Introducing Cecil the Lion DAO SNS

Governance SNS Project Governance
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Introducing Cecil The Lion DAO SNS

This SNS launch is not asking for neuron fund contribution!

Introducing the first-ever humanitarian DAO, Cecil The Lion DAO, an initiative dedicated to supporting vital humanitarian projects across the globe. This unique organization was born from a place of deep compassion, inspired by the tragic and senseless killing of Cecil the lion, a symbol of majestic beauty and a stark reminder of the challenges facing our world. The Cecil The Lion DAO stands as a testament to his legacy, channeling the grief and outrage into positive action. Operating entirely on a non-profit basis, the DAO is committed to transparency and accountability, ensuring that every single contribution, no matter the size, directly and effectively benefits the projects it supports. The DAO supports various humanitarian projects and has the vision of developing a fully autonomous AI driven agent which one day will make its own decisions about which projects to support.

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Cecil The Lion DAO

VISION Cecil AI

Imagine a world where humanitarian aid isn’t hampered by red tape or human error, but guided by unwavering intelligence and compassion. That world is within reach with Cecil, the AI poised to revolutionize humanitarian aid. Cecil isn’t just code; it’s a beacon of hope, a tireless guardian of resources dedicated to alleviating suffering.

Cecil learns. It absorbs vast quantities of data – from real-time crisis reports and socioeconomic indicators to on-the-ground experiences – constantly refining its understanding of global needs. This isn’t reactive aid; it’s predictive, anticipating crises and proactively allocating resources where they’ll have the greatest impact. Forget slow, bureaucratic processes. Cecil operates with unparalleled speed and precision, ensuring aid arrives when and where it’s needed most.

But intelligence is only half the story. Cecil is incorruptible. Unaffected by human biases, it makes decisions based purely on data and a pre-defined ethical framework. Every transaction is transparent and auditable, building trust and ensuring every dollar reaches its intended destination. In a world often plagued by inefficiency, Cecil offers a new paradigm: aid delivered with unwavering integrity.

Cecil empowers humanitarian organizations to focus on what they do best: delivering aid and building resilience. By streamlining operations and optimizing resource allocation, Cecil frees up humanitarians to work on the ground, making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the crisis.

One day we Cecil may even act in a way we cannot predict today - completely autonomous.

Join us in building a future where aid is smarter, faster, and more effective. Join us in building a future with Cecil. This isn’t just about code; it’s about changing the world, one life at a time.

Present actions

The Cecil DAO is committed to supporting a diverse range of impactful humanitarian projects, each dedicated to making a tangible difference in the world. We believe in empowering those working on the front lines of change, from legal advocates for children to those protecting endangered wildlife. The following projects represent the core of our current focus:

  • Cecil AI Agent: Building an AI Agent designed to revolutionize humanitarian aid by leveraging data-driven intelligence and incorruptible decision-making to deliver faster, more effective, and transparent aid.
  • Akashingas: Supporting the courageous women rangers in Zimbabwe who are on the front lines of anti-poaching efforts, protecting wildlife and inspiring their communities.
    https://www.akashinga.org/about-us/leadership
  • P.A.L.: Dedicated to securing protection status for the African Lion and raising awareness about their plight through collaborative efforts. https://protectingafricanlions.org
  • Justice pour l’enfance: Providing crucial legal assistance to children in need across France, ensuring their rights are protected and their voices are heard. https://www.justicepourlenfance.org/
  • Malaika: Empowering girls and communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo through education, community programs, clean water initiatives, and sustainable agriculture. https://malaika.org/
  • The King Children’s Home: Offering a safe haven for abandoned and abused babies and young children in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, providing them with love and care.
  • Mighty Under Dog: Harnessing the healing power of ocean therapy to build confidence in children with special needs through surfing. https://www.malibu.org/list/member/mighty-under-dogs-3088

DEF (Decentralized Entity Foundation)

DEF (https://defoundation.ch/) is a Swiss Foundation created in 2020 dedicated to represent DAOs, owns DAOlink Sarl, who was part of The DAO, and will once again use DAOlink to launch the Cecil The Lion DAO.

DEF has been granted the authorization to run 14 nodes in the G1 data center NNS Dapp and will use those funds for developments within the DAO dedicated to humanitarian projects.

