Introduction

BuilderDAO extends its deepest gratitude to Zora for their visionary leadership and foundational contributions to Nouns Builder. Through their development of Nouns.Build and NounsConnect, Zora empowered communities to experiment with governance and decentralized collaboration, creating the backbone of the Builder Protocol’s success.

We are honored by Zora’s trust in BuilderDAO to continue this mission and look forward to building on the incredible foundation they have laid. Their efforts have inspired a vibrant ecosystem, and we are committed to carrying this legacy forward.

Additionally, as part of this milestone the DAO and its members would like to formally thank and publicly acknowledge our prior lead developer, Neokry, as well as our prior project lead, Zaak, for all of their hard work, help, and support since the inception of Builder.

Summary

This proposal requests that Zora transfer the Nouns.Build, NounsConnect websites, and all associated code repositories and social media accounts to Builder Protocol. By taking full ownership of these assets, Builder Protocol will assume responsibility for their ongoing management, development, and promotion, aligning with its mission to serve as the steward of the Builder Protocol and its ecosystem.

Context

Zora initially developed and launched https://nouns.build/ on November 15, 2022, as the primary interface for users to engage with the Builder Protocol (“Protocol”). This platform allows users to launch Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (“DAOs”) modeled after NounsDAO, manage governance, and submit proposals. Zora also created https://www.nounsconnect.wtf/ to enable Nouns-style DAOs to connect with external applications.

Builder Protocol believes it is uniquely positioned to maintain and enhance these assets. As the DAO that governs and develops the Protocol, Builder Protocol has the technical expertise, community engagement, and long-term vision required to ensure the success of the sites and related assets. This transfer will enable the DAO to integrate these resources seamlessly into its broader mission.

Proposal

Builder Protocol requests that Zora transfer the following assets:

1. Code Repositories: • Full control of the nouns.build GitHub repository (https://github.com/ourzora/nouns-builder) • Full control of the nounsconnect.wtf GitHub repository (https://github.com/ourzora/nouns-connect) • Transfer of the Nouns Protocol (smart contracts) repository to the Builder Protocol GitHub organization account at https://github.com/BuilderOSSNouns-Builder/nouns-builder.
2. Domains and Hosting: • Ownership of the Vercel account for https://nouns.build/ (https://vercel.com/nouns-builder). • Transfer of the domain names: nouns.build, www.nouns.build, and zouns-builder.vercel.app.
3. Social Media Accounts: • Ownership of the Twitter account at https://twitter.com/nounsbuilder.

Builder Protocol proposes to formalize this agreement through an Asset Transfer Agreement signed by Zora and a Builder Protocol admin (lilac.eth). The DAO expects the transfer to be completed within 30 days of the proposal’s approval.

Alignment with Mission/Vision

Builder Protocol aims to empower the decentralized development of tools and communities built on the Builder Protocol. Nouns.Build is the primary interface for users of the Protocol and a vital entry point for new adopters. By managing the Sites directly, Builder Protocol will:

1. Address the needs of users through its governance processes and tech-pod.
2. Maintain and improve the Sites to support the Protocol.
3. Promote the Sites via the DAO’s community channels and social media.
4. Drive increased adoption of the Protocol by delivering a seamless user experience.

This transfer will also benefit Zora by driving more engagement with its ecosystem, enhancing its reputation as a supporter of decentralized projects, and reinforcing the Builder Protocol-Zora relationship.

Accountability

Upon the transfer’s completion, Builder Protocol will assume full responsibility for maintaining and improving the Sites, including:

• Managing user agreements (Terms of Service and Privacy Policy). • Addressing errors and implementing updates based on community feedback. • Deploying improvements and supporting Protocol users.

These responsibilities will be managed through the DAO’s governance processes, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Treasury & Tax Impact

1. Site Maintenance Costs • Monthly Hosting Fees for Nouns Builder: • GitHub: $12/month • Vercel: $60/month • Goldsky: $136/month • Tenderly: Pay-as-you-go • Pinata for IPFS Endpoint: $20/month • Domain registration: $70/year • Monthly Hosting Fees for Nouns Connect: • GitHub: Free (under existing instance) • Vercel: Free (under existing Pro tier) • Tenderly: Pay-as-you-go • Domain: $50/year
2. Tax Considerations

Zora is not requesting any payment for this transfer. Builder Protocol consulted its advisors, Deloitte, to confirm that this transaction is tax-neutral.

Additional Matters

1. Admin Replacement Zora has appointed Kimberly Chan, Associate General Counsel, as its representative admin for Builder Protocol, replacing Shahab Asghar.
2. Transparency • Zora founded Builder Protocol and retains 10% of its governance tokens. • Zora currently holds veto power over DAO proposals, though it has committed to exercising this power sparingly and exploring alternative frameworks.

Authors: Shaz, Builder Operations Working Group & Lilac.eth