Electrical Coin Co. (ECC) manages plenty of 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 initiatives is a multidisciplinary endeavor involving content material technique, digital advertising, internet growth, design, copywriting, neighborhood 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 higher neighborhood involvement, we launched a redesigned and refined Z.money. Right here’s what we wrote about it:
This web site relaunch is a milestone, nevertheless it’s additionally merely a begin — a patch of land to develop a backyard. Within the coming months, we’ll start working towards fostering higher neighborhood involvement with the final word aim 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’s 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 neighborhood, 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 higher range of contributors and a extra consultant voice for Zcashers all over the place.
Sounds cool, however why?
We imagine making a decentralized possession construction, collectively managed by ECC and certified, unbiased folks and groups is vital for a number of causes, together with:
Guaranteeing the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Zcash challenge
Encouraging range and innovation within the ecosystem
Enabling extra content material, extra collaboration, and a higher attain
Scope of proposal
This proposal encompasses the next digital properties presently managed day-to-day by ECC. For a full breakdown of constituent elements, corresponding instruments/platforms and vital dependencies, please see the addendum.
z.money area and web site
Zcash Technical Documentation (ReadTheDocs/Gitbook)
Zcash Twitter account
Cypherpunk Zero web site and property
Proposed decentralization course of
Broadly talking, we imagine the trail to decentralization ought to be incremental and structured as follows. This can be a draft, meant to spur dialogue, and we welcome neighborhood enter on the method and timeline(s) detailed under.
Part 1 (Aug-Oct 2023)
Set up a transition job power composed of ECC representatives and certified neighborhood members.
Starting with a proper neighborhood utility course of, ECC will create a transition job power to contribute concepts and information and oversee the transition. The duty power ought to be comprised of representatives from ECC and as much as three key members of the Zcash neighborhood. This group of unpaid volunteers will probably be liable for prioritizing initiatives, creating the transition plans, participating with the neighborhood, due diligence on trademark and authorized implications, and guaranteeing a easy and orderly switch of duties as acceptable. The duty power ought to mirror the variety of the Zcash neighborhood, guaranteeing {that a} broad vary of views, geographies, and experience are represented, if possible.
See job power choice course of proposal
Part 2 (Nov 2023-Jan 2024)
Develop standards for evaluating potential new possession buildings.
Primarily based on the evaluation and desired traits outlined on this publish, the transition job power ought to develop clear standards for evaluating potential new possession buildings 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 probably the most appropriate candidate(s), guaranteeing the chosen construction(s) aligns with neighborhood values, objectives, and long-term imaginative and prescient. By establishing these standards upfront, the duty power ensures a clear and goal choice course of that’s rooted in the most effective pursuits of the Zcash neighborhood.
Part 3 (Feb-March 2024)
Have interaction the Zcash neighborhood relating to construction(s).
To encourage neighborhood involvement and enter within the transition course of, the duty power will clearly talk the specified traits of the brand new possession construction(s). By offering a mechanism for open dialogue and trade of concepts, ECC can collect precious suggestions and insights from varied stakeholders, guaranteeing 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 power and new proprietor(s) ought to develop a transparent roadmap outlining expectations and duties, together with transition milestones. This roadmap ought to embody key duties such because the handover or opening up of technical infrastructure and the institution of recent governance mechanisms. By offering a structured framework for the transition, the roadmap might help guarantee all elements of the method are rigorously thought-about and managed.
As soon as the transition course of is full, the duty power ought to formally conclude its work, acknowledging the profitable switch of duties and property to the brand new co-owner(s). Following this, a post-transition assessment could also be performed to evaluate the general success of the method, determine classes realized, and doc insights for future reference. This assessment may present precious 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 challenge.
ECC’s suggestions on construction
z.money area and web site:
The just lately redesigned z.money expertise has been modularized to permit for a number of groups to handle varied content material sections of the web site. The related WordPress CMS, instruments, and analytics platforms will be flexibly permissioned in accordance with the wants of the neighborhood.
We might 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 internet growth. 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:
Net growth and design presently prices ~$2,500 monthly by means of outdoors businesses.
Internet hosting and utility safety price ~$20,000 per 12 months.
Hotjar presently prices ~$250 monthly.
Ahrefs presently prices ~$199 monthly.
WordPress plugins price in mixture ~$250 per 12 months.
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 with ECC, with funding from Zcash Neighborhood Grants.
Ongoing prices:
Copywriting and neighborhood administration sources prices TBD.
Internet hosting prices ~$50 monthly.
@Zcash Twitter account
We wish to see an entity or particular person (apart from ECC) assume social media administration duties (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 fee to design visible property (ie. animated GIFs and movies).
Copywriting and neighborhood administration sources.
Cypherpunk Zero web site and NFT property
Ideally, the Cypherpunk Zero world could possibly be transitioned to an unbiased workforce who may facilitate wider neighborhood participation and contributions. Maybe this might comply with a transition and possession mannequin much like the proposal for z.money. Along with the positioning and NFT assortment (~2,000 items), ECC has three accomplished comedian e-book scripts that should be illustrated and packaged. This challenge was placed on maintain in 2022 for finances concerns.
Ongoing prices:
Net growth and design presently prices TBD (ECC is presently spending $0 monthly).
Internet hosting and utility safety price ~$4,000 per 12 months.
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 would trigger the operational prices to be larger or decrease.
Present questions, realities, and constraints
There are a variety of identified (and unknown) points that we would wish to deal with with the assistance of the neighborhood. 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 recommendations from the neighborhood.
The prevailing Zcash Trademark Settlement and License Settlement might should be amended to accommodate people or entities apart from ECC.
Another initiatives (equivalent to Ethereum.org) have the posh of counting on massive communities to crowdsource a lot of the day-to-day administration of their digital properties. By advantage of the Zcash neighborhood’s small dimension, we imagine a narrower, extra managed administration method is required whereas the challenge is in its infancy.
The perfect governance construction is to be decided and should require experimentation.
The perfect function of third events (and the neighborhood’s skill to carry them accountable) is one thing that may should be explored and codified by the proposed job power.
A shared Digital Property Roadmap, Type Information, and Design Rules (together with content material and model pointers) will should be developed and agreed upon to make sure Zcash is represented in a constant and acceptable method.
Different vital concerns:
ECC presently depends on the z.money area as its Google Cloud Supplier main community for plenty of items of vital 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 house for neighborhood engagement on this matter 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 neighborhood to take part. Keep tuned for particulars on time and venue. If you wish to be certain you don’t miss this dialog, be happy to electronic mail me at [email protected], and I’ll hold you within the loop. We’re excited to listen to from you immediately and to work with certified members of the neighborhood on these efforts!
After this workshop, our hope is to kick off the duty power choice course of talked about above and detailed right here.
Addendum
This proposal encompasses the next digital properties presently 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 already know has a dependency that’s not listed under, please submit this way by Aug 16, 2023.
Z.money area, dependent infrastructure, and web site
Area title registrar (presently through Google Domains)
@z.money electronic mail (presently through GSuite)
Google cloud providers for vital ECC-managed infrastructure
Z.money web site frontend
WordPress CMS
Instruments and analytics
Hotjar
Google Analytics
Ahrefs
Confirmic
Z.money webhosting (presently through Pantheon)
Z.money web site and utility safety (presently through Cloudflare)
Zcash Enchancment Proposals subdomain (zips.z.money)
Zcash Protocol Specification
zcash.github.io
Technical documentation (ReadTheDocs/Gitbook)
Zcash Twitter account
Instruments and analytics
Sprout Social