Network of Trust: Empowering Open-Source Software through Attestation Networks

The Network of Trust project aims to revolutionize coordination in the web3 ecosystem by leveraging the power of attestation networks. Building upon the success of our top 15 finish at the 2024 ETH Denver hackathon, where we combined attestations with the Ecological Benefits Framework, we now seek to expand our research and develop open-source tools and applications that harness the potential of attestation networks.

Project Goals

1. Explore the development of a peer-to-peer skills attestation network, potentially in collaboration with the Token Engineering community, treating shared trust as a Common Pool Resource.
   • Investigate the creation of a blockchain-based skills graph, incorporating private data and public attestations on the Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS).
   • Engage practitioner Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop skills schemas, if the skills attestation network path is pursued.
   • Consider building applications such as subject matter directories with profiles and skills, marketplaces, and other potential dApps, depending on the direction of the project.
2. Continue our focus on impact networks by exploring collaboration opportunities with the Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF) to create a tool for the public to attest to impact projects.
3. Explore the integration of attestation networks with funding mechanisms, such as using attestations in public goods funding grant rounds to create a flywheel effect for future funding.
4. Investigate the potential of local community trust networks, reputation systems, and civic participation through attestation networks, building upon our previous work and learnings.

Work Done So Far

During the ETH Denver hackathon, our team successfully built a trust network for ecological impact by combining attestations with the Ecological Benefits Framework. This innovative solution allows people to attest to the reputation of projects, their impact, and the credibility of those attesting, creating a web of attestations that can be used to assess impact and contributions. Our project's top 15 finish at the hackathon demonstrates our ability to deliver useful applications and sets the foundation for further development.

Outcome of Grant

With the support of this grant, we aim to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Research and develop a proof-of-concept skills directory and schema(s) for the Token Engineering community, if this path is pursued.
2. Collaborate with the EBF organization to build a public attestation tool for impact projects.
3. Investigate the integration of attestation networks with web3 funding mechanisms and develop a prototype.
4. Explore applications of attestation networks in local community trust networks. For example, integrating an attestation netowrk with ReFi Local Nodes.
5. Enhance attestation networks with additional features such as recommendations, analytics, and insights.
6. Conduct thorough testing, bug fixes, and improvements to ensure the stability and usability of the developed tools and applications.
7. Create comprehensive documentation and tutorials to facilitate adoption and contribution from the open-source community.

Contributors

Our talented team of contributors brings a diverse set of skills and expertise to the Network of Trust project:

• Darren Zal, Web3 Dev and Project Design
• Shawn Anderson, Web3 Dev
• BK, Web3 Dev
• Dharmik Dholariya, Front End Dev
• Monty Merlin, ReFi x EBF
• Scott Morris, Solutions Architect

Conclusion

The Network of Trust project has the potential to transform coordination in the web3 ecosystem by leveraging the power of attestation networks. By developing open-source tools and applications that address clear needs within the OSS and broader tech ecosystem, we aim to foster growth, innovation, and impact. With the support of this grant, we will be able to continue our research, build upon our successful hackathon project, and deliver valuable solutions to the community. We are committed to exploring multiple paths, such as collaborating with key stakeholders like the Token Engineering community and the Ecological Benefits Framework, as well as investigating the potential of attestation networks in local communities and civic participation. Our ultimate goal is to create a decentralized infrastructure that empowers communities to build and share trust, coordinate action, and drive positive change.

GitHub Repo: https://github.com/bhargavkakadiya/eth-denver-ebf