Is crypto the key to rebuilding capitalism's original purpose?
Earlier this year, when I first heard Charles Hoskinson use the term “on-chain governance,” I instantly agreed with him. I first became interested in politics during the Bush-era voter recounts. Nothing mattered more to me than ensuring that votes were counted accurately. That was precisely what brought me to San Diego for the Cardano Constitutional Workshop. It felt very 1776 to be contributing to the constitution, and I wanted to be a part of history.
The workshop was held with DRMZ Stake Pool at the Edge Wallet office, which was situated in a prime spot near the waterfront. The day-long workshop was attended by about 30 people, and a portion of the constitution was printed and given to participants for active input. The Stake Pool Operators (SPOs), Delegated Representatives (DReps), and the Constitutional Committee would make up the governing body. However, on that day, we concentrated solely on discussing the kinds of parameters and guardrails that should be put in place as checks and balances for these elected officials.
Each line item was read aloud in the format that was being moderated, and a description was provided for our consideration. We paired up after a few minutes to talk about the subject openly. Our viewpoints led to different ideas and considerations, and we then formed groups of four to go over the topics once more. We proceeded to a voting process after the room had finished discussing each line item. We were also able to submit any additional comments or concerns we had about it.
Everyone present was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about upholding the constitution's integrity. Key points that stood out to me included limiting excessive power, ensuring checks and balances, and maintaining the ability to issue a vote of no confidence. The discussions also covered important topics like the treasury, protecting funds, and taking quick action against bad actors.
If you followed Cardano, you might have noticed that $ADA faced a lot of criticism online. The price had remained relatively low compared to other Layer 1s, and it had lagged despite what had already been delivered. Many tools and protocols were operated by Cardano, including Book.io (print-on-demand books on the blockchain), Stuff.io for on-chain multimedia, and the highly anticipated “Midnight.” A blockchain registry called Midnight would enable a public-private ledger for organizations operating on-chain.
The need for a constitution was obvious when viewed from a broader perspective. This was the first step in the right direction for those who believed in decentralization and building a decentralized future. Participating in decisions about how the treasury would be spent, who would receive funds, and for how long deserved special consideration.
At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees chose two members to represent and assist in drafting the constitution in Argentina. I was one of seven people to stand and give a nomination speech—the only woman to do so—because I never passed up an opportunity to work on my public speaking.
We finished the evening by the water, enjoying a social hour, where we realized that many of us had also been in Las Vegas for Rare Evo two weeks earlier. It served as a reminder of the value of attending smaller breakout sessions. If you wanted to get involved and participate in a Constitution Workshop, it wasn’t too late to find one in your area.
