“PIPs”). PIPs may relate to any aspect of the Star Atlas ecosystem, including from the following categories:
Process: Modifies the governance programs and procedures of the Star Atlas DAO.
Core Game: Modifies in-game or in-metaverse functionality and design.
Funding: Controls the use and allocation of funds from the Star Atlas DAO’s treasury.
External Relations: Controls external relationships between the Star Atlas DAO and third parties, including brand partners.
Drafting a PIP
Any member of the Star Atlas community may draft a PIP as long as it adheres to the Star Atlas ecosystem’s guiding principles and other requirements set forth in this proposal.
A PIP must contain the following information:
Header: Information on the author and the nature of the proposal.
Summary: Succinct overview of the proposal.
Motivation: Description of the proposal’s purpose.
Potential conflicts of interest, and steps taken to mitigate them, should be disclosed.
Rejection of an earlier version of the proposal, and steps taken to improve the proposal, should be disclosed.
Specification: Description of the substance of the proposal in sufficient detail to enable the Star Atlas DAO to make an informed decision.
Implementation Details: Summary of the steps needed to implement the proposal, including information on necessary off-chain actors.
Timeline: Estimated implementation timeline.
Cost: Estimated costs, including both monetary and nonmonetary (such as efforts or other resources).
PIP Review
To gauge initial community sentiment during the drafting process, ideas and early drafts of PIPs should be previewed in the Governance channel of the Star Atlas Discord. Feedback from the community should be taken into account during the drafting process.
Submitting a PIP
The author of a PIP may submit the PIP for review by the Star Atlas Foundation (or a delegated administrator, such as the Star Atlas Council) through the procedures set forth on the Star Atlas DAO’s governance website. The Star Atlas Council’s role in guiding the PIP review process will be established by a future PIP.
The Star Atlas Foundation, or a delegated administrator, will then review the PIP for compliance with applicable requirements and then exercise discretion whether to: (1) advance the PIP to voting, (2) request revisions to the PIP, or (3) reject the PIP entirely. If the administrator determines that the PIP should be revised or rejected, it shall publicly provide its reasoning.
Potential reasons for an administrator to reject or require revision may include:
Outside of the Star Atlas DAO’s scope
Lack of feasibility
Excessive cost relative to the Star Atlas DAO’s available resources
Potential conflicts of interest
Legal or tax considerations
Failure to incorporate necessary details or otherwise adhere to drafting guidelines
Other potential risks or harm to the Star Atlas ecosystem
PIP Voting
If all drafting requirements are met and no further revisions are required, the Star Atlas Foundation or its delegated administrator will advance the PIP to a Pending state. In the Pending state, the PIP is visible to all participants in the Star Atlas DAO. PIPs shall remain in a Pending state at the discretion of the Star Atlas Foundation, depending on the nature of the proposal and the level of community review and feedback required before voting should be initiated.
The Star Atlas Foundation may then advance a PIP from Pending into a Voting state. PIPs shall remain in a Voting state for 14 days (unless otherwise adjusted by the Star Atlas Foundation), during which time participants in the Star Atlas DAO who control locked POLIS may vote on the proposal, with voting weight based on the amount of POLIS they control and the duration of the lock (“PVP”).
At the conclusion of the Voting state, the PIP is deemed successful and is advanced to a Success state if (1) the PVP in favor of the PIP exceeds the PVP against (or, in the case of a ranked-choice vote, a sufficient plurality is achieved) and (2) a sufficient quorum of PVP participation is met. PIPs that fail to meet the threshold and/or quorum requirements enter a Failed state and are considered rejected by the Star Atlas DAO.
Implementation
Successful PIPs are referred to the Star Atlas Foundation for implementation as specified in the PIP.
If the Star Atlas Foundation determines that the PIP is not capable of safe or proper implementation — for example, if new conditions or information arise that render implementation unsafe — then it may refuse to implement the PIP, provide its reasoning to the Star Atlas community, and require further review by the Star Atlas DAO.
IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
This proposal seeks to ratify the following steps, which have already been taken by the Star Atlas Foundation (and ATMTA, Inc. on its behalf):
Registration of the Star Atlas Foundation
Creation, audit, and deployment of blockchain programs comprising the Star Atlas DAO
Publication of documents describing the sustainable governance framework for Star Atlas
Future steps in this proposal, including maintenance activities, will be carried out by the Star Atlas Foundation, which may assign or delegate its activities as appropriate, with any modifications to the procedures described in this proposal requiring on-chain approval by the Star Atlas DAO.
TIMELINE
This PIP is ready for immediate implementation and, if approved, shall remain in force in perpetuity unless modified or revoked by the Star Atlas DAO.
COST
The initial costs associated with the implementation of this proposal have already been covered. These include the formation and initial funding of the Star Atlas Foundation; payment for legal and tax advisory fees relating to the same; creation, audit, and deployment of related blockchain programs and interfaces; and other related costs.
Further costs for the development, management, and administration of the Star Atlas DAO shall be paid or reimbursed to service providers. Any disbursements from the Star Atlas DAO’s treasury shall first require on-chain approval by the Star Atlas DAO.
Recurring and future costs may include:
Annual fees for the services of the Foundation’s single professional director resident in Cayman.
Registered office, secretary, and supervisory services provided by Walkers Fiduciary Limited.
Compensation for persons under the employ of or in contract with the Star Atlas Foundation, for services related to the development, management, and administration of the Star Atlas DAO.
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