UPDATED | TIP 45 | Forming the Treasure Delegate Council (TDC)

In response to community feedback, we have made several updates to this proposal, including reducing the TDC members from 5 to 3 and providing extra clarity around compensation. This proposal will now be progressed to Snapshot.

Summary

As TreasureDAO transitions from Arbitrum to ZKsync (as outlined in TIP-44), the governance structure that oversaw the DAO’s activities within Arbitrum, previously known as the Arbitrum Representative Council (ARC), is also set to end on October 30th.

We propose transitioning the ARC to a Treasure Delegate Council (TDC) to provide resources and expertise to assist TreasureDAO with navigating ZKsync governance processes to ensure that Treasure continues to thrive within this new ecosystem.

The community will be asked to vote on one of three paths forward to shape the future of TreasureDAO’s engagement with ZKsync governance.

  1. The Treasure Core team selects all 3 members for the TDC.
  2. The Treasure Core team selects 1 member of the TDC, while the remaining 2 members are elected by the community.
  3. No renewal— dissolve the external governance function entirely.

Rationale

Why the TDC Is Important

TreasureDAO has the opportunity to participate in early stage governance opportunities within the ZKsync ecosystem, assisting ZKsync stakeholders with establishing governance frameworks, policies, and procedures with lessons learned from our experience in Arbitrum. The TDC will allow TreasureDAO to carry forward the significant experience and valuable lessons learned from Arbitrum governance while ensuring Treasure’s voice remains influential in shaping ZKsync’s governance framework. Ultimately, the TDC will help support the growth TreasureDAO, its partners, and the broader gaming sector within ZKsync.

The rationale for proposing this structure includes:

  • Preserving Knowledge: This group has built up a significant understanding of governance and DAO best practices over the past year of engagement within Arbitrum. This learning can be carried forward to support the success of the ZK Nation.
  • Minimizing Learning Curves: Transitioning to ZKsync will present new governance challenges. Retaining an experienced governance team ensures that TreasureDAO can navigate these with minimal disruption.
  • Building a Positive Reputation: A strong presence in ZKsync governance will help Treasure DAO establish its reputation in the ecosystem, driving positive public awareness and brand recognition within this new ecosystem.
  • Influence & Voice: Effective participation as a contributor to ZKsync governance will ensure that TreasureDAO remains a respected voice within the ZK Nation, better enabling it to advocate for decisions that drive the success of the Treasure community.
  • Risk of Dissolution: Without a dedicated governance council, TreasureDAO risks losing influence in ZKsync and missing out on opportunities to shape governance decisions that could significantly impact Treasure’s DAO ability to succeed.

Proposal

Council Composition & Voting Options

The community will be asked to vote on the future of the TDC via single-choice (first past the post) voting.

  • Option 1: The Treasure Core team selects all 3 members for the TDC. This option ensures continuity with the previous ARC, while empowering the Treasure Core team to maintain an ideal balance of diverse skills, experience, and strategic alignment—key factors for a seamless transition into ZKsync governance.
  • Option 2: The Treasure Core team selects 1 member, while the remaining 2 members are elected by the community through a subsequent Snapshot vote. This option promotes greater decentralization and community involvement in shaping the TDC. However, it may compromise on preserving experience and achieving a well-balanced governance function focused on ZKsync for Treasure. Under this model, two members will be elected by the community, followed by the Treasure Core team selecting one additional members to ensure strategic balance after the election results are confirmed.
  • Option 3: No renewal—dissolve the governance function entirely. If the community feels that a governance council is no longer necessary, this option will discontinue the TDC, leaving TreasureDAO without an official governance body engaging in external ZKsync governance outside of the Treasure Core team.

Council Term & Compensation

Term Length: TDC, members will serve a 12-month term, ensuring stability and long-term planning in ZKsync governance.

