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Submitting Proposals

Learn how to submit proposals to the Prediction DAO for consideration.

Overview

Proposals are how the DAO makes decisions about allocating resources. Anyone can submit a proposal by posting a bond and following the submission process.

Requirements

Before submitting a proposal, ensure you have:

  • ✅ 50 ETC bond: Required for all proposals (returned upon good-faith resolution)
  • ✅ Proposal details: Clear title, description, and justification
  • ✅ Funding request: Amount and recipient address
  • ✅ Welfare metric: Which metric will be used to evaluate success
  • ✅ Connected wallet: With sufficient ETC balance

Proposal Preparation

1. Define Your Proposal

A good proposal includes:

Title (max 100 characters)
Clear, concise description of the proposal
Description
Detailed explanation of what you want to accomplish
Rationale
Why this proposal benefits the DAO
Funding Amount
How much ETC you're requesting (max 50,000 ETC per proposal)
Recipient Address
Where funds will be sent if approved
Milestones (optional)
Specific deliverables and completion criteria

2. Choose a Welfare Metric

Your proposal will be evaluated against one of the welfare metrics:

Best for: Proposals expected to directly increase treasury value

  • Investment proposals
  • Treasury diversification
  • Revenue-generating initiatives

Best for: Proposals that increase user engagement

  • Marketing campaigns
  • User acquisition
  • Feature development

Best for: Security and infrastructure proposals

  • Mining incentives
  • Security improvements
  • Network hardening

Best for: Development and community building

  • Grant programs
  • Hackathons
  • Documentation improvements

3. Set Milestones

Define clear completion criteria:

Milestone 1: Design Phase (2 weeks)
- Complete technical specification
- Community feedback collected
- Design approved

Milestone 2: Development (6 weeks)
- Core functionality implemented
- Tests written and passing
- Security audit completed

Milestone 3: Deployment (1 week)
- Mainnet deployment
- Documentation published
- Monitoring setup

Submission Process

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to Proposal Submission

  1. Connect your wallet
  2. Click "Submit Proposal" in the navigation
  3. Ensure you have 50 ETC + gas fees

2. Fill in Proposal Details

graph TD
    A[Start Submission] --> B[Enter Title]
    B --> C[Write Description]
    C --> D[Specify Funding]
    D --> E[Choose Metric]
    E --> F[Add Milestones]
    F --> G[Review]
    G --> H{Confirm?}
    H -->|Yes| I[Submit Transaction]
    H -->|No| B
    I --> J[Proposal Submitted]

3. Enter Required Information

  • Title: Keep it clear and descriptive
  • Description: Use markdown for formatting
  • Funding Amount: Enter in ETC (max 50,000)
  • Recipient: Valid ETC address
  • Select from dropdown
  • Explain why this metric is appropriate
  • Consider which metric best measures success
  • Add one or more milestones
  • Include timelock periods
  • Define clear completion criteria

4. Review and Submit

  1. Review all details carefully
  2. Check recipient address multiple times
  3. Verify funding amount is correct
  4. Click "Submit Proposal"
  5. Approve transaction in MetaMask
  6. Wait for confirmation

Transaction Details

// Approximate gas costs
Gas Limit: 300,000
Bond Required: 50 ETC
Total Cost: Gas fees + 50 ETC bond

Bond Recovery

Your 50 ETC bond is returned when the proposal resolves, provided it was submitted in good faith. Spam or malicious proposals may result in bond forfeiture.

After Submission

Review Period

Once submitted, your proposal enters a 7-day review period:

  • Community members can review and discuss
  • No trading occurs yet
  • You can't edit the proposal
  • The bond is locked

Market Creation

After review, markets are created:

  1. PASS tokens: Represent belief proposal will succeed
  2. FAIL tokens: Represent belief proposal will fail
  3. Initial price: Both start at 0.50 ETC
  4. Liquidity: LMSR provides automated market making

Trading Phase

During the trading phase (7-21 days):

  • Anyone can buy PASS or FAIL tokens
  • Prices adjust based on demand
  • All positions are encrypted
  • You can trade on your own proposal

Trading Your Own Proposal

There's no restriction on trading your own proposal. However, consider the ethical implications and community perception.

