Dear Optimism Fractal community,
Following up on my previous message, I've created a proposal on the Optimism Fractal snapshot space to start Season 7 on January 22nd, 2026. While last week's draft proposed starting two weeks earlier, we discussed this at Eden Town Hall and agreed that the additional two weeks would better serve the community—providing more time for family, rest, and preparation. You can watch this discussion in this video.
The proposal above includes comprehensive context, rationale, and voting details. Voting will remain open until this week's event at 17:00 UTC on October 30th. The Optimism Fractal Council will vote on this proposal as per our intent document. Tagging @tadas as the only other councillor who registered in this period — please vote on the proposal here. Note that the proposal to start Eden Fractal Season 12 on January 15th was approved, so the usual biweekly cadence on the Optimystics Events Calendar would begin one week before Optimism Fractal returns.
Thank you all for an amazing season and two years so far! I'm excited to reconvene and celebrate our two-year anniversary on Thursday!
Draft Proposal for Optimism Fractal
Proposal: Start Optimism Fractal Season 7 on January 22nd, 2025
I propose that we officially begin Season 7 of Optimism Fractal on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026. Season 6 will end after its 12th event on November 13th, 2025. This proposal establishes our return date following the seasonal break and ensures we launch the new season with proper preparation and community energy.
Vote Yes for this proposal if you agree that Optimism Fractal should begin Season 7 on January 22nd, 2026.
Additional Context
Proposal Summary:
This proposal establishes January 8th, 2026 as the start date for Optimism Fractal Season 7, following a seasonal break after the November 13th event. This extended break allows contributors to enjoy the holiday season while providing time for thorough preparation and infrastructure development for the new season.
Seasonal Structure and Timing:
Optimism Fractal has successfully operated with 12-event seasons for over two years now, and this structure continues to serve our community well. Our current season will conclude with our November 13th event, after which we'll take a seasonal break through the holiday period. Returning on January 22nd provides a balanced approach — it gives our community several weeks of rest during the busiest holiday season while also ensuring we don't delay too long into the new year before rebuilding momentum.
Why January 22nd Specifically:
While our 12th event of Season 6 concludes on November 13th, it makes sense to come back on January 22nd in the new year for several reasons:
- It allows community members to fully enjoy the holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations, without the pressure of weekly events or community responsibilities.
- It provides adequate time for the Optimystics team to develop the narrative arc, branding, special initiatives, and infrastructure for Season 7 without having to work through the holidays. Every new season requires additional organizational work — creating new discussion threads, developing seasonal themes and storylines, updating infrastructure, and coordinating launch activities.
- It positions us to start the new calendar year with fresh energy and strong momentum. While this creates a longer break than we've had previously (approximately 10 weeks between Optimism Fractal events), this extended preparation time will enable us to launch Season 7 thoughtfully and thoroughly.
We originally considered a proposal to start Season 7 on January 8th, but discussed the schedule during last week’s Eden Town Hall and agreed that extending Optimism Fractal’s break to January 22nd is the better approach. You can watch this discussion here.
Preparation Benefits:
Every new season requires additional organizational work — creating new discussion threads, developing seasonal themes and storylines, updating infrastructure, and coordinating launch activities. The extended break period ensures we can handle all these preparation tasks thoughtfully and thoroughly, rather than scrambling to complete them during the final days of December when many people are traveling or celebrating with family.
Coordination with Eden Fractal:
Eden Fractal will begin its 12th Season on January 15th, one week before Optimism Fractal returns. This restart sequence on the Optimystics Events Calendar makes sense given that Eden Fractal is currently pioneering new consensus processes on the Superchain that require more immediate attention.
Community Activities During Break:
While Optimism Fractal won't hold official weekly events during this break period, community members are always welcome to organize informal gatherings, discussions, or experiments with the Fractal ecosystem if there's interest. The break from official programming creates space for rest while maintaining community connection in whatever ways feel organic and valuable.
Voting Process:
This proposal will be open for voting until our next Optimism Fractal event on October 30th. The current counselors can vote on this proposal as per our intents document. All community members are encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives.
Governance Context and Framework:
As with previous operational decisions, this proposal is brought to the Optimism Fractal Council to ensure our scheduling decisions reflect genuine community consensus. The Council, whose members are elected based on Respect earned through consistent participation in the Respect Game, represents the most democratic and meritocratic body available for guiding these decisions.
While hosting, organization, promotion, and production of Optimism Fractal events are executed by myself and the Optimystics, this approach reflects our governance philosophy where operational decisions seek alignment with community will as expressed through our democratic processes. By seeking Council approval for this seasonal proposal, we maintain the legitimacy that comes from community consent while ensuring practical decisions serve our collective interests.
The Optimism Fractal Council has successfully guided numerous operational decisions throughout our six seasons, demonstrating thoughtful governance that balances immediate community needs with long-term sustainability. Their consistent engagement with our events and deep understanding of contributor needs makes them uniquely qualified to advise on this scheduling decision.
How This Approach Benefits Our Community:
By maintaining democratic input on operational decisions like scheduling, we create sustainable governance patterns that can scale with our growth. The Council's approval helps ensure that break timing reflects the genuine needs of active contributors while maintaining our commitment to consistent, high-quality events that serve the broader Superchain ecosystem.
This governance approach also demonstrates to the wider Optimism Collective and Ethereum ecosystem how communities can make practical operational decisions through democratic processes, providing a model for other decentralized communities navigating similar scheduling, sustainability, and organizational challenges.
Conclusion:
I believe starting Season 7 on January 22nd sets Optimism Fractal up for a strong and successful 2026. This proposal represents a thoughtful approach to maintaining the long-term health and effectiveness of Optimism Fractal. Please share any questions, feedback, or suggestions you have.