Community Values
Since antiquity, the term Zion has represented a utopia, a fortress, and a harmonious sanctuary of peace and refuge. Fans of the Matrix may also recall Zion as humanity’s last bastion in a dystopian world ruled by artificial lifeforms.
Zion's core values echo those of its namesake:
- Decentralization: Decentralization requires consensus: no individual user can influence another’s experience on the network, so value is collectively defined. Instead of catering to algorithms or paying to promote posts, Zion users are equally incentivized to use the network in a way that others appreciate.
- Openness: Like the Bitcoin protocol itself, Zion is built on open source software. The code is publicly developed and constantly improved upon by a global collaboration of skilled programmers, ensuring dynamic alignment to the evolving needs and wants of the community. Open source code also tends to be simpler, more elegant and easier to maintain. We actively encourage anyone to lend their skills to contribute to the network.
- Digital Sovereignty: Each node acts as a secure, private server (accessible only by private key) that grants individuals absolute and irrevocable custody over their personal information. Because there is no entity using your data to manipulate what you see on the network, users only see the content they opt into. When you join Zion, you’re greeted with a blank slate — it’s up to you to curate the content you want to see.
- Privacy: Zion uses cryptography to defend your right to privacy. As the Cypherpunk’s Manifesto states, privacy isn’t secrecy — it’s “the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world.” The network is pseudonymous (you’re identifiable only by your public key), giving you absolute freedom to be whoever you want to be online.
- Global and Inclusive: Zion allows anyone to connect to the permissionless transaction functionality of the Lightning Network, enabling the exchange of content and payments across borders without the threat of surveillance, censorship, or interception by corporations or governments.
- Manila Principles: Zion has adopted the Manila Principles On Intermediary Liability, a digital bill of rights outlined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and endorsed by 300+ leaders and organizations. These principles are a guideline for protecting free expression and creating an open environment for innovation. We hope to incite a network effect of companies and organizations adopting the principles to further Internet freedom globally.
Last modified 3mo ago