Compensation: Council members will receive $3,000 paid in $MAGIC per member per month using spot price at point of payment. They also will have the ability to receive a 50% split of ZKsync delegate incentive for Treasure DAO if such a structure is established. The TDC will have discretion in how to allocate this delegate incentive rewards with oversight by the Treasure Core team. Any Treasure Core team members in the TDC will not be eligible to receive a share of these rewards.

Nomination Process & Continuity

The nomination period for the TDC positions will open simultaneously with the Snapshot vote for this proposal and will remain open for 7 days. A forum thread will be available for eligible candidates to express their interest. If the community votes in favor of renewing the council, the nominations will proceed to either an election or selection by the Treasure Core team, depending on the vote outcome. However, if the community votes to dissolve the council, the nominations will not proceed. Should a TDC member step down during their term, the Treasure Core team will appoint a replacement to maintain continuity within the council. Additionally, the Treasure Core team reserves the right to unilaterally remove and appoint a replacement member of the TDC if a good faith determination is made that a particular member is not fulfilling the responsibilities of the post.

Responsibilities of the Treasure Delegate Council

The TDC will focus solely on Treasure DAO’s engagement within the ZK Nation, driving governance participation and advocating for Treasure’s success. Responsibilities are aimed at building impact, fostering public awareness, and driving value for the Treasure community and broader ZK Nation through governance action. Expected responsibilities include:

  • Engagement in ZKsync Governance: The TDC will establish constructive relationships with other large delegates as well as actively participate in governance processes by contributing to and voting on key proposals that impact ZKsync.
  • Proposal Drafting & Policy Advocacy: The TDC will take a proactive role in drafting, advising on, and contributing to, new proposals and advocating for policies that align with Treasure DAO’s interests. This will include refining governance frameworks to benefit both Treasure and the broader ZKsync ecosystem.
  • Representation & Advocacy for Gaming: The TDC will prioritize advocating for gaming-related initiatives by closely collaborating with the Treasure Core team to understand community needs. This will allow the TDC to champion initiatives that directly contribute to the success and growth of the Treasure DAO community within ZKsync.
  • Building Treasure’s Reputation in ZKsync: By consistently representing Treasure DAO’s interests, the TDC will build and enhance Treasure’s reputation, positioning it as a leading voice within the ZKsync governance ecosystem while also growing its voting power over time.
  • Community Engagement & Transparency: The TDC will ensure transparency by hosting regular community calls and issuing regular progress reports. This will keep the community informed about governance activities and foster active participation in the process.
  • Fostering Long-Term Value for Treasure DAO: The TDC will prioritize opportunities that directly contribute to Treasure DAO’s growth and sustainability, ensuring that governance decisions drive long-term value creation within the ZKsync ecosystem.

We expect the TDC to focus on advancing the gaming and consumer domain within the ZKsync ecosystem. Efforts initially will be targeted at establishing a strong governance foundation for ZK Nation as well as a new gaming governance program to enable a competitive edge for the Elastic Chain to become the home of blockchain-enabled gaming.

Next Steps & Timeline

If this proposal is published on Tuesday, October 15th, the following timeline is proposed:

  • Community Discussion (October 15th–22nd):
    • Open a forum thread for a 6-day community discussion and feedback on the proposal.
  • Snapshot Vote & Nomination Period (October 23rd–28th):
    • Begin the Snapshot vote and open the nomination thread simultaneously. The results of the vote will determine if nominations proceed (if Option 1 or 2 is selected). Voting will use ranked-choice voting to capture the community’s preference between the three options.
  • Election Period (October 29th–November 4th):
    • If Option 2 is selected, a 7-day election period will follow the Snapshot vote. During this time, the community will vote on the nominees from the nomination thread. The top 3 elected members will join the TDC, and the Treasure DAO Core team will select 2 additional members to complete the council.
  • Final Committee Formation (by October 30th [if Option 1] or November 6th [if Option 2]):
    • The TDC will be finalized based on the election results and core team selection. It will then be officially announced.
  • First TDC Meeting
    • The newly formed TDC will hold its first meeting to align on priorities and responsibilities, with a specific focus on ZKsync governance.