The governance process for proposals seeking funding from the Grants Program need to follow the Wormhole Governance Proposal Process as outlined in the WIP-2 forum post.

The proposal will go to an onchain vote for ratification on May 23, 2025 using Tally, powered by MultiGov. Ratification will require reaching quorum which is set to 350M W tokens at initiation of Wormhole Governance.

Wormhole Governance Proposal Process

Steps Employed in the Proposal Process

1. Idea Development

• Purpose: The initial phase allows community members to brainstorm, refine, and discuss ideas informally. It is very important that conversations are stimulated to introduce participation and minimize pushback during the later stages of the proposal life cycle.

2. Draft Proposal Submission

• Proposals are required to include:
  • Title and clear objective.
  • Lead author and any co-authors.
  • Problem statement and proposed solution.
  • Technical or resource details.
  • Expected outcomes and KPIs.
• Proposals lacking detail may remain in the forum for idea refinement. The Governance material should emphasize the importance of completeness and clarity before advancing to later stages.

3. Community Comment Period

• Timeline: This period will last a minimum 5 days during which community members provide feedback, raise concerns, and suggest improvements.
• Platform: Comments are posted on the Wormhole Governance forum thread with sections for questions, concerns, and endorsements.

4. Temperature Check Phase

• Process: Proposals advancing to this phase undergo an off-chain vote using Snapshot.
• Thresholds: The quorum is set to 115M W tokens at initiation of Wormhole Governance.
• Timeline: The Temperature Check off-chain vote will run for 3 days.

5. Final Proposal Submission

• Upon successful completion of the Signaling Phase off-chain vote, formal proposals will be published to the forum. This proposal should be the final draft and should reflect any changes to the original proposal.
• Timeline: This stage will allow for a minimum 3 days for community members to complete final review and discussion before the final vote stage.
• Requirements: Proposals must include:
  • Title and clear objective.
  • Problem statement and proposed solution.
  • Technical or resource details.
  • Expected outcomes and KPIs.

6. Voting Phase

• Process: Proposals advancing to this phase undergo an onchain vote using Tally, powered by MultiGov.
• Thresholds: The quorum is set to 350M W tokens and the proposal threshold is set to 1M W tokens at initiation of Wormhole Governance.
• Timeline: The Voting Phase is comprised of the following periods:
  • The voting delay is 2 days, to provide token holders with time to move their tokens and delegate their voting power in advance of the vote.
  • The voting period is 5 days.

7. Implementation and Monitoring

• Execution: Approved proposals proceed to implementation. There is a timelock delay of 4 days for approved proposals.
• Please note that proposals with onchain execution will not be accepted.

Timeline Between Phases

• Idea Development: Ongoing and unstructured.
• Draft Submission: It is encouraged that all ideas spend the necessary time in the Idea Development phase before drafts are submitted, but this is not a necessity.
• Community Comment Period: minimum 5 days.
• Signaling Phase: 3 days
• Final Proposal Submission: 3 days
• Voting Phase: 7 days
• Timelock Execution Delay: 4 days
• Implementation: Dependent on the proposal’s specifics.

Veto and Resubmission Policy

• Reasons for Veto:
  • Legal non-compliance (determined by the Foundation).
• Resubmission:
  • Vetoed proposals may be resubmitted after a 30-day cooldown, provided they address the reasons for rejection.
  • No additional review mechanisms are planned for repeatedly vetoed proposals.

The proposal will go to an on-chain vote for ratification on May 23, 2025 using Tally, powered by MultiGov. Ratification will require reaching quorum which is set to 350M W tokens at initiation of Wormhole Governance.

Forum Code of Conduct

TL:DR

Stay on topic: This forum is dedicated to discussions related to Wormhole governance only. Please refrain from discussing unrelated topics. Off-topic or irrelevant posts may be removed by the moderators.

Be respectful: Respect other forum members, their opinions, and their rights to express themselves. Do not use offensive or derogatory language, personal attacks, or hate speech.

Foster Creative Dialogue: We encourage healthy and constructive debates that lead to learning and growth. However, we do not tolerate unproductive or malicious behavior, such as trolling or spamming. Spamming or repeated attempts to promote a product or service will result in removal from the forum

Support claims with evidence: Back up your claims and arguments with reliable sources and evidence. Unsupported opinions or rumors are not allowed.

Stay legal: Do not engage in activities that are illegal or violate the rights of others, including intellectual property rights.

Preserve Privacy: Do not share personal information about yourself or others, including email addresses, phone numbers, or social media handles.

Encourage diversity: We strive to maintain an open, diverse, and welcoming environment, where every voice – regardless of background or viewpoint – is encouraged and valued.

Follow the rules: Abide by the rules and guidelines set forth by the forum moderators. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action, including temporary or permanent suspension from the forum.

Moderation and Accountability: The forum moderators reserve the right to remove any posts or comments that violate these guidelines or are deemed inappropriate. Repeat offenders may be banned from the forum.

