Introduction and Context
This page provides an overview of the impact and metrics for Optimystics Tools, a suite of open-source software designed to empower communities with innovative governance solutions on the Superchain. Our toolkit, centered around the Respect Game, includes applications for decentralized decision-making, reputation management, and collective action.
The purpose of this page is to showcase the realized impact of these tools on Optimism Governance, particularly in the context of our application for Retroactive Funding Round 6. For more details on our work, please visit our Optimystics Tools application, our open-source repositories, and our tools articles.
Important funding clarification
The 30,000 OP listed on this application represents the total funding received by the Optimystics team for multiple projects in RetroPGF Round 3, not solely for Optimystics Tools. Due to the application structure, there was no dedicated field to explain how previous funding was distributed across projects. To ensure transparency and avoid disqualification, we felt it necessary to note the full amount in each related application.
Therefore, the funding specifically allocated to Optimystics Tools is significantly less than the total 30,000 OP grant. It's worth noting that at the time of the previous funding round, our tools had only been used once at an Optimism Fractal event. The development and implementation of these tools were in their early stages. For a broader understanding of our work across different projects and our funding context, please refer to the Optimystics Projects and Funding overview.
Table of Contents
- Introduction and Context
- Important funding clarification
- Respect Game Usage
- Software Development and Infrastructure
- Developer Engagement
- Respect Token Usage
- Governance Innovation
- Educational Impact
- Ecosystem Growth and Engagement
- Qualitative Impact
- Related Projects and Further Context
- Conclusion
Respect Game Usage
The Respect Game is at the core of our tools, providing an innovative way to measure contributions and foster collaboration within the Optimism ecosystem. Here's how our tools have supported Optimism governance through the Respect Game between October 2023 to September 2024.
Participant Quantity and Transaction Impact
- Over 50 unique builders have participated in onchain governance experimentation via the Respect Game at Optimism Fractal events using our software
- Each participant has created immutable onchain attestations of their contributions to Optimism governance
- Verifiable on-chain through OPF token holders: Token Holders
- ~350 consensus-based governance transactions recorded onchain (October 2023 - September 2024)
- Each transaction represents a full breakout room reaching democratic consensus on contributions to Optimism
- Each consensus decision involves 3-6 governance participants evaluating each other's impact
- All consensus decisions are permanently recorded on the OP Mainnet for governance analysis
- Verifiable through contract transactions: Contract Transactions
Our smart contract that has facilitated all Optimism Fractal events so far can be found here. Several deployments of new versions of our software on OP Mainnet and Base can be found on the grant application.
Governance Participant Quality
Our tools have attracted and retained high-impact governance participants:
- Core Infrastructure Builders: Leading developers of Optimism governance infrastructure and tooling regularly use our software to coordinate and evaluate contributions
- Delegates and Thought Leaders: Several active Optimism delegates and prominent thought leaders have used our tools to experiment with novel governance processes
- Council/Commission Members: Multiple members of the Optimism Grants Council, Code of Conduct Council, and other key governance bodies have participated
- Cross-Chain Leaders: Governance experts and business leaders from Base, Mode, and other Superchain networks have used our software at events
This diverse set of governance leaders demonstrates the broad appeal and utility of our tools for Optimism governance. Videos of their participation and impact are available in our event recordings, with timestamps provided for easy navigation. You can gain a better understanding of the outstanding quality of governance leaders and builders who’ve used our software on our draft contributors page and verify token distributions on the block explorer.
Sustained Governance Engagement
The Respect Game has shown strong retention metrics demonstrating sustained governance engagement:
- Weekly Event Cadence: Consistent governance experimentation at 43 events
- Long-term Participation: Many top contributors have consistently participated for 6+ months, as evidenced by their accumulated Respect scores following the Fibonacci distribution (55, 34, 21, 13, 8, or 5 Respect per consensus)
- Growing Implementation: Several other communities are now using our governance tools, including the ZAO Fractal with 20+ events
- Expanding Impact: Each retained participant has helped onboard 2-3 additional governance contributors on average
We're working on finding blockchain analysis tools to include statistics on repeat participants and long-term engagement.
Software Development and Infrastructure
Since October 2023, Optimystics Tools has provided and maintained essential infrastructure for decentralized decision-making:
- Initial Toolset: Our core tools have facilitated weekly Optimism Fractal events, enabling consistent governance experimentation and community building. You can see the original toolset here.
- Respect Infrastructure: We've maintained and upgraded the system for distributing Respect tokens, enabling a decentralized distribution amongst leading builders and governance enthusiasts.
- Council Support: Our tools have enabled the weekly formation and operation of the Optimism Fractal council, demonstrating scalable governance models.
This consistent infrastructure has allowed for the release of next-generation tools:
- Respect Games App: An all-in-one application for empowering communities and building decentralized, autonomous organizations with Respect Game. It is now open to all at Respect.Games. You can learn about the app’s many benefits and watch videos in this article.
