A proposal for shared possession and resilience of Zcash-focused digital properties

Electrical Coin Co. (ECC)  manages various Zcash-focused digital properties, i.e., the z.money web site, the Zcash technical documentation hub, the Zcash Twitter account, and the Cypherpunk Zero web site and property. Stewardship of those tasks is a multidisciplinary endeavor involving content material technique, digital advertising and marketing, net improvement, design, copywriting, group engagement, and extra.

In June, as a part of our efforts to enhance the digital footprint of the Zcash ecosystem and lay a basis for larger group involvement, we launched a redesigned and refined Z.money. Right here’s what we wrote about it:

This web site relaunch is a milestone, but it surely’s additionally merely a begin — a patch of land to develop a backyard. Within the coming months, we’ll start working towards fostering larger group involvement with the final word objective of transitioning this web site and different Zcash digital properties into shared public items.

As a follow-up to this launch announcement, and Josh Swihart’s latest weblog about ECC’s proposals and plans for decentralizing Zcash, the publish you’re studying now could be meant to stipulate a course of (a minimum of the beginning of 1) to reimagine governance of z.money and different Zcash-focused digital properties.

Our hope is that, along with the bigger Zcash group, we will construct and enact a mannequin of communal possession and elevated collaboration — transitioning these digital property and instruments into shared public items, with a larger range of contributors and a extra consultant voice for Zcashers all over the place.

Sounds cool, however why?

We consider making a decentralized possession construction, collectively managed by ECC and certified, impartial folks and groups is vital for a number of causes, together with:

1. Making certain the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Zcash mission
2. Encouraging range and innovation within the ecosystem
3. Enabling extra content material, extra collaboration, and a larger attain

Scope of proposal

This proposal encompasses the next digital properties at present managed day-to-day by ECC. For a full breakdown of constituent elements, corresponding instruments/platforms and vital dependencies, please see the addendum. 

1. z.money area and web site
2. Zcash Technical Documentation (ReadTheDocs/Gitbook)
3. Zcash Twitter account
4. Cypherpunk Zero web site and property 

Proposed decentralization course of

Broadly talking, we consider the trail to decentralization needs to be incremental and structured as follows. This can be a draft, meant to spur dialogue, and we welcome group enter on the method and timeline(s) detailed under.

Part 1 (Aug-Oct 2023)

Set up a transition job drive composed of ECC representatives and certified group members.

Starting with a proper group utility course of, ECC will create a transition job drive to contribute concepts and information and oversee the transition. The duty drive needs to be comprised of representatives from ECC and as much as three key members of the Zcash group. This group of unpaid volunteers will likely be answerable for prioritizing tasks, growing the transition plans, partaking with the group, due diligence on trademark and authorized implications, and making certain a clean and orderly switch of tasks as applicable. The duty drive ought to mirror the range of the Zcash group, making certain {that a} broad vary of views, geographies, and experience are represented, if possible.

See job drive choice course of proposal

Part 2 (Nov 2023-Jan 2024)

Develop standards for evaluating potential new possession constructions.

Based mostly on the evaluation and desired traits outlined on this publish, the transition job drive ought to develop clear standards for evaluating potential new possession constructions for z.money, the Zcash technical documentation hub, the Zcash Twitter account, and the Cypherpunk Zero web site and property. These standards will function a foundation for choosing essentially the most appropriate candidate(s), making certain the chosen construction(s) aligns with group values, targets, and long-term imaginative and prescient. By establishing these standards upfront, the duty drive ensures a clear and goal choice course of that’s rooted in the most effective pursuits of the Zcash group.

Part 3 (Feb-March 2024)

Interact the Zcash group concerning construction(s).

To encourage group involvement and enter within the transition course of, the duty drive will clearly talk the specified traits of the brand new possession construction(s). By offering a mechanism for open dialogue and alternate of concepts, ECC can collect beneficial suggestions and insights from numerous stakeholders, making certain various views are thought-about within the decision-making course of.

Part 4 (April 2024 onward)

New construction is finalized; transitioning and monitoring start.

The brand new joint administration construction(s) is finalized and transitioning begins. To information the method, the duty drive and new proprietor(s) ought to develop a transparent roadmap outlining expectations and tasks, together with transition milestones. This roadmap ought to embrace key duties such because the handover or opening up of technical infrastructure and the institution of latest governance mechanisms. By offering a structured framework for the transition, the roadmap might help guarantee all features of the method are fastidiously thought-about and managed.

As soon as the transition course of is full, the duty drive ought to formally conclude its work, acknowledging the profitable switch of tasks and property to the brand new co-owner(s). Following this, a post-transition evaluate could also be performed to evaluate the general success of the method, establish classes realized, and doc insights for future reference. This evaluate may present beneficial suggestions for each ECC and the brand new co-owner(s), serving to to tell future decentralization initiatives and make sure the ongoing resilience of the Zcash mission.

ECC’s suggestions on construction

z.money area and web site:

The not too long ago redesigned z.money expertise has been modularized to permit for a number of groups to handle numerous content material sections of the web site. The related WordPress CMS, instruments, and analytics platforms will be flexibly permissioned in line with the wants of the group.

We’d ideally wish to see people or entities collaborate with ECC to handle the content material inside sure modules, such because the Be taught and Ecosystem hubs. 

