Updated White Paper Proposal

Poll Type: Outreach

Useful Links

Proposed White Paper
Current White Paper
Poll Definitions, Requirements, and Validation Parameters
Current White Paper Proposal (From March 2018)

Overview

Main Discussion Thread
Reddit Discussion Thread

Gridcoin approved its first white paper on April 20th, 2018. The proposal for that paper stated that,

As Gridcoin continues to grow and further define its utility, structures, infrastructures, and use-cases, major additions and revisions may be required. Any major change to the vision, philosophy, and intent expressed in the white paper will require a follow-up blockchain-based poll for implementation.

We think that it has become necessary to use this clause.

The combined development and growth of the Gridcoin protocol, infrastructure, and community has culminated in a new, more detailed white paper written from the ground up.

We view this paper as more coherent, more encompassing, and more accessible.

We propose declaring this new paper the official Gridcoin white paper.

Format

The proposed white paper breaks Gridcoin into four distinct sections:

1. The Gridcoin Network
2. The Gridcoin Blockchain and Protocol
3. Gridcoin Incentives
4. Gridcoin Values

We believe the proposed paper more clearly and completely details these aspects of Gridcoin when compared to the current paper.

Additionally, the proposed paper describes the new Oracle mechanism used to collect cruncher statistics.

Audience

The proposed white paper assumes an audience with limited blockchain knowledge, but with the propensity to explore beyond the content of the paper itself.

It introduces blockchain and cryptoeconomic principles along with Gridcoin specific technology and operational structures.

We believe that this tone efficiently introduces the reader to the potential of blockchain technology and Gridcoin as well as Gridcoin’s current system, operation, and protocol.

We also believe that this tone encourages the reader to seek out more information by joining the community, doing their own additional research, or otherwise engaging in the Gridcoin ecosystem.

Moving Forward

This poll seeks network approval of the content of the proposed paper as presented.

If accepted, the proposed paper will become the content for the new Gridcoin white paper.

If accepted, formatting and design work will begin to arrange the content into a polished paper. The polishing process is expected to take up to four weeks from the end of this poll.

This work might include:

• The addition of footnotes
• The addition of a terminology page
• The addition of a cover page
• The addition of side-bars
• Beautification of the paper

If accepted, any future major change to the vision, philosophy, and intent expressed in the white paper, or the addition or removal of any section will require a blockchain-based poll for implementation.

If accepted, minor edits to wording, formatting, and definitions will be made at the discretion of the contributors listed in the contributors section of this proposal.

If rejected, the current white paper will continue to serve as the Gridcoin white paper. The current white paper is linked in the useful links section of this proposal.

If rejected, feedback from this proposal’s discussions may be taken into account and changes may be made in order to propose this paper again. There is no timeline for these changes and presenting a second paper to the community.

Contributors

This paper is the result of the work of:

• jringo
• Whoisterrencelee
• Nateonthenet

Additional contributions were made by:

• Roboticmind
• James C. Owens
• Several people in the #marketing channel on Gridcoin’s slack
• Discussions from participants of The Gridcoin Fireside

Funding

This has been an entirely volunteer-based initiative taken on by long standing contributors. There is no official request for funding or reimbursement for this work, however anyone can make a poll to release funding from the foundation to the organizers and builders of this paper.

Otherwise, anyone is invited to donate or side-stake to the GRC address:

SHtGjsa41Kjws463xgZSms8vETqkDYH3io

From there, any donations will be distributed among the contributors.

Proposal

We propose the presented content become the basis of a new Gridcoin white paper.

Proposed White Paper

Poll

This poll seeks network approval of the proposed content as the content for the new Gridcoin white paper.

This poll is classified as an outreach poll and is subject to all requirements and validation parameters defined in the Poll Definitions, Requirements, and Validation Parameters document, linked below.

https://github.com/gridcoin-community/Gridcoin-Tasks/issues/227

Poll Question
Do you support the proposed content as the new Gridcoin white paper?

Poll Options
Yes
No
Abstain

Poll Duration
4 weeks

Poll Validation Requirements
40% AVW

Begin Date July 18th, 2019
End Date August 15th, 2019