- ORDAO: An onchain governance protocol using optimistic quorum systems, featuring the Optimistic Respect-based Executive Contract (OREC). You can more about the elegant smart contracts of this app and watch several video demonstrations in this article.
- Fractalgram: An intuitive web app client for live community engagement with the Respect Game, which is now in testing and can be accessed at respect-game.vercel.app. You can learn more about this app’s powerful features and watch video demonstrations in this article.
These tools represent significant advancements in on-chain governance protocols and engagement, providing the Optimism ecosystem with powerful mechanisms for decentralized decision-making. You can find detailed articles and videos about these apps at Optimystics.io/tools and explore more about our fractal apps on this page.
Developer Engagement
Optimystics Tools has fostered significant developer engagement on governance tooling:
- GitHub Activity: Active development across multiple repositories, with ongoing code additions and commits
- Developer Attraction: Multiple teams of developers have been drawn to build tools inspired by our software
- Open-Source Contributions: Our tools have inspired contributions from developers outside our core team
- Tool Development: Most of the tools featured on Optimystics.io/tools over the past year were inspired and/or largely fostered by our software, including other important governance tools such as Respect Trees and the Optimism Fractal Hats Tree
Respect Token Usage
The Respect token, earned through the Respect Game, has become a cornerstone of various governance processes within the Optimism ecosystem. Our software for Respect tokens has enabled several innovative use cases, demonstrating the token's versatility and impact on decentralized decision-making.
Optimism Fractal Snapshot Space
The Respect token has been instrumental in facilitating community-driven governance (based on the revolutionary concept of fractal democracy) in the Optimism Fractal Snapshot Space:
- 27 proposals created for OPF voters
- 220 votes from participants with Respect
- 31 weekly council selection processes for OPF holders
This usage has significantly enhanced community engagement and ensured that governance decisions are made by those who actively contribute to the ecosystem. You can verify this participation by viewing the leaderboard in the Optimism Fractal snapshot space and see the proposals here. For a deeper understanding of how the Optimism Fractal council operates using our tools, visit the Optimism Fractal council page. Optimism Fractal’s core intents, protocol specifications, and the history of governance changes using our software are detailed on the details page.
Optimism Town Hall and OPTOPICS Snapshot Spaces
Respect tokens have played a crucial role in fostering community-driven agenda setting and discussion prioritization:
Optimism Town Hall Snapshot Space (May to September):
- 35 topic proposals created
- 49 votes cast using OPF Respect tokens
- 9 unique community members participating
- You can verify these on the leaderboard
OPTOPICS Snapshot Space (September 3rd to September 26th):
- 8 topic proposals created
- 19 votes cast using OPF Respect Tokens
- 6 unique community members participating
- You can verify these on the leaderboard
These initiatives have significantly enhanced the community's ability to steer governance conversations and ensure that the most pertinent issues are addressed. To learn more about how these Snapshot Spaces utilize OPF Respect tokens, visit OptimismTownHall.com and explore the detailed explanations on the FAQ.
Hats Protocol Integration
Our Respect token tools have been integrated with Hats Protocol to create the Optimism Fractal Hats Tree, showcasing their interoperability and potential for broader ecosystem impact:
- Approximately 15-20 hats claimed using OPF Respect in September
- Won competition hosted by Hats Protocol founders
This integration has opened up new possibilities for role-based governance and reputation management within the Optimism ecosystem. For more details on this innovative use case you can read this article, watch these videos, and explore the Optimism Fractal Hats Tree here.
These diverse applications of the Respect token demonstrate its versatility and potential to revolutionize decentralized governance. By enabling more nuanced, contribution-based participation in decision-making processes, Respect tokens are paving the way for more engaged, fair, and effective governance models in the Optimism ecosystem and beyond.