Remember, the purpose of this forum is to foster productive and respectful discussions related to governance. We encourage everyone to contribute their ideas and perspectives, and to learn from each other.

Code of Conduct for the Wormhole Governance Forum

Welcome to the Wormhole Governance Forum! This platform is dedicated to fostering productive discussions and the exchange of ideas related to Wormhole governance. To ensure a respectful and constructive environment, please adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Stay on Topic

This forum is strictly for discussions related to governance topics. Please avoid posting content unrelated to governance matters.

• Examples of acceptable topics: Governance proposals, voting mechanisms, policy discussions, and improvements
• Examples of unacceptable topics: Personal grievances, market and price action discussions, non-topical crypto industry developments, or general technology topics not tied to Wormhole governance
• Note: Moderators may remove off-topic posts or redirect users to more relevant channels if necessary

2. Be Respectful

A respectful environment is the foundation of a healthy community. Treat all members with kindness and courtesy, regardless of differing opinions or perspectives.

• Prohibited behaviors:
  • Offensive or derogatory language
  • Personal attacks or name-calling
  • Hate speech targeting any individual or group based on race, religion, gender, orientation, or other characteristics
• Encouraged behaviors:
  • Listening actively and seeking to understand others’ viewpoints
  • Disagreeing respectfully and focusing on ideas, not individuals

3. Keep It Constructive

The forum thrives on meaningful, productive discussions that contribute to collective learning and progress.

• Healthy debates are welcomed, but they must aim for solutions or shared understanding
• Prohibited behaviors:
  • Trolling: Intentionally provoking or inciting arguments without meaningful contribution
  • Spamming: Flooding the forum with irrelevant messages or promotional content
  • Repeatedly advertising services or products without relevance to governance discussions will lead to removal
  • Account usernames should not include terms that may confuse, mislead, or misrepresent others

4. Provide Evidence

Opinions are valuable, but they carry more weight when backed by evidence and reliable sources. This ensures discussions are informed and credible.

• Examples of acceptable evidence:
  • Linking to reputable articles, studies, or official data
  • Referencing governance reports, on-chain data, or detailed analysis and research
• Avoid spreading rumors, speculation, or unsubstantiated claims, as these can mislead or distract from productive conversations

5. Stay Legal

All forum activity must comply with applicable laws and respect the rights of others.

• Prohibited activities:
  • Sharing copyrighted content without permission
  • Promoting illegal activities, scams, or malicious software
  • Violating others’ intellectual property rights
• When in doubt, consult a moderator or seek legal clarity before posting

6. Protect Your Privacy

To safeguard the community and yourself, do not share personal or sensitive information.

• Examples of prohibited information:
  • Names of anonymous contributors
  • Email addresses, phone numbers, or physical addresses
  • Social media handles or other identifying details of yourself or others
  • Sharing your crypto address
• If sharing information is necessary, use private, secure channels and ensure consent is obtained

7. Encourage Diversity of Viewpoint

Encourage diverse participation from internal and external points of view.

• Examples of behavior that encourage diverse participation
  • Encourage a problem-solving approach, focusing on finding mutual understanding rather than “winning” debates
  • Publicly credit individuals for their contributions and encourage others to build on those ideas
  • Clearly outline the objectives and scope of forum topics so that community members understand how to contribute meaningfully
• Examples of behavior that discourage diverse participation
  • Evaluating viewpoints based on a participant’s governance rights
  • Gatekeeping knowledge by insisting on overly technical language or jargon
  • Ignoring certain contributor comments
  • Using aggressive, confrontational, or belligerent tone

8. Follow the Rules

Adhering to the forum guidelines is mandatory for all participants. These rules exist to ensure a fair, respectful, and valuable space for everyone.

• Consequences for non-compliance:
  • Warnings for minor infractions
  • Temporary suspension for repeat offenses
  • Permanent bans for severe or repeated violations

9. Moderation

The forum moderators are here to ensure the guidelines are upheld and the environment remains welcoming and productive.

• Moderators reserve the right to:
  • Edit or remove posts/comments that violate guidelines
  • Issue warnings, suspensions, or bans based on the severity of the offense
• Moderation guidelines
  • Encourage respectful and civil discourse
    • Set an example for how to refrain from harassment, hate speech, or personal attacks
    • Focus discussions on ideas rather than individuals
  • On-topic, constructive engagement
    • Question how irrelevant posts comment apply to Wormhole
    • Highlight lack of evidence where necessary
  • Inclusivity and Diversity
    • Encourage participation from all individuals or organisations
    • Highlight differing perspectives are not discussed with mutual respect
  • Legal and Ethical Compliance
    • Prohibit unlawful or infringing content (e.g., copyright violations, malicious software)
  • Privacy Protection
    • Remove disclosure of any personal information
• Do not assume anonymity relates to intention

Final Note

The Wormhole Governance Forum is a space for collaboration, innovation, and respectful dialogue. By following these guidelines, you help build a community where ideas can flourish, and everyone’s voice is valued. Let’s work together to shape a better governance framework for Wormhole.