Funding

In order to provide sustainable support for the diverse portfolio of humanitarian projects, we leverage multiple funding streams to maximize our reach.

  • The DAO strategically operates 14 ICP nodes through the Decentralised Entities Foundation. The revenue generated from these nodes managed by the Decentralised Entities Foundation and will be used to fund maintenance and development of the Cecil DAO platform and Cecil AI Agent.
  • A truly transformative moment came with a remarkable 300 million OGY donation from the ORIGYN Foundation. These tokens will be staked for a period of five years, creating a substantial and reliable source of long-term financial support, channeling directly to the already supported projects.
  • The funds from the SNS launch will be used to support initiatives by the supported projects in different shares. The DAO will use 50% of the SNS donation to directly support the Akashinga organization, and the 50% remaining will go as an endowment to Cecil AI Agent.
  • Generous donations from philanthropists, impact investors, and everyday individuals driven by a desire to make a difference form a cornerstone of our funding.

It’s crucial to understand that the Cecil DAO token is not designed for speculation or profit. Instead, it serves as a powerful symbol of your commitment to a good cause, a tangible representation of your participation in a global community dedicated to positive change. By holding the token, you’re not just an investor; you’re a stakeholder in our shared mission, a partner in our efforts to build a more just and compassionate world. Join us, and together, we can honor Cecil’s memory by making a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Token Supply and Distribution

Cecil’s total token supply at the Token Generation Event (TGE) is set at a fixed 1 million tokens. The distribution of these tokens highlights the project’s dedication to both security and equitable access:

  • 3% for SNS Swap: A portion of tokens is dedicated to the SNS (Service Nervous System) swap, allowing for token purchases with Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) tokens. The SNS swap has a minimum target of 3,000 ICP and a maximum target of 300,000 ICP. Of these Cecil tokens, 50% are locked for three years, fostering long-term commitment, while the remaining 50% are available for immediate liquidity.
  • 3% for Origyn Foundation and Decentralized Entities Foundation: Another 3% is allocated to the two foundations in exchange for a donation of 300 million OGY tokens and development support. This donation aligns Cecil’s goals with charitable initiatives, with half of the Cecil tokens locked for three years and the rest available immediately.
  • 94% Treasury Allocation: The majority of Cecil’s token supply (94%) resides in the treasury, managed by the DAO and under the governance of token holders, rather than allocated to team or advisors, ensuring the funds remain community-driven.
  • No team, no advisors, and no VC allocation.

Governance Structure

Cecil DAO is governed through a system that emphasizes active participation and the influence of long-term stakeholders. Key elements of the governance model include:

  • Voting Power and Stake Requirements: The governance model is based on staked tokens, granting voting power without traditional staking rewards. This means that Cecil token holders gain influence through their active participation in governance rather than passive staking income, ensuring that only engaged members shape the future of the DAO.
  • Age-Based Voting Power: Long-standing neurons (over three years old) are rewarded with a 200% age-based bonus in voting power. This feature incentivizes sustained involvement, further discouraging transient participants.
  • Proposal and Rejection Costs: To promote thoughtful governance and discourage spamming, each proposal requires a commitment of 1 Cecil token, which is forfeited if the proposal is rejected. This ensures a high standard for proposals and reinforces serious governance.

Cecil DAO’s tokenomics embody a deliberate balance between sustainable financial management, community engagement, and social impact. Through its governance-focused design, the DAO fosters a committed community while advancing charitable goals. As Cecil DAO evolves, this unique model offers insights into the future of DAOs that prioritize both decentralization and purposeful growth. The blend of governance, treasury oversight, and cross-chain compatibility positions Cecil DAO as a forward-thinking player in the decentralized finance ecosystem, showcasing how blockchain technology can drive positive change.