Instance A: Entity X may handle content material for the Be taught part of the positioning, whereas Entity Y may individually handle content material for the Ecosystem part. ECC may proceed sustaining the general web site expertise, web site safety, related analytics, and net improvement. Representatives from all entities may collectively sit on an editorial board to make sure cohesive content material technique and constant high quality. Funding may come within the type of Zcash Neighborhood Grants, a renewed Zcash Improvement Fund, or some mixture of the 2.

Instance B: Entity X may work with ECC to develop translations for z.money content material in languages apart from English. Funding may come within the type of Zcash Neighborhood Grants.

Ongoing prices: 

• Internet improvement and design at present prices ~$2,500 per 30 days by means of exterior businesses.
• Webhosting and utility safety value ~$20,000 per yr.
• Hotjar at present prices ~$250 per 30 days.
• Ahrefs at present prices ~$199 per 30 days.
• WordPress plugins value in mixture ~$250 per yr.
• Google Analytics is free.

Zcash technical documentation administration:

The prevailing Zcash technical documentation is hosted through ReadTheDocs and is in want of updates. Ideally, a separate entity may oversee the platform, independently or along side ECC, with funding from Zcash Neighborhood Grants.

Ongoing prices: 

• Copywriting and group administration sources prices TBD.
• Internet hosting prices ~$50 per 30 days.

@Zcash Twitter account

We want to see an entity or particular person (apart from ECC) assume social media administration tasks (inclusive of content material technique and manufacturing) for the @Zcash Twitter deal with. Funding may come within the type of Zcash Neighborhood Grants.

Ongoing prices: 

• ~$250/mo for Sprout Social.
• The price to design visible property (ie. animated GIFs and movies).
• Copywriting and group administration sources.

Cypherpunk Zero web site and NFT property

Ideally, the Cypherpunk Zero world could possibly be transitioned to an impartial group who may facilitate wider group participation and contributions. Maybe this might comply with a transition and possession mannequin just like the proposal for z.money. Along with the positioning and NFT assortment (~2,000 items), ECC has three accomplished comedian ebook scripts that should be illustrated and packaged. This mission was placed on maintain in 2022 for finances concerns. 

Ongoing prices:

• Internet improvement and design at present prices TBD (ECC is at present spending $0 per 30 days).
• Webhosting and utility safety value ~$4,000 per yr.
• Gasoline charges for switch of NFTs ~10 per asset.

Disclaimer: Any estimated prices are primarily based on present ECC infrastructure and configurations. There are different internet hosting and help service choices that might trigger the operational prices to be greater or decrease.

Present questions, realities, and constraints

There are a selection of recognized (and unknown) points that we would wish to handle with the assistance of the group. Notably:

• The perfect funding supply(s) for entities that assist handle Zcash digital properties is to be decided. Funding may come from Zcash Neighborhood Grants, a revised Zcash Improvement Fund, or some mixture of the 2. We’re open to solutions from the group.
• The prevailing Zcash Trademark Settlement and License Settlement could should be amended to accommodate people or entities apart from ECC.
• Another tasks (similar to Ethereum.org) have the luxurious of counting on giant communities to crowdsource a lot of the day-to-day administration of their digital properties. By advantage of the Zcash group’s small dimension, we consider a narrower, extra managed administration method is required whereas the mission is in its infancy.
• The perfect governance construction is to be decided and will require experimentation.
• The perfect position of third events (and the group’s potential to carry them accountable) is one thing that will should be explored and codified by the proposed job drive.
• A shared Digital Property Roadmap, Type Information, and Design Ideas (together with content material and model tips) will should be developed and agreed upon to make sure Zcash is represented in a constant and applicable method.

Different vital concerns:

ECC at present depends on the z.money area as its Google Cloud Supplier main community for various items of important infrastructure (e.g., nodes and construct procedures). Any change of area administration should account for a ~6 month grace interval to permit ECC to transition off the z.money area.

Subsequent steps

In March, we requested that the Zcash Basis present ECC with time and area for group engagement on this subject at Zcon4, with an intent to start method and planning efforts in August. That request was formally denied in June (and once more earlier this month), so ECC is planning to host a facet occasion, through the Zcon4 dates, and we invite the group to take part. Keep tuned for particulars on time and venue. If you wish to make sure you don’t miss this dialog, be happy to electronic mail me at [email protected], and I’ll maintain you within the loop. We’re excited to listen to from you instantly and to work with certified members of the group on these efforts! 

After this workshop, our hope is to kick off the duty drive choice course of talked about above and detailed right here. 

Addendum

This proposal encompasses the next digital properties at present managed day-to-day by ECC. Beneath is a breakdown of constituent elements, corresponding instruments and platforms, and vital dependencies. 

Observe: In the event you or somebody you realize has a dependency that’s not listed under, please submit this kind by Aug 16, 2023.

1. Z.money area, dependent infrastructure, and web site
   1. Area title registrar (at present through Google Domains)
   2. @z.money electronic mail (at present through GSuite)
   3. Google cloud companies for vital ECC-managed infrastructure
   4. Z.money web site frontend
      1. WordPress CMS
      2. Instruments and analytics
         1. Hotjar
         2. Google Analytics
         3. Ahrefs
         4. Confirmic
   5. Z.money website hosting (at present through Pantheon)
   6. Z.money web site and utility safety (at present through Cloudflare)
   7. Zcash Enchancment Proposals subdomain (zips.z.money)
      1. Zcash Protocol Specification
   8. zcash.github.io
   9. Technical documentation (ReadTheDocs/Gitbook)
2. Zcash Twitter account
   1. Instruments and analytics
      1. Sprout Social