The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world, has officially launched The Sandbox DAO, marking a significant milestone in its mission to create an open Metaverse governed by its community. This move underscores The Sandbox’s commitment to decentralization, enabling users to have a direct say in the platform’s future developments and initiatives.
In a recent announcement, The Sandbox elaborated on its vision: “At The Sandbox, we’re building an open Metaverse, where anyone around the world has the ability, through our tools and platform, to own their creations, publish unique experiences on virtual LANDs, and connect with people in new and meaningful ways. With over five million users, The Sandbox ecosystem was established using blockchain technology, incorporating Web3 elements and NFTs, so that ultimately the platform could be run and managed by the community it serves.”
Community-Centric Governance
The Sandbox DAO introduces a decentralized governance model that allows users to participate in decisions regarding the platform’s development. Community members, including players, creators, LAND owners, and brands, can now submit proposals and vote on various topics, such as:
- Product improvements and new gameplay features
- Communication tools like emojis and voice chat
- Avatar utilities and platform events
- Reward mechanics and player status based on LAND and NFT ownership
Arthur Madrid, CEO & Co-Founder of The Sandbox, emphasized the importance of community governance, saying “We believe a gaming open Metaverse must be governed by all users: creators, players, and LAND owners to make it timeless and push the boundaries of our community. Blockchain technology enables a full decentralized system of decisions and power to people. We think Fortnite or Roblox will adopt it at one point.”
The journey towards decentralization began in 2020 with the introduction of SAND utility tokens. This allowed creators to buy and sell virtual plots of LAND, publish their creations, and earn SAND tokens, which could be exchanged for fiat currency globally. Today, SAND is a top 10 gaming token and a top 100 cryptocurrency, with utilities extending beyond The Sandbox platform.
Sebastien Borget, COO & Co-Founder of The Sandbox, reflected on this journey, saying, “The launch of The Sandbox DAO marks a significant milestone in our journey to build the open Metaverse, together. Four years ago, we began empowering a new generation of creators through decentralization, blockchain, and NFTs. These creators are now the citizens of a digital nation in the making and hold the power to decide how the platform should evolve and what initiatives it will support.”
The Rollout Plan
The launch of The Sandbox DAO is set to unfold in three phases:
Phase One – DAO Debut (Starting May 28th): This initial phase will see SAND and LAND owners voting on Sandbox Improvement Proposals (SIPs). Community members can propose SIPs via the DAO’s website and email submissions. While some operations will still be managed by The Sandbox staff, the DAO will begin operating with its own tools and funds.
Phase Two – Exploration: The DAO will gain more autonomy, becoming increasingly self-reliant and less dependent on The Sandbox’s staff.
Phase Three – Full Launch: This phase will fully empower the community to propose and vote on SIPs, fostering a decentralized decision-making process. SIPs will be more organically submitted, and the curation process will be reduced, allowing for a broader range of community-driven initiatives.
The Sandbox DAO will consist of two main groups: the Council and Advisors. The Council will review SIPs, ensuring they align with the DAO’s vision and community interests, and have the power to veto proposals based on legality, redundancy, conflict, and community interests. Trusted partners have been selected to form the initial Council, laying a solid foundation for the DAO’s future operations.
In addition, a dedicated Sandbox DAO Foundation will manage the DAO’s operations, including the treasury and the employment of a support team. This foundation will ensure the smooth execution of DAO decisions and the sustainable growth of the platform.
The Initial SIPs
The first five SIPs have been proposed by The Sandbox DAO leadership team, focusing on foundational governance and impactful initiatives:
SIP 1 – Introducing The Sandbox DAO: This SIP introduces the DAO and its constitution.
SIP 2 – The Sandbox DAO Foundation: This establishes the Foundation to support the DAO’s operations.
SIP 3 – Year One Budget: This outlines the budget for the first year, allocating 25 million SAND for various initiatives.
SIP 4 – Carbon Capture (with NZC): This environmental initiative involves purchasing CDR tokens to offset CO2 emissions.
SIP 5 – Red Cross (with Yobike): This humanitarian initiative involves selling NFTs to support the Red Cross.
The introduction of The Sandbox DAO is designed to foster trust and promote a sense of belonging among community members. By ensuring transparency in every decision and process, The Sandbox aims to create a platform that is not only built for the community but also by it.
The DAO represents a commitment to active participation, inclusivity, and transparency, paving the way for a truly open Metaverse governed by its users. The launch of The Sandbox DAO is a landmark moment in the evolution of the platform, empowering its community to shape the future of the open Metaverse and drive forward a collective vision of innovation and inclusivity.