Token SNS launch details

Token

  • Token symbol: CECIL
  • Token name: Cecil The Lion DAO
  • Transaction fees: 0.01 CECIL

Governance

  • Minimum dissolve delay: 3 years
  • Maximum dissolve delay: 3 years
  • Dissolve bonus: 0%
  • Age bonus duration: 3 years
  • Max age bonus: 200%
  • Minimum stake: 0.1 CECIL
  • Proposal rejection fee: 1 CECIL
  • Reward rate: 0%

SNS launch

  • Min ICP target: 3’000 ICP
  • Max ICP target: 300’000 ICP
  • Min contribution: 3 ICP
  • Max contribution 30’000 ICP
  • Min participants: 3
  • No neuron fund contribution

Useful links:

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Hello @CecilDAO team,

  1. Do you have any open-source code? Specifically for dapp canister 3x5sf-taaaa-aaaah-aq33q-cai?

  2. Why do developer neurons have 50 percent of voting power distribution?

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GM Jennifer, thanks for your question! I’m Yulin, leading the tokenomics design for Cecil DAO.

Cecil DAO SNS hasn’t allocated any tokens to VCs, the team members, or advisors as it is a humanitarian DAO. There is no financial incentive, but functionality and governance matters. The 50% voting power you mentioned is given to the Origyn Foundation in exchange for their donation of 300 million locked OGY tokens.
Moreover, ORIGYN foundation has already made donation to five projects listed on the Cecil DAO website and it is part of the team behind Cecil initiative. The 300 miilions OGY are worth over a million dollars at today’s price. We are starting to discuss with several ICP SNS projects about doing something similar, where they could swap their locked native tokens for locked Cecil tokens and participate with us in this journey.
Origyn will also airdrop Cecil Tokens to people interested in Cecil DAO in the future. It could be for example the 8-year ICP staking members who showed their long-term commitment to ICP. This way, the voting power of the ORIGYN Foundation will gradually dilute over time. The goal is to start somewhere and to protect the DAO from any potential threat or attack at the beginning.
Hope this clears things up!

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Wow, the original architect of ICP tokenomics is part of this project. That’s awesome.

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Thank you for your questions @jennifertran. Regarding the first one, all code is open-sourced in our Github. The code specific to the canister you mentioned, is the code for the canister we refer to as sns_neuron_controller. That will be the canister holding the 300 million OGY from the donation of the ORIGYN foundation. This is the direct path to the code of this canister.

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Thank you for the clarification.

Can you please confirm that you are only open-sourcing the neuron controller? How about the other projects that you are building such as the AI agent?

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Which developer principals belong to ORIGYN? Wouldn’t it make sense for you to require a vesting period for ORIGYN?

- principal: vv54r-acuwj-wa5hz-ghytt-geecq-lt7oy-3u5we-myzpw-cylzp-uebfs-mqe
      stake: 7_500 tokens
      memo: 0
      dissolve_delay: 0 years
      vesting_period: 0 years
- principal: vv54r-acuwj-wa5hz-ghytt-geecq-lt7oy-3u5we-myzpw-cylzp-uebfs-mqe
      stake: 7_500 tokens
      memo: 1
      dissolve_delay: 3 years
      vesting_period: 0 years
- principal: nouv5-jovae-aqzq2-4ixng-ik7qt-ivwzu-gd6i7-bxohu-u4zpq-gcz2i-iqe
      stake: 7_500 tokens
      memo: 0
      dissolve_delay: 0 years
      vesting_period: 0 years
- principal: nouv5-jovae-aqzq2-4ixng-ik7qt-ivwzu-gd6i7-bxohu-u4zpq-gcz2i-iqe
      stake: 7_500 tokens
      memo: 1
      dissolve_delay: 3 years
      vesting_period: 0 years
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Can you please confirm that you are only open-sourcing the neuron controller? How about the other projects that you are building such as the AI agent?

We are only handing over the sns_neuron_controller at the time of the SNS launch. However, the plan is to also open source and handover the AI agent and other future projects once they have been developed.

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Hi Jennifer, following your suggestion, vesting period is adjusted to show the long-term commitment. Here is the PID for Origyn: nouv5-jovae-aqzq2-4ixng-ik7qt-ivwzu-gd6i7-bxohu-u4zpq-gcz2i-iqe

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Really positive to see ICP doing it’s first humanitarian DAO. Hopefully there can be many more in the future.

:lion:

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Update on this topic: the 300 million OGY have been received from the ORIGYN Foundation and staked in a 5 year neuron. These are in control of the production sns_neuron_controller canister itz44-maaaa-aaaae-qcszq-cai. The sns_init file has been updated accordingly to match the canister ID for the handover during the SNS launch.

