Dearest Associates,
Right now we’re publishing the EF Mandate, a doc that serves as half structure, half manifesto, and half information for the Ethereum Basis.
It’s written primarily for the EF itself: to be clear about what we’re right here to do, the ideas by which we make selections, and what we should each do and refuse to do if we’re to remain true to our mission.
However inside it’s also the story of a journey, from supply to stars. It carries a message not solely to the Ethereum ecosystem, but additionally to the broader discipline of know-how and to mates and allies within the wider world, together with these we’ve not but met, however could come to acknowledge in time.
Ethereum began as a query: what if digital life could possibly be shared, but nonetheless belong to its customers?
What started as a proposed protocol turned a motion, after which a promise: that free and open techniques can safe, enrich, and develop human freedom; that coordination cannot solely respect self sovereignty, however deepen it; and that belief could be sustained in code, in tradition, and in frequent function.
That promise is what introduced so many people right here.
Ethereum made it attainable to think about a digital world through which folks don’t have to give up every thing to take part. A world through which customers can maintain what’s theirs, act on their very own phrases, and coordinate with others with out handing away last authority over their belongings, identities, or decisions. It created area for a distinct type of future to be inbuilt public.
Our Mandate to EF states what should be cherished to guard the last word purpose for Ethereum’s existence: consumer self-sovereignty.
To be part of EF, our personal groups should do not forget that Ethereum should, above all, stay censorship resistant, open supply, non-public, and safe (CROPS). Its self-sovereign use should be extraction-resistant and expertise seamless. These are the situations that make Ethereum price utilizing, and due to this fact price constructing, and price defending. They need to by no means be traded away for comfort: with out them we’ve nothing.
Solely on prime of this unshakeable basis can Ethereum’s progress be unstoppable and its adoption common. Solely on prime of this could we win.
We have been Ethereum’s first steward. Now we’re one among many. And once we are gone, we hope the ideas right here will proceed on with out us.
Ethereum was by no means meant to start and finish with the Ethereum Basis. Nor was it ever meant to be the entire story. Over time, we got here to see Ethereum as one vital a part of one thing broader: what we’ve usually known as the Infinite Backyard, a rising ecosystem of individuals, initiatives, communities, and establishments working to maintain techniques open, non-public, resilient, humane, and free.
The world that backyard should reside in is altering shortly. Increasingly more of life now runs via techniques folks can’t examine, can’t meaningfully depart, and more and more can’t reside with out. Political battle is intensifying. AI mediated environments have gotten extra pervasive. Most of the techniques folks depend on have gotten much less accountable to the individuals who use them. In such a world, Ethereum’s unique promise issues much more.
Why now? As a result of it’s time. Ethereum is a know-how of the long run and the long run is now. As a result of we’ve realized. As techniques mature, tradition can’t stay solely implicit. Finally, what has been carried via habits, instincts, and casual understanding should additionally turn into legible in textual content. Placing it into phrases is a mark of success. It means sufficient has been constructed, sufficient has been shared, and sufficient has grown past anybody group, that readability turns into a part of good stewardship.
The EF is just not Ethereum’s father or mother, ruler, or last authority. Our position is stewardship. To assist Ethereum preserve its unique promise, and nothing else. The Mandate is our effort to state clearly what that requires of us.
That’s the reason our Mandate now lives on the World Pc, the place it’s free for anybody to learn, reinterpret, and remix, perpetually. We publish a canonical model for our personal use, however it imposes no obligation on anybody else.
We provide it as a clarification of our position, a dedication to our ideas, and an open sign to fellow stewards inside Ethereum and much past it.
With deep gratitude, we thank pcaversaccio, Tim Clancy, Lefteris, mashbean and numerous others for his or her recommendation and suggestions.
We additionally thank Tomo Saito and Shiro for his or her creative interpretation of the textual content.
With the best love on this planet, we stay, very really yours,
—
The Ethereum Basis Board
