The Guildcoin Founding Charter
DRAFT v0.1 · OPEN FOR COMMENTA proposed agreement about what Guildcoin should serve, how it should be run and who it should answer to. This is a public invitation to shape the project, not an adopted constitution or a statement that a not-for-profit entity already exists.
Our mission
To build and maintain shared economic infrastructure that empowers independent game developers and lets players carry value between virtual worlds.
A network worth trusting.
The following commitments are proposed, not yet binding. We want them challenged and improved by the community they are meant to serve.
Developer independence
Participation should always be voluntary. Studios retain control of their games, pricing, virtual items, player experience and internal economies.
Not-for-profit stewardship
Our goal is to establish an independent, not-for-profit steward. Surpluses would be reinvested in security, resilience, maintenance and growth, rather than distributed to shareholders. People building the network should receive fair compensation.
Developer representation
Governance should evolve toward meaningful participation by developers using the network, with transparent decision-making, clear membership rules and protections against control by any single studio or group.
Funded issuance
Every Guildcoin entering circulation must be financially funded and accounted for. Transfers cannot create additional currency. Funding, reserves, reconciliation and redemption rules must be independently verifiable before real-money operation.
Fair, published economics
Rates, fees, eligibility and settlement policies should be understandable, consistently applied and open to scrutiny. Developer earnings must never be promised without accounting for purchase-channel costs and liabilities.
Open interfaces
We aim to publish versioned protocols, interoperable SDK interfaces and conformance tests for independent review. Openness of standards does not require disclosing private user records, credentials or operational systems.
Global participation
Guildcoin is intended for independent developers worldwide, regardless of size, location or game genre, subject to applicable laws, platform rules and reasonable safety requirements.
Accountability and privacy
A future steward should publish meaningful governance and financial reporting, protect player privacy, provide effective dispute resolution, and establish independent security and accounting oversight.
From founder-led proposal to shared stewardship
Guildcoin is currently founder-led and in concept validation. If enough developers want it, the next steps would include forming a suitable not-for-profit legal entity, adopting enforceable governing documents, and establishing an accountable board with a clear path toward developer representation. The precise legal structure, membership model and voting rights are open questions.
The network is intended to serve a global community. Its eventual legal jurisdiction must be transparent, but should not determine whose voices count. Until these proposals are formally adopted, this charter is a statement of intent only.
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