The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Dao is both named and nameless, as nameless it is the origin of all things, as named it is the mother of ten thousand things.

— Laozi 400 BC

Dear Community,

We at the DFINITY Foundation believe that the future of the Internet consists of decentralized services and protocols, which are owned and governed by their communities. What you're reading now is the first of its kind – we call it the SNS-1

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) enable that future where ANYONE - you included - has the freedom to assemble from across the globe, collaborate, and become an active participant in building and shaping our collective global economic future.

Only on the Internet Computer can DAOs control 100% on-chain hosted dapps. Proposed improvements can only be made upon the approval of a community of token holders. No centralized power, no administrative overhead, no legal headache, only code.

An SNS is one way the Internet Computer realizes its vision for DAOs, each SNS DAO acting as an extension of the NNS, with delegated authority to control a specific public good.

In the spirit of Laozi's eternal Dao, the SNS-1 is both named and nameless, ever evolving. At conception, it consists only as a blank canvas for the community to paint the future upon. It signifies the beginning, an exemplar to experiment & educate with, and a beacon to inspire a community of SNSs.

Years from now when SNS-1 has evolved beyond a simple letter to one of the finest dapps on the Internet Computer, we hope that you will revisit this letter as a reminder of the first steps on an exciting journey towards a truly decentralized Internet.

Join us now to reclaim and reinvent the Internet together!

Best regards,

P.S. Kudos to ludo who made the first community contribution to the SNS-1 with the token design above.