Governance Innovation
Our tools have enabled novel approaches to decentralized governance:
- Decentralized Reputation System: The OPF Respect token distribution has created a democratic allocation of governance power based on peer-judged contributions
- Scalable Decision-Making: Our council formation process demonstrates a novel approach to representative governance that can scale to large communities, via fractal democracy
- Onchain Governance Experiments: Tools like ORDAO and Respect.Games have enabled new forms of on-chain decision-making and execution
Educational Impact
Optimystics Tools has contributed significantly to governance education in the Optimism ecosystem:
- Documentation Growth: Tool usage motivated 15+ detailed articles and extensive notion site resources, including the Optimism Fractal Developer Hub, facilitating user and developer onboarding
- Event and Video Production: Our tools have been instrumental in facilitating community events and the production of video content. You can see our event calendar for details and visit our videos page for examples of how our tools are used for these purposes. Here are some stats last September:
- 60+ events hosted using our software
- 50+ videos produced, facilitated by our Respect Game software
- 4,000+ views across all videos facilitated by our software
- Demos and Tutorials: Regular demonstrations of our tools during Optimism Fractal events, educating participants on governance processes
- Open-Source Learning: By making our tools open-source, we've provided valuable learning resources for developers interested in governance infrastructure
Ecosystem Growth and Engagement
Our tools have played a crucial role in growing and engaging the Optimism community:
- New Participant Onboarding: Our user-friendly interfaces have lowered the barrier to entry for governance participation
- Cross-Community Collaboration: Tools like Fractalgram have facilitated easier communication and collaboration across different Optimism communities
- Governance Accessibility: By gamifying governance processes, we've made participation more engaging and accessible to a wider audience
- Community Expansion: Our tools have supported the growth of Superchain communities beyond Optimism Fractal. For example, the ZAO Fractal has adopted our processes and hosted over 20 weekly events based around the Respect Game, empowering musicians in their community with fractal democracy processes. For more information on communities and organizations who have expressed interest or integrated our software, visit Optimystics.io/communities.
Qualitative Impact
Beyond quantitative metrics, Optimystics Tools has had significant qualitative and emergent impacts on the Optimism:
Fostering Governance Culture: Our tools have cultivated a culture of active participation and collaborative decision-making within Optimism Fractal and beyond. By providing accessible, gamified governance mechanisms, we've lowered the barrier to entry for community members to engage in governance processes. This has resulted in a more diverse and engaged participant base, enriching the quality of governance discussions and decisions.
Innovation Catalyst: As open-source governance infrastructure, our tools have sparked further innovation in governance tooling on Optimism. Developers and governance enthusiasts have used our codebase as a foundation to build and experiment with new governance concepts. This has created a virtuous cycle of innovation, with ideas tested in our tools often evolving into more advanced governance proposals.
Enhancing Trust and Transparency: Our onchain tools have significantly improved trust and transparency in governance processes. By recording decisions and reputation on the Optimism blockchain, we've created an immutable, verifiable record of community contributions and governance actions. This has increased confidence in the fairness and integrity of decentralized decision-making processes.
Governance Education: Through hands-on interaction with our tools, users gain practical experience with complex governance concepts. This experiential learning has proven invaluable in preparing community members for more active roles in Optimism governance, creating a more informed and capable governance participant base.
Cross-Ecosystem Influence: The governance models enabled by our tools have started to attract attention from other blockchain communities. While the full impact of this cross-pollination is still emerging, it suggests potential for broader influence beyond Optimism, positioning the Optimism ecosystem as a leader in onchain governance innovation.
Evolving Governance Standards: The patterns and best practices established by our tools are beginning to influence discussions about future standards for onchain governance. As these tools continue to be used and refined, they have the potential to shape the development of governance frameworks not just within Optimism, but in the broader blockchain space.
Foundation for Future Governance: By consistently providing and iterating on these tools, we've created a robust foundation for Optimism's evolving governance structures. The modular and adaptable nature of our toolkit allows for rapid experimentation and implementation of new governance ideas, positioning Optimism to remain at the forefront of decentralized governance innovation. The interoperability of our tools across different communities creates the foundation for a unified, scalable governance layer across the Superchain, significantly enhancing coordination and decision-making as the ecosystem grows.
While the full potential of these innovations is still unfolding, the governance infrastructure we've built over the past year has positioned Optimystics Tools as a key driver of governance evolution in the Optimism ecosystem. As the community continues to engage with and build upon these tools, we anticipate their impact to grow exponentially, further solidifying Optimism's position as a leader in decentralized governance.
Related Projects and Further Context
It's important to clarify that the 30,000 OP funding mentioned in our application represents the total funding received by the Optimystics team for multiple projects in RetroPGF Round 3. The large majority of the impact described in this document has been the result of countless hours of multiple team members volunteering on a full-time basis since then. For a comprehensive understanding of the Optimystics team's work and its impact across different initiatives, please explore our Projects and Funding Overview.
We are committed to continuous improvement in measuring and reporting our impact. In the future, we aim to develop this page into a comprehensive, real-time dashboard. This will provide even more transparency and insight into the impact of Optimystics Tools on Optimism Governance. You can view our draft dashboard here.
Conclusion
Thank you for your consideration and support of governance tooling and infrastrucutre on Optimism. We invite you to:
- Explore our tools at Optimystics.io/tools
- See our open-source repositories
- Watch our videos to see how people use our software
- Try out new tools like Respect.Games
- Experience our tools first-hand at our weekly events
If you have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to Dan Singjoy, the developers of our software (including Tadas, Vlad, Abraham, Lennar, Howard, and others) who you can find our Github page, or the Optimism Fractal discord. We appreciate your time in reviewing our impact and look forward to your feedback. Thanks!