Resolution

After trading ends:

  1. Oracle Reporting: Reporter submits welfare metric values
  2. Challenge Period: 2 days for community to verify
  3. Finalization: Market resolves to winner
  4. Execution: If PASS > FAIL, proposal executes

Proposal Best Practices

Writing Effective Proposals

✅ DO:

  • Be specific and detailed
  • Provide clear success metrics
  • Include realistic timelines
  • Address potential concerns
  • Show research and preparation
  • Engage with community feedback

❌ DON'T:

  • Submit vague or unclear proposals
  • Request more funding than needed
  • Ignore community concerns
  • Submit duplicate proposals
  • Make unrealistic promises

Example Template

# Proposal Title: [Clear, Descriptive Title]

## Executive Summary
[2-3 sentence overview]

## Problem Statement
[What problem does this solve?]

## Proposed Solution
[Detailed explanation of your proposal]

## Expected Outcomes
- Outcome 1
- Outcome 2
- Outcome 3

## Welfare Metric Justification
[Why this metric measures success]

## Budget Breakdown
- Item 1: X ETC
- Item 2: Y ETC
- Total: Z ETC

## Timeline
- Phase 1: [Duration]
- Phase 2: [Duration]
- Phase 3: [Duration]

## Team/Qualifications
[Your experience and credentials]

## Risks and Mitigation
[Potential issues and how you'll address them]

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Technical Errors

  • Wrong recipient address: Double-check before submitting
  • Insufficient bond: Ensure you have 50 ETC + gas
  • Wrong network: Verify you're on the correct network

Content Issues

  • Unclear objectives: Be specific about what you'll deliver
  • Unrealistic timelines: Set achievable deadlines
  • Missing details: Provide comprehensive information
  • Poor formatting: Use markdown for readability

Monitoring Your Proposal

Track Progress

Monitor your proposal through each phase:

  • Gather community feedback
  • Answer questions
  • Build support
  • Watch PASS/FAIL prices
  • Monitor trading volume
  • Engage with traders
  • Ensure oracle reports accurately
  • Be ready to provide evidence
  • Prepare for execution

Responding to the Community

  • Be responsive to questions
  • Address concerns transparently
  • Update the community on progress
  • Accept constructive criticism

Proposal Outcomes

If Your Proposal Passes

  1. Timelock Period: 2-day waiting period
  2. Ragequit Window: Dissenting members can exit
  3. Execution: Funds are transferred to recipient
  4. Bond Return: Your 50 ETC bond is returned
  5. Delivery: Complete your proposed work

If Your Proposal Fails

  1. Market Resolution: FAIL tokens win
  2. No Execution: Proposal is not executed
  3. Bond Return: Your 50 ETC bond is returned
  4. Learn and Iterate: Consider feedback for future proposals

Advanced Topics

Multiple Milestones

For complex proposals with multiple phases:

Milestone 1: {
  description: "Research and Design",
  duration: "4 weeks",
  timelock: "1 day"
}

Milestone 2: {
  description: "Development",
  duration: "8 weeks", 
  timelock: "2 days"
}

Milestone 3: {
  description: "Deployment",
  duration: "2 weeks",
  timelock: "3 days"
}

Proposal Amendments

Cannot directly amend submitted proposals. Instead:

  1. Wait for current proposal to resolve
  2. Submit new proposal with changes
  3. Reference original proposal
  4. Explain what changed and why

Linked Proposals

For proposals that depend on others:

  • Reference prior proposals
  • Explain dependencies
  • Consider timing of submission
  • Plan for different outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if I submit a spam proposal?

A: Your 50 ETC bond may be forfeited. The community can identify spam during the review period.

Q: Can I cancel a proposal after submission?

A: No, proposals cannot be cancelled once submitted. Consider your proposal carefully before submitting.

Q: How long does the entire process take?

A: Minimum 16 days (7-day review + 7-day trading + 2-day resolution), typically 20-30 days.

Q: Can I submit multiple proposals?

A: Yes, but each requires a separate 50 ETC bond.

Q: What if the oracle reports incorrectly?

A: Anyone can challenge with a 150 ETC bond during the 2-day challenge period.

Next Steps