Community Project - CryptoTown | On The GroundPlease also see the Reddit post for further discussion.I am very pleased to announce a collaborative project between the Cryptogenic Bullion community and the IndiaMikeZulu organization to facilitate the spread of cryptocurrencies through face-to-face, on the ground, human being contact. Please understand that this is an open community project welcoming all cryptoenthusiasts. Many details are yet to be confirmed and polished. The major product of ongoing development will be a structural guide (PDF format) for building community networks of businesses and individuals to facilitate adoption of cryptocurrencies which will supplement existing payment and monetary systems while strengthening the communities through diversification and self-sufficiency. In short, CryptoTown On The Ground is a collection of guidelines and tips for creating your own local CryptoTown network as part of a global movement.
Although merchant adoption is not a primary goal of CGB, we believe that merchants who already accept crypto will be more open to diversifying into CGB for wealth storage, and large infrequent transactions. The CryptoTown project is an opportunity to put theory into practice and pioneer the methods to make crypto work "On The Ground." The following is a live copy of the latest work. Stay tuned, or help out in the discussion!
CryptoTown | On The Ground (v0.1e)An instructional guide to strengthening communities through the adoption of cryptocurrencies and the principles of self-sufficiency.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 The CryptoTown Protocol
.2.1 My CryptoTown Neighborhood
..2.1a The CryptoTown Directory
..2.1b Consulting Services
..2.1c Currency Exchange
..2.1d Advertising
.2.2 For Communities
.2.3 For Businesses
.2.4 For Individuals
.2.5 For Investors
3.0 Encouraging Adoption
.3.1 On The Ground
.3.2 Social Media
.3.3 Promotional Material
1.0 IntroductionThe CrytoTown On The Ground project represents a largely uncharted aspect of cryptocurrency technology which is face-to-face, "real world," economic interaction and community building. The project aims to provide guidelines and resources for structuring your own CryptoTown Neighborhood, enrolling your business, or participating as a community member. This project is founded on the principles of self-sufficiency, decentralization and sustainability. All CryptoTown Neighborhoods are created equal meaning there is no formal structure or hierarchy but guidelines for sharing resources and working together. Our focus is on empowering communities with the knowledge and resources required to quickly and effectively implement and benefit from cryptocurrencies.
In order to understand the need for cryptocurrencies, we must consider a number of fundamental challenges with our current financial system, and the solutions that cryptocurrencies provide. The world’s currencies are referred to as debt-based fiat currencies because they are not backed by a physical asset like gold, and can burden up to 30 participants with debt for each actual dollar (or insert your local central bank note here) in reserve, creating the potential for bank runs. It helps to realize that when a credit card is used to purchase something, currency is created , and when you pay it off, currency is destroyed. This scheme is referred to as fractional reserve banking and can not happen in a digital currency system without the owner’s knowledge because the supply is strictly controlled by a decentralized protocol.
We are beginning, as a society, to understand the dangers and inefficiencies found in centralized systems as corruptions and self destructive processes manifest themselves with no apparent remedy. As our society looks for answers, they are being found in technological advances which allow us to connect with each other in more meaningful ways which do not require a third party. Cryptographic currencies provide the convenience of cash, with neither the excessive centralized printing, nor the potential for censorship or sanctions which block the transmission of funds. Many cryptocurrencies hold the properties of money, such as portability, divisibility, fungibility, scarcity (technically), durability, and wealth storage. They can be stored in a private safe and yet transferred across the globe in minutes.
2.0 The CryptoTown ProtocolThe CryptoTown Protocol is a scalable and modular set of guidelines to meeting the needs of communities, businesses, and individuals as they adapt to cryptocurrency technologies. The structure is designed to be as simple and flexible as possible to account for communities as small as a few businesses along a street, or as large as an entire city. The CryptoTown On The Ground project is the a product of collaborative effort amongst the self-managed CryptoTown Neighborhoods to explore and document the most effective methods to facilitate the adoption of cryptocurrencies as part of stronger communities. The protocol is designed with the understanding that central management is neither desirable nor practical especially when dealing with cryptocurrency technology.
2.1 My CryptoTown NeighborhoodA CryptoTown Neighborhood is a collection of one or more businesses and volunteers who agree to follow the CryptoTown protocol and adapt it to their needs. The core of each CryptoTown Neighborhood is a volunteer or group of volunteers who ensure that the guidelines are best applied. Each CryptoTown contains a directory which lists the participating establishments and individuals. This directory will also contain "official" links to websites and social media hangouts. Part of the duty of these volunteers is to ensure that this information is as widely accessible and shared as possible. This includes collaboration with local community members and officials, and with other CryptoTown Neighborhoods (the project).
Each individual CryptoTown Neighborhood will decide which services they shal provide, the requirements for entry, costs associated, and which rules to apply to participants. In order to be considered a proper CryptoTown Neighborhood there are some bare minimum expectations which must be followed to allow success. There must be at least one accountable volunteer who is willing to accept calls, return emails and physically attend meetings related to the project. A directory must be maintained of all participating establishments, and there must be at least one participating establishment. Businesses who wish to be listed must have a physical commercial location and meet with the volunteer as part of the vetting process which may determine the quality of the directory.