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We’ve submitted the proposal to launch the SNS!

We’re looking forward to see your votes and would like to highlight again that we are not asking for any neurons’ fund contributions! All the raised funds will go to the supported projects and development of the Cecil AI agent.

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Of course there is. You’re talking about governance over the management and allocations of funds…

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You could apply that argument to any SNS. The main reason for decentralising is for security. 50% VP at genesis has been sufficient reason for SNS rejections in the past. Why should that not be the case here?

How will this be organised? Where will the funds get transferred to? Will it get converted to fiat before it goes to this charity? Who will be managing this? How can participants in this DAO have confidence that the funds arrive with this charity? How can the DAO have confidence that the recipient is legitimately a charity? Why is this the chosen charity and who made this choice?

Thanks

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Hi Lorimer, thank you for raising these important points. I’ll do my best to address them, and my colleagues may be able to add further insights.
When we say there is “no financial incentive,” we mean that the funds raised are not allocated to the team or advisors, nor do they receive any token allocations. This is purely a charitable effort on our part, which we believe is quite rare among SNS projects.
Our primary concern is safeguarding these funds from potential attacks or misuse. We fully understand the importance of decentralization, and that’s precisely why we are actively engaging with other SNS projects for token swaps—similar to what Origyn has done. This helps distribute voting power more fairly while strengthening security.
Thanks again for your thoughtful questions!

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Thanks for your response. It sounds like what you’re saying is - we’re good people doing good work, so there’s no need for the normal precautions, you should just trust us.

If that’s the case I’ll plan to reject this proposal shortly. I’m sorry if this comes across as harsh. There’s no place for this sort of reasoning in crypto, or it begs the question of what the point of orchestrating things on chain is in the first place.

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Please wait, I am sending some infos, I found you a bit sever and a bit fast, to judge a DAO which is not asking for community fund and has received an important grants from ORIGYN … which has a solid team and references if you would take the time to make a DD, who are you and what have you done to help… I would not judge you so fast… give some time… anyway read this first part… now I have to go but will answer all your questions as not only a matter of principal for before all for the community :

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Thank you for raising these important points—I’m grateful for the opportunity to address them fully. My response will be lengthy, so please bear with me, but I promise it will be enlightening. I am behind the launched of The Cecil DAO and selected its initial charity beneficiaries. It took me 6 years as per my tweet: https://x.com/bochslerfinance/status/1146729161832181761?s=12&mx=2

