The Desirable Properties
of a Meta-Layer

So much more is possible above the webpage than most have ever imagined. The desirable properties that we are co-creating will unlock billions of new interactions – each one an opportunity for exchange or creation of value.

The Categories of Desirable Properties

The Meta-Layer is guided by foundational properties that shape how it works, what it enables, and who it empowers. These six categories reflect the core capabilities the system must uphold—from identity and privacy to AI safety and community participation. Together, they form the architectural principles that ensure the Meta-Layer remains open, trustworthy, adaptable, and human-first.

Below are links to the aggregation of inputs for each desirable property (DP) from the 1st and 2nd Calls for Input and the link to the V0.3 drafts of the DPs on the Gov Hub.

For June through mid-August, we will have a 3rd Call for Input on the DPs. This will be conducted through comments on the Gov Hub and via the Canopi browser overlay. At the forthcoming Meta-Layer Summit (Sept 16, 2026), we will launch the Version 1.0 of the Desirable Properties of a Meta-Layer.

The Meta-Layer must enable verified, human-centered identity and agency. Participants should control their presence and be accountable for their actions, while governance anticipates complexity and adapts to emerging challenges.

Desirable Properties:
DP1 - Federated Authentication & Accountability Gov Hub
DP2 - Participant Agency and Empowerment Gov Hub
DP3 - Adaptive Governance Gov Hub

Authentication, Agency & Accountability

Sovereignty & Privacy

Participants must fully own their data, identity, and digital space. The Meta-Layer ensures sovereignty and privacy by design, including decentralized identifiers and persistent namespaces anchored in personal control.

Desirable Properties
DP4 - Data Sovereignty and Privacy Gov Hub
DP5 - Decentralized Namespace Gov Hub
DP6 - Commerce Gov Hub

The Meta-Layer should reduce friction and complexity while amplifying collaborative potential. It must enable developers, communities, and participants to move fluidly across domains, connected through shared tools and experiences.

Desirable Properties:
DP7 - Simplicity and Interoperability Gov Hub
DP8 - Collaborative Environment and Meta-Communities Gov Hub
DP9 - Developer and Community Incentives Gov Hub
DP10 - Education Gov Hub
DP21 - Multi-modal Gov Hub

Interoperability & Participant Experience

AI Governance & Safety

AI must operate within clear ethical and safety frameworks. Participants and communities must know when they’re interacting with AI, be able to contain its behavior, and ensure that its actions align with human-centered values.

Desirable Properties:
DP11 - Safe and Ethical AI Gov Hub
DP12 - Community-Based AI Governance Gov Hub
DP13 - AI Containment Gov Hub

Security, Transparency & Trust

Trust must be built into the Meta-Layer. That means secure infrastructure, transparent decision-making, and a roadmap designed with foresight and sustainability in mind. Systems should be auditable, verifiable, and open to public trust.

Desirable Properties
DP14 - Trust and Transparency Gov Hub
DP15 - Security and Provenance Gov Hub
DP16 - Roadmap and Milestones Gov Hub
DP17 - Financial Sustainability Gov Hub

Community Participation & Feedback

The Meta-Layer must be community-evolving. Through feedback, shared visibility, and decentralized ownership, contributors become co-creators. Participation is not an add-on—it’s foundational to growth, alignment, and resilience.

Desirable Properties:
DP18 - Feedback Loops and Reputation Gov Hub
DP19 - Amplifying Presence and Community Engagement Gov Hub
DP20 - Community Ownership Gov Hub