Week of August 19th, 2024
Recent Proposals
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Security Council Elections Cohort A Members
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Summary: Following the Security Council Charter, the Token House will conduct elections for Cohort A of the Optimism Security Council. The top six candidates will be elected for a 12-month term, with confirmation by the Foundation. If a candidate is not confirmed, the runner-up will take their place. Approval voting will be used, allowing delegates to vote for any number of nominees, including themselves if they also vote for other positions. Nominees include individuals such as Jepsen, ethernaut, ryscheng, and organizations like Node Guardians and Uniswap Foundation. This process aims to ensure no more than one member is associated with a single entity, maintaining diverse representation.
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Proposer: Optimism Foundation
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Status: Voting in progress
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Security Council Elections: Cohort A Lead
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Summary: The Optimism Security Council is holding elections for Cohort A to appoint a Council Lead as per the Security Council Charter. The election, for which the candidate town hall recording is available, requires a minimum of 51% of quorum in yes votes for approval. Participants are encouraged to abstain if they do not support the candidate. This proposal, featuring alisha.eth, is part of Voting Cycle #26 and remains active until the specified end time.
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Proposer: Optimism Foundation
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Status: Voting in progress
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Upgrade Proposal #10: Granite Network Upgrade
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Summary: Upgrade Proposal #10, titled “Granite Network Upgrade,” addresses security vulnerabilities found during third-party audits by Spearbit, Cantina, and Code4rena. Although no assets were at risk, the proposed upgrades include essential smart contract updates and an L2 hardfork to enhance the fault proof system’s stability and performance. Additional capabilities for the Guardian and DeputyGuardian will prevent invalid anchor state references. Primarily, this upgrade also aims to reset user withdrawals at a planned time. The Granite code is complete in the optimism monorepo at commit a81de910dc2fd9b2f67ee946466f2de70d62611a and op-geth at commit 0f5b9dcfd2ac66f6fd8faae526b1549721f5f392, and is now eligible for Voting Cycle #26. If approved by the Token House, it will move to a veto period in the Citizens’ House.
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Proposer: Optimism Foundation
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Status: Voting in progress
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Forum Highlights
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Proposal Title: Rolling Mission Requests
The forum post proposes allowing the Optimism Grants Council to generate rolling Mission Requests to engage more developers and further the objectives of Intent 3A. With 1.725 million OP tokens approved but unallocated, the council aims to utilize this budget effectively by initiating new missions from Voting Cycle #27. Each mission requires sponsorship by a Grants Council member and will undergo a structured submission and approval process, ensuring transparency and timely execution. The proposal outlines a timeline for implementation with approvals starting in Cycle 26 and subsequent submissions and votes in Cycles 27 through 29. The initiative aims to continuously attract developers and leverage unallocated funds to bolster the Optimism ecosystem.
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Upgrade Proposal #10: Granite Network Upgrade
The Granite Network Upgrade (Upgrade Proposal #10) aims to enhance the Optimism ecosystem by addressing security vulnerabilities found in smart contracts and the fault-proof system. Conducted by OP Labs, the proposed upgrade follows audits by Spearbit, Cantina, and Code4rena, identifying no exploited vulnerabilities but urging precautionary measures. Key improvements include smart contract patches, L2 hardfork to stabilize fault proofs, and expanded Guardian roles, impacting L1 contracts and client software. The rollout is scheduled for September 10th, with node operators required to update their software to prevent chain splits, ensuring higher security and system performance.
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Cycle 26 Grants Preliminary Review Report
The Cycle 26 Preliminary Review wrapped up with a report on the receipt and assessment of 29 new applications and 24 carryovers from the previous cycle. A preliminary cutoff of 30 points was set, and not a single reviewer missed a milestone, thanks to the exceptional efforts of operations lead, Bunnic. The Developer Advisory Board provided invaluable feedback, enriching the reviewers’ evaluation process. The finalists for Cycle 25 will be announced on Wednesday. Special acknowledgment was given to the Grants Council for their dedication and hard work, making this cycle a success. For further details, access their public database.
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Security Council Member Nomination: Emiliano Bonassi
Emiliano Bonassi has announced his candidacy for a position as a member of the Optimism Security Council. Emphasizing his individual candidacy and residence in Italy, he details his lack of prior experience on the Security Council but highlights his extensive contributions to the Optimism ecosystem. This includes maintaining and upgrading numerous mainnets and addressing codebase issues. Bonassi brings valuable experience from web3 security, having worked on significant security upgrades and protocols, as well as from his tenure at Amazon Web Services. He underscores that an effective Security Council member requires a blend of deep technical expertise, exceptional communication skills, and a proactive approach to security challenges. He confirms no conflicts of interest and understands the responsibilities and commitment required for the role.
