Foundation Mission Request: Votable Supply Framework [RESEARCH]

[elizarileyoak]

• Foundation Mission Request Summary: Develop a framework for the Collective to set votable supply targets which consider the “cost of attack.”
• S6 Intent: Progress towards decentralization
• Baseline grant amount: 8K OP
• Should this Foundation Mission be fulfilled by one or multiple teams: Up to two
• Optimism Unlimited point-of-contact: @oplavande @elizarileyoak
• Submit application by: 1 November 2024
• Selection by: 8 November 2024
• Start date:  11 November 2024
• Completion date: 11 December 2024 (extensions possible on case-by-case basis)

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How will this Foundation Mission Request help accomplish the above Intent?

Progress towards decentralization requires a further distribution of voting power. This necessitates a strategy involving targets for votable supply. Votable supply is the number of tokens able to cast a vote at any given time. Votable supply targets should be related to an understanding of the dominant attack vectors at different stages of decentralization and how that corresponds to the cost of attack. We define cost of attack as the number of tokens required for an actor to unilaterally ensure governance outcomes in the Token House. In an ideal scenario, votable supply targets would ensure a prohibitive cost of attack, against various attack vectors, at each stage of progressive decentralization.

What is required to execute this Foundation Mission Request?

This Foundation Mission aims to develop forward looking projections for votable supply, informed by a deep understanding of the dominant attack vectors at different stages of decentralization and how that corresponds to the cost of attack. The model used to make these projections should be dynamic so different scenarios can be assessed and so that it can be updated over time.

To execute this Mission Request, the grantee will work closely with the Foundation over a one-month period. The grantee will successfully execute the following steps:

Phase	Activity	Deliverable	How to Measure	Duration
Preparatory work: Research and Data Collection	1.0 Identify key factors and assumptions about the Foundation’s own forecasts relating to decentralization, token supply, growth initiatives, etc.	List of key factors to be considered in model	Comprehensive projection of Foundation milestones relevant to understanding different attack vectors over time	1 week
Preparatory work: Research and Data Collection	1.1 Identify key factors that influence the cost of attack (e.g., token distribution, liquidity, voting participation rates, governance vulnerabilities).	Summary of key factors influencing the cost of attack based on review of existing research	Evaluation of key variables based on relevance to the Collective	1 week (done in conjunction with 1.0)
Framework Development	2.0 Develop a model that calculates the votable supply required to maintain it above a pre-determined threshold under various conditions	Model for calculating required votable supply; Scenario analyses of various conditions	Ability for model to estimate the cost of attack above threshold under various scenarios	2 weeks
Framework Development	2.1. Run sensitivity analysis on key variables such as token supply, market volatility, and other relevant factors	Sensitivity analysis	Ability to understand how projections would change based on a change in assumptions of key variables such as token supply, market volatility, and other relevant factors	2 weeks (done in conjunction with 2.0)
Final Report and Presentation	3.0 Deliver an adaptive model alongside a comprehensive final report outlining votable supply targets, key assumptions, and rationale	Adaptive model and final report	Functionality of the model and thoroughness of the report	1 week
Final Report and Presentation	3.1. Discussion of deliverables from 3.0 with Foundation	Presentation of outcomes to Foundation	Implementation of model by the Foundation	Deliver upon completion date

Delivery of the Final Framework and associated materials (by end of December 2024)

1. A complete and functional model that defines the votable supply targets based on the required cost of attack and other factors.
2. The model should be thoroughly tested, reviewed, and capable of making predictions to inform 2025 strategy and beyond.
3. Provide scenario-based forecasting for votable supply starting with Q1 2025 onwards (per month), with sensitivity analysis on key variables (e.g., token price, liquidity, voter participation).
4. Provide a list of assumptions, which have been reviewed and validated by the creators of this Mission Request.

How should impact be measured upon completion of this Foundation Mission Request? These should be focused on performance and may be used to assess your Misson’s impact.

To evaluate the impact of this proposal after completion, the following performance measures should be considered:

1. Adoption of the Framework by the Optimism Foundation:

• Measure the extent to which the proposed framework is adopted by the Collective’s governance structures and its influence on token supply-related decisions.

2. Effectiveness in Preventing Governance Attacks:

• Evaluate the extent to which the votable supply targets set by the framework successfully reduced the risk of governance attack at various stages.

3. Sustainability of the Model:

• Assess the framework’s adaptability over time and its ability to remain relevant as market conditions and governance dynamics evolve, e.g. as the Collective enters new phases along the decentralization roadmap.

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Application instructions

To apply for this Foundation Mission Request, please complete the form in the expandable section below and leave your response as a comment on this issue thread. Submissions will be open until Friday 1 November 2024, at which time the Foundation will review all submissions and select up to two individuals /teams to complete the work defined here.

Submission form

Copy the entire application below and leave a comment on this issue with your answers completed. A representative from the Optimism Foundation may reach out using the contact info provided to request more information as necessary.

Foundation Mission Application

• Alliance Lead: Please specify the best point of contact for your team
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What makes your Alliance best-suited to execute this Mission?

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Please describe your proposed solution based on the above Solution Criteria (if applicable):

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Please outline your step-by-step plan to execute this Mission, including expected deadlines to complete each peice of work:

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Please list any additional support your team would require to execute this mission (financial, technical, etc.):

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Grants are awarded in OP, locked for one year. Please let us know if access to upfront capital is a barrier to completing your Mission and you would like to be considered for a small upfront cash grant: (Note: there is no guarantee that approved Missions will receive up-front cash grants.)

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Please check the following to make sure you understand the terms of the Optimism Foundation RFP program:

• I understand my grant for completing this RFP will be locked for one year from the date of proposal acceptance.
• I understand that I will be required to provide additional KYC information to the Optimism Foundation to receive this grant
• I understand my locked grant may be clawed back for failure to execute on critical milestones, as outlined in the Operating Manual
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• I understand that I will be expected to following the public grant reporting requirements outlined here

-- end of application --