Proof of Governance (PoG) Verification Tiers & Badges

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The "PoG Verified" program is a tiered verification system designed to provide a clear and accessible pathway for emerging organizations to establish their credibility and commitment to good governance. The framework is designed to democratize access to sophisticated governance, build marketplace trust, and create a secure, scalable ecosystem.

The program draws inspiration from established credibility models, such as the Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) accreditation and the X.com® Verified Organizations program, to distinguish legitimate projects from fraudulent schemes.

The program is structured into five tiers, each with increasing levels of verification requirements, commitment to governance, and corresponding benefits. Participants embark on a quest to elevate their standing within the PoG ecosystem, earning distinct levels ranging from Iron to Platinum. 

To align with the culture of the Web3 audience, PoG introduces a gamified badge system designed to resonate with the mindset of gamers and crypto enthusiasts. 

The governance journey is structured around progressive levels and badges, similar to a sophisticated gaming experience.

• Within each level (Iron to Platinum), there are 1 to 12 unique badges to be achieved.
• Each badge signifies a deeper level of validated governance and adherence to best practices.
• A key psychological driver is the ability to brag about accomplishments; each earned badge and achieved level serves as a public testament to an entity's integrity.
• The badge system incorporates seasonal themed tokens to keep the platform and client websites "fresh and alive" based on holidays.

The badges are implemented as SoulBound Tokens (SBTs), which are intrinsically linked to the verified entity and are non-transferable.

• Dynamic Image Building: The visual representation of the NFT badge will evolve as a project earns new achievements and completes verification milestones, providing an immediate visual indicator of progress.
• Dynamic Metadata Values: The metadata associated with the NFT badge is updated off-chain to reflect new achievements frequently and cost-effectively, as this approach does not require Solana gas fees for every change.
• Immutable Proof: The SBT NFT serves as an immutable, on-chain proof of the project's PoG verification status and acts as a permanent credential that cannot be sold, transferred, or duplicated.

To ensure trust and prevent fraud, every PoG verification badge can be authenticated through a Dual Verification System:

1. Database Verification: A real-time database maintains a record of all verified projects.
2. Blockchain Verification: Each authentic PoG verification is backed by an immutable SoulBound Token on the blockchain

The Proof of Governance (PoG) verification is structured as a governance journey where projects level up through a system of increasing scrutiny and commitment, moving from Iron to Platinum. To level up, the puzzles solved require your project must meet progressively stricter criteria across seven core verification categories, which are outlined in the detailed specifications for each tier. 

The level-up criteria are cumulative and require meeting all specifications of the target tier in the following major verification categories: 

 Looks and sounds complicated and boring.  With our solutions, that is not the case

 The entire process, from initial application to achieving a new level, follows a defined user journey:

1. Pre-Application Phase: The project performs an Initial Assessment and Tier Selection to determine the appropriate tier level to pursue based on its current structure and documentation.
2. Application and Verification Phase:
   
   • The project submits all required Document Submission Process (KYC/KYB, code, governance, etc.) for the new tier.
   • The information goes through an Automated Verification Pipeline that includes identity verification, risk assessment, and compliance checking using third-party APIs (like Jumio or Onfido).

1. Decision and Communication: PoG makes a decision and communicates it to the project.
2. SoulBound Token Issuance: Upon successful verification, a non-transferable SoulBound Token (SBT) NFT is issued or updated on the blockchain (e.g., Solana), which acts as the immutable, on-chain proof of the new verification status. The metadata on this badge is dynamically updated to reflect the new level.
3. Ongoing Monitoring: Even after leveling up, the project enters a continuous Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance Phase, where its compliance is continuously tracked via webhook-based blockchain activity and risk scoring. Status can be suspended or revoked if compliance is violated.