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Superchain Grants Review Process
The Grants Council has launched the review process for the Season 6 Superchain Grants Program. This process, designed to ensure grant allocations foster the Superchain’s growth, involves a stringent evaluation of each grant proposal through 15 specific criteria. Proposals must receive affirmatives for at least 14 criteria to be considered. Priority is given to live chains contributing to sequencer revenue, although non-live chains nearing launch may be considered towards the end of the cycle if the budget allows. The maximum grant cap is set at 3 million OP, but applicants should realistically align their requests with their expected impact. The Council emphasizes collaboration and sustainability, reflecting a commitment to excellence and the Superchain’s success.
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Optimism Fractal is returning from its summer break to kick off Season 4, beginning with events on August 15th. The season will debut with the “Respect Game,” fostering collaboration within the Superchain and enhancing the community’s reputation within the Optimism Collective. The first Optimism Town Hall will feature an open discussion on the past seasons’ achievements, updates from the break, goals for Season 4, and future topics. Community members are encouraged to participate, share thoughts, and contribute to the Optimistic Vision. For more information and to collaborate, visit the provided links and resources.
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Optimism Forum Weekly Recap - daospace: 08/12 - 08/18
The latest weekly recap on the Optimism forum, covering activities from August 12 to August 18, highlights a surge in community engagement, with 23 new topics. Key discussions include the nomination of Michelle Lai (ml_sudo) and others for the Security Council, the overhaul of the Trust Tiers system for grant eligibility, and the beginning of Optimism Fractal Season 4, which focuses on collaboration within the community. Additionally, various council member nominations were submitted, and an increased emphasis was placed on using advanced metrics to evaluate grants. The post underscores the significant strides taken towards enhancing governance structures and fostering community collaboration. The recap also introduced a more data-driven approach to grant allocation and engaged community members in shaping the vision of upcoming seasons through participatory events.
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Quadratic Funding + Retro: Token Engineering the Superchain!
A new form of Gitcoin round called “Tunable Quadratic Funding” (TQF) is being tested to enhance the voting power of Superchain stakeholders and experts in the latest funding initiative. This approach aims to integrate quadratic and retro funding, allowing participants to contribute to projects with a $60K matching pool. Projects that have significant Superchain impact will receive retroactive rewards through a follow-on round. Designed to amplify the voices of OP badgeholders and token engineering experts, this method is expected to benefit various domains, including gaming and DeFi. Leveraging data-driven insights, the Token Engineering Commons seeks to contribute to a robust and trustworthy Superchain ecosystem.
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Security Council Election Town Hall Cohort A
The forum post announces the Security Council Election Town Hall for Cohort A. Approved self-nominees who received the necessary delegate approvals are listed, including @Jepsen, @ethernaut, and others. The Town Hall will be held on August 20th from 2pm-3pm ET/6pm-7pm GMT. Each nominee will have two minutes to answer a predefined question about their alignment with the Optimistic Collective and their ability to fulfill Security Council responsibilities. Nominees unable to attend live may submit a 2-minute video response. Delegates can submit questions for nominees, and the voting period for the Cohort A elections will be from August 22nd to August 28th on vote.optimism.io.
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Security Council Nomination: alisha.eth
Alisha.eth has been nominated for the role of Council Lead for Optimism’s Security Council. Currently residing in the United Arab Emirates, Alisha has a background in governance coordination and legal expertise. She was initially appointed as a Security Council Member and has been serving as the Security Council Lead since December 2023. Alisha emphasizes her experience with internal communications, managing rehearsals, and executing signing ceremonies. She also hosts monthly call recordings and shares updates through a dedicated site. Alisha’s philosophy revolves around integrity, independent thinking, and clear communication. She commits to fulfilling the responsibilities associated with the role, while also disclosing potential conflicts of interest but assures her dedication to Optimism’s governance.
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Security Council Nomination: Everett Hildenbrandt (Runtime Verification)
Everett Hildenbrandt from Runtime Verification has been nominated for a Security Council position in Optimism’s Season 6. Representing an organization, Hildenbrandt highlights their contributions to the Optimism ecosystem, particularly through the integration of Kontrol, a formal verification tool for smart contracts, into Optimism’s CI pipeline. Hildenbrandt stresses the organization’s extensive experience in formal verification, referencing collaborations with various blockchain projects and their development of several industry-leading verification tools. They affirm that Runtime Verification aligns with the values and goals of the Optimism ecosystem, emphasizing technical expertise, transparency, and ethical conduct as key elements for a Security Council member. The nomination is supported by a commitment to dedicate the required time and transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest.
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Security Council Nomination - Uniswap Foundation
The Uniswap Foundation has submitted a self-nomination for a position on Optimism’s Security Council, highlighting its significant contributions to the Optimism ecosystem. As a Council Member candidate, the nomination underscores Uniswap’s role as one of the pioneering DeFi applications on Optimism and details its impactful initiatives, such as liquidity mining campaigns and technical contributions to standards like ERC-7683. The nomination also emphasizes the Foundation’s extensive governance experience, technical expertise, and strong community relations within DeFi and across various blockchain ecosystems. The Uniswap team’s broad experience in governance, smart contract development, and security audits aligns well with the Security Council’s responsibilities, demonstrating their capability to contribute effectively to Optimism’s security and operational excellence.