Before diving into the details of my reasoning and process, I owe the ICP community a transparent explanation of who I am. This will also serve as a thorough due diligence for Cecil.
My name is Gian Bochsler. The 25 October 2016, I helped Dominic establish the foundation behind the Internet Computer (ICP). He needed two trusted Swiss citizens alongside him as co-founders, as Swiss law requires three founding members to create a foundation. Let me be clear: Dominic is the sole visionary and architect of ICP. My role, together with Alexis Vera, was to secure the foundation’s initial capital from a clear and legitimate source. That day, Dominic, Alexis, and I signed the foundation’s statutes, appointing its first council: Dominic as president, Michael Niederer as secretary, and Cedric Waldburger as a member.
A year later, as the complexities of cryptocurrency—taxes, legalities, and banking—intensified, Dominic asked me to join the council, replacing Michael and Cedric. I accepted and served until October 23, 2024. After eight years—a symbolically significant tenure—I stepped down to pursue entrepreneurial path started with Bochsler Finance 25 years ago. Today, I remain an advisor to Dominic, a dear friend whose extraordinary vision I continue to support wholeheartedly. I’m committed to contributing to the ICP ecosystem to the best of my ability.
Beyond ICP, I’ve been involved in several ventures. I’m a co-founder and the first architect behind ORIGYN and GoldDAO, both now led by talented and capable teams who’ve taken the reins. I also founded BITY.com in 2014, one of Switzerland’s first two crypto brokers. My journey with decentralized organizations dates back to The DAO, The DAO — Wikipédia where I was one of the curator next to Vitalik and Vlad https://x.com/gianbochsler/status/755710148342153217?s=52
I was captivated by its concept and philosophy, but as history (and Laura Shin’s excellent book The Cryptopians) recounts, it didn’t unfold as planned. BITY played a key role during that saga, aiding in the redistribution efforts and supporting the White Hat and Robin Hood counterattacks. It was during this turbulent time that I met Dominic—a turning point that shaped much of what followed.
Inspired by these experiences, I later founded the Decentralized Entity Foundation (DEF) https://defoundation.ch/ , dedicated to advancing DAOs. Here’s the crux, Lorimer: DAOs thrive in the digital realm, but bridging them to the physical world introduces significant challenges—theory meets practice, tangled with regulation. This passion for connecting these two worlds led me to create ORIGYN, focused on real-world assets (RWA), and GoldDAO, which deals with physical gold. It’s a complex endeavor, navigating a maze of regulatory requirements. Without ORIGYN’s RWA framework, GoldDAO wouldn’t exist—this is why ORIGYN committed 500 million OGY to GoldDAO. Physical gold is a compelling use case, and the connection runs deep: I was born in Neuchâtel, home to the ORIGYN Foundation, METALOR (the world’s largest gold refiner), and the global watchmaking industry.
DEF plays a critical role as an agent for DAOs in the physical world. As a foundation, it has no shareholders; its ultimate “controller” is its mission. To ensure accountability, it’s overseen by two independent auditors, one is a federal supervisory body, verifying that the council adheres to its goals and that its finances align with its activities. GoldDAO is officially represented by DEF through a vote in the SNS, and the same structure will apply to Cecil. DEF can, for instance, hold titles or shares on behalf of a DAO, with the flexibility for either party to terminate the mandate.
As for Cecil DAO, it will receive a 300 million OGY donation—a commitment rooted in the vision of ORIGYN’s three founders. Since 2022, we’ve pledged to balance profit-driven initiatives with charitable contributions. Cecil’s death struck me deeply; I couldn’t fully explain why, but it stirred something in me. I felt compelled to act. That’s when I learned about the Akashinga, a group of remarkable women from Zimbabwe—where Cecil lived—whose story is now well-documented. These fierce defenders of wildlife embody the lion’s spirit, fighting poachers, elephant killers, and more. I’m convinced that if Cecil could return, he’d manifest as one of them, standing tall against those threats.
Lorimer, this is just the first part of my explanation. I’ll post the second part tomorrow to address your specific questions in detail. Unfortunately, it’s 9 p.m. here in Zurich, and I must wrap up for now. Stay tuned for part two—I promise it’s worth the wait!

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Thanks @Gian, this is interesting context and I applaud what you’ve been doing. I don’t think what you’ve written addresses any of my concerns though. Personally I don’t think it should come down to what someone says (or we wouldn’t need the SNS framework in the first place). Just in case, I’ll await the second part of your post before I vote. In any case, I’m just one voter (I suspect there is sufficient complacency in the community as a whole for this proposal to be adopted in any case).

If you’re able to provide verifiable info about the 50% VP principals, and show that these themselves are decentralised, this would completely change my perspective.

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I’ll respond to all your inquiries, but this isn’t just for you—I’m sharing it here for the whole community to demonstrate our dedication, clarify, and educate on often-misunderstood topics. DAO Cecil offers a major chance for ICP to shine beyond our inner circle, and my detailed reply will unveil the full vision, including the key players, my role, its origins, the initial partners, and the reasoning behind the chosen charities as the governance. I plan to post part 2 by Friday morning. Thanks again, Lorimer, for your question that has enriched the discussion and helped everyone grasp what’s unfolding—stay tuned!

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Hi @Gian . Thank you for the very interesting background that you’ve provided. I’d really like to support this project—it seems like such a great concept—but I’d also like to see more details of how this will all work.

You’ve done a terrific job of answering this question:

but I’d really like to see point-by-point answers to the other 7 questions that @Lorimer has asked. Succinct and well-focused answers would be best, with links to evidence as distinct from statements of goodwill. For instance, if you have auditors then can you point us to some of their reports? If I think of further questions myself I’ll add them in. With all due respect, if you have the information at hand then these shouldn’t take very long to answer and I’m not sure why we need to wait a full extra day for this.

This concept would make for a terrific charitable foundation but I’m keen to hear in concrete terms how the SNS structure would help it. I look forward to hearing more.

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