2.1a The CryptoTown DirectoryThis is the central nexus of each CryptoTown Neighborhood. It's primary role is to provide quick access to all relevant information about the local businesses who are participating and the CryptoTown services that are being provided to the community. The directory has to be listed online in order to associate with the greater project, and to help prevent fraud by vetting the volunteers as their project progresses. We have to all be aware that a decentralized system puts the responsibility of detecting scams and understanding security onto the shoulders of each participant. Until a more specialized set of online services are developed for the project, we will be utilizing the /r/CryptoTown subReddit to announce new CryptoTown Neighborhoods and discuss our experiences.
2.1b Consulting ServicesThis will likely be the primary role of the volunteers. Businesses will need to be contacted and made aware of the local "CryptoTown project." Businesses who value the principles we stand behind will start asking questions and this takes talent and knowledge to turn this opportunity into meaningful cooperation. The best practices discovered by the project will be passed onto the community by these volunteers and it will take ongoing care and training. As the project becomes self sustaining and the community has adapted to the new ways, competition will determine the cost of these types of services.
2.1c Currency ExchangeWhile it's getting much easier to purchase cryptocurrencies online, there will still be a demand for more convenient services "on the ground." Most businesses need to spend their proceeds on their own costs of running business and, to begin with, most this will be invoiced in fiat currencies. Until a business is able to reduce or eliminate the need for fiat currencies in their supply chain, they may wish to sell the crypto received as payment for fiat currencies to supply their business. This will provide an opportunity to make further profit as well as an easy way for people to easily acquire cryptocurrency. A volunteer may wish to offer similar simple exchange services to encourage participation and possibly collect fees depending on the demand.
2.1d AdvertisingDepending on the level of service and the demand for a particular CryptoTown Neighborhood, they may advertise businesses on official channels or locations. There is also an element of advertising that goes on toward the public to enhance the awareness of the local project, increasing exposure and value of the former case.
2.2 For CommunitiesThe goal of the CryptoTown On The Ground project is not only to encourage the adoption of cryptocurrencies, but also to empower communities with the knowledge to become stronger, more self-reliant communities. The open and flexible nature of the CryptoTown Protocol means that communities are able to adapt and change it to suit their specific needs. It is also important to understand that while a city may announce an "official" CryptoTown Neighborhood structure, it must still compete with other "Neighborhoods" for quality of service, but would have a reputational advantage.
2.3 For BusinessesBusinesses may choose to be part of multiple CryptoTown Neighborhoods which may exist within a city, but each one can have its own requirements and standards. While CryptoTown Neighborhoods may be competing with each other to maintain the largest and highest quality listing, businesses are simply enjoying the extra revenue generated by crypto enthusiasts. Technical details have yet to be worked out, but this directory is intended to be aggregated to the global level, enabling businesses which are truly supporting healthy, diversified, communities, to access the support and demand of a global movement. Businesses may indicate in the directory if they are willing to sell their crypto back to customers for cash if the business actually prefers to hold central bank issued currency.
2.4 For IndividualsThere are no requirements in order to participate. All businesses listed in the directory will accept cryptocurrencies from any usual customer in exchange for goods at their establishment. Individuals may wish to register with one or more local CryptoTown Neighborhoods as a show of support, but each one may have different standards and requirements for listing. When it comes down to it, individuals wielding their economic power are the most important force to this entire project. The ability of a community to spend its currency is up to the businesses who are accepting it. When businesses realize the economic force of individual choice when finally provided an alternative to central bank issued fiat currencies, the snowball soon becomes an avalanche.
2.5 For InvestorsThis is where creativity will have to come in to play. There are many aspects of the CryptoTown On The Ground model which could be capitalized, for example, some may advertise, or charge a fee to be evaluated and listed in the directory. The local government or heroic volunteers may wish to provide the services to enhance their community. The idea is to allow competition between CryptoTown Neighborhoods through the simple open nature and lack of any centrally imposed rules. This represents a shift in ideology from using tech specs, and charts to justify value, to real world, on the ground, face-to-face adoption of the technology. As investors, we must be willing to adapt when the game changes, or we risk being the last one holding the bag. Global debt levels are nearing the explosive end of a parabolic rise. Most of the problems that lead to the market crash in December of 2007 have become much worse. Evidence that interest rates, gold, commodities and other markets are being manipulated by the central banks has emerged leaving many investors struggling to tell truth from distortion. In this kind of a market it is very important to consider storing your wealth amongst a diverse range of assets.
3.0 Encouraging AdoptionThis is where theory meets practice. much of what has already been learned will be captured here, and further studies will need to develop this section.
3.1 On The GroundOngoing development over at the Commercial Development Workshop thread on the /r/GotCrypto subReddit.
3.2 Social MediaAlthough it may seem counter-intuitive to underpin the structure of an "On The Ground" project with online social media and organization tools, the benefits provided by working together and engaging the public in a viral manner are critical to smoother adoption.
3.3 Promotional MaterialEach CryptoTown Neighborhood should have its own library with promotional materials including brochures, documents such as this, images, and even physical items like stickers and signs. A well run operation should understand the value of making this kind of stuff as readily available as possible.
I have created a simple logo set with my rudimentary photoshop skills. Hopefully they will get your creative juices flowing! Please comment.
Version 0.1e released. Let's take a moment to ponder if this is a big idea or not
Weekly update tomorrow.
