# Governance Structure

The **governance model** of Project Merlin is designed to ensure that decision-making is **transparent**, **community-driven**, and **efficient**.\
It combines **DAO-based voting**, **task-based participation**, and **on-chain execution** to create a fair and inclusive ecosystem.

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### 1. Core Principles

Project Merlin’s governance is built on three core principles:

1. **Decentralization** – No single entity controls the ecosystem.
2. **Transparency** – All proposals, votes, and results are publicly recorded on-chain.
3. **Merit-Based Rewards** – Active participants are rewarded based on measurable contributions.

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### 2. Key Governance Components

#### **a. Project Merlin DAO**

The central decision-making body where Community NFT holders vote on proposals that shape the ecosystem.\
The DAO decides on:

* Which startups receive funding (Camelot & Excalibur Grants)
* Ecosystem budget allocations
* Platform improvements and feature priorities
* Strategic partnerships and integrations

#### **b. Community NFTs**

Owning a Community NFT is **mandatory** to participate in governance.\
NFT holders:

* Gain voting rights in all DAO proposals
* Earn rewards through the Vote2Earn program
* Receive exclusive benefits such as presale whitelists and airdrops

#### **c. Vote2Earn (V2E) System**

A gamified governance incentive program:

* Members earn points for voting on proposals and completing assigned governance tasks.
* Points are converted into MRLN token rewards every quarter, provided the DAO Treasury exceeds 30% of the total token supply.

#### **d. Proposal Types**

* **Camelot Proposal** – Early-stage funding grants of $25,000 in MRLN tokens.
* **Excalibur Proposal** – Exclusive grant program for high-potential startups, with funding exceeding $500,000 and additional partnership benefits.

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### 3. Governance Workflow

1. **Proposal Submission**
   * Startups submit funding requests via **Raven Message** (for Camelot) or **Grant Submission Form** (for Excalibur).
   * Submission fees are paid in MRLN tokens.
2. **Shortlisting Phase**
   * DAO members review and vote on proposals.
   * Proposals with the highest votes move to the final stage.
3. **Final Voting**
   * DAO members vote again to select winners.
   * Votes are weighted equally—every NFT holder has the same power.
4. **Funding & Execution**
   * Approved proposals receive grants directly from the DAO Treasury.
   * Funds are disbursed on-chain to ensure transparency.
5. **Rewards Distribution**
   * DAO members earn V2E points for participation.
   * Points are converted into MRLN rewards every quarter.

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### 4. Benefits of the Governance Model

* **Equal Voice** – Every NFT holder has equal voting power, preventing centralization.
* **Transparent Process** – All actions are verifiable on-chain.
* **Incentivized Participation** – Members are rewarded for being active, not just for holding assets.
* **Startup Support** – Funding is allocated based on community decision, ensuring projects meet real user demand.
* **Scalability** – The system can integrate future proposal types and new decision-making modules without disrupting current operations.

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### 5. Mission & Vision of Governance

* **Mission** – Empower the global Web3 community to collaboratively build, fund, and scale projects through a fair and transparent governance model.
* **Vision** – Create the world’s most effective DAO-driven ecosystem, where **every vote counts**, **every participant benefits**, and **every decision is community-led**.