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Security Council Member Nomination: Corey Petty (corpetty.eth)
Corey Petty, known as corpetty.eth, has nominated himself for a role on the Optimism Security Council. He is running as an individual for the position of Council Member and resides in the USA. Petty has not previously served on Optimism’s Security Council or any other council or board within the collective, nor is he a representative of OP Labs or another OP Chain. His contributions to the Optimism ecosystem include educational interviews to raise awareness. He brings extensive experience in security, technical education in blockchain, and has held notable positions such as Chief Security Officer at Status. Petty emphasizes a risk-based approach and community needs as central to his philosophy. He has no anticipated conflicts of interest and is fully committed to the responsibilities of the role.
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Security Council Member Nomination: Troy
In a detailed nomination post for the Season 6 Security Council, Troy, a core contributor at Synthetix, outlines his qualifications and experience for the Council Member role. Emphasizing his expertise in building data infrastructure and deploying smart contracts for Synthetix and Kwenta, Troy highlights his technical proficiency in Python, SQL, TypeScript, and Solidity. His notable contributions to the Optimism ecosystem include governance participation and managing complex smart contract deployments. Troy’s philosophy for a successful Security Council member advocates for deep technical knowledge, responsiveness, and a developer-centric approach. He confirms his understanding of the responsibilities and policies tied to the role, including the required commitment and potential removal processes.
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Security Council Member Nomination: Riley (jtriley.eth)
Riley (jtriley.eth) has been nominated for a position on the Optimism Security Council, specifically as a Council Member. Residing in the United States, Riley brings a rich background in software engineering, smart contract development, and security audits. Notable contributions include authoring EIP-6909, work on Solady’s EIP1967 Proxy, and creating the Ethereum Virtual Machine Book. Despite not having previously served on the Optimism Security Council or any other related boards, Riley emphasizes experience in independent security audits, responsible bug disclosure, and cryptography. If elected, Riley plans to uphold rigorous security measures, including the use of a hardware wallet and Shamir Secret Sharing for key backups, to ensure fast and secure operations.
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Retro Funding 5: Application Review Process
The forum post outlines the application review process for Retroactive Public Goods Funding (Retro Funding) Round 5. This two-week process, managed by a group of selected Citizens, assesses applications to ensure they meet eligibility criteria and adhere to the rules. Reviewers are expected to commit a minimum of ten hours during the review period, have a thorough understanding of the OP Stack, and maintain communication with Lead Reviewers. The selection of reviewers combines an opt-in process with random sampling, resulting in 30 reviewers grouped into six teams for enhanced collaboration. The review process includes initial rule violation checks, full reviews, and an appeal process for rejected applications. Strict rules are enforced to maintain the integrity of the funding round, including guidelines against false statements, hateful content, fraudulent activities, and advertising.
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A case for the organizational chart
In a forum post titled “A case for the organizational chart,” the author, Alex Soto, advocates for the creation of an organizational chart for the Optimism collective. Emphasizing the importance of visualizing roles within the organization, Soto argues that such a chart would function like a ‘you are here’ map, providing clarity in a virtual environment. The proposed chart, inspired by sociocratic and holacratic models, aims to enhance communication flow and adaptability by illustrating interconnected teams. Soto has developed a draft version using Mural and seeks collaboration to refine it, suggesting features like role visualization and automatic updates. Soto commits to maintaining the prototype and invites feedback and collaboration from the community.
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Security Council Member Nomination: Node Guardians
Node Guardians is nominated for a position as a Council Member in the Optimism Security Council. Representing an organization based in the British Virgin Islands, Node Guardians has not previously served on Optimism’s Security Council or any other council within the Collective. Their contributions to the Optimism ecosystem include launching a programming challenge to highlight fraud-proof mechanisms, organizing programming challenges focused on the OP Stack, and hosting community events. Their technical expertise is demonstrated through their engineering team’s development of programming challenges and their DevOps experience serving as validators across multiple networks. Node Guardians also bring governance experience from their involvement with Kroma’s Security Council, emphasizing vigilant oversight and performance monitoring, along with multisig operations in various networks. Their philosophy underscores the importance of attention to detail and verification for a Security Council member. They declare no conflicts of interest and are committed to the role’s responsibilities.
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Advanced metrics for Retro Funding
The forum post discusses the need for advanced metrics in crypto grant programs, inspired by the analytical depth of the baseball stat “Wins Above Replacement” (WAR). The post emphasizes how a similar empirically derived metric could enhance the evaluation of ecosystem grants and ROI. Over the past year, the team has evolved from having no metrics to developing impact vectors and conducting initial analysis on Retro Funding (RF)-funded projects. They propose creating advanced metrics to provide a holistic view of a project’s contributions. The post suggests starting with simple metrics and gradually refining them while embracing diverse implementation methods and engaging the research community. This approach aims to identify successful projects and address shortcomings within the ecosystem, ultimately leading to more effective and insightful grant allocations.
Upcoming Votes
3 Proposals live at the time of writing this report, no upcoming proposals detected