---
type: source
title: "Futardio: Fund Futarchy applications research — Dr. Robin Hanson, George Mason University"
author: "futard.io"
url: "https://www.metadao.fi/projects/metadao/proposal/Dt6QxTtaPz87oEK4m95ztP36wZCXA9LGLrJf1sDYAwxi"
date: 2026-03-20
domain: internet-finance
format: data
status: processed
tags: [futarchy, solana, governance, metadao]
event_type: proposal
derived_items:
  - "decisions/internet-finance/metadao-fund-futarchy-research-hanson-gmu.md"
---

## Proposal Details
- Project: MetaDAO
- Proposal: Fund Futarchy applications research — Dr. Robin Hanson, George Mason University
- Status: Pending
- Created: 2026-03-20
- URL: https://www.metadao.fi/projects/metadao/proposal/Dt6QxTtaPz87oEK4m95ztP36wZCXA9LGLrJf1sDYAwxi
- Description: Fund Futarchy applications research — Dr. Robin Hanson, George Mason University

## Content

Author: Proph3t and Kollan

Category: Operations Direct Action

Proposed period: 6 Months: April – September 2026 (tentative on final grant agreement)

Budget: $80,007 USDC

---

### Summary

This proposal requests $80,007 USDC from the MetaDAO treasury to fund a six-month academic research engagement at George Mason University. Led by Dr. Robin Hanson — the economist who invented futarchy — this project will produce the first rigorous experimental evidence on the information-aggregation efficiency of decision-market governance, directly validating or challenging the theoretical basis on which MetaDAO operates. 

A positive market outcome will authorize treasury disbursement and delegate authority to the MetaDAO director to execute a contract with GMU to initiate the engagement.

How and why this benefits MetaDAO and META token holders

* Legitimacy  
  * Results will anchor MetaDAO's governance claims — a differentiator vs. competing platforms  
      
* Protocol improvement  
  * Experimental data will identify potential design weaknesses in current Futarchy mechanics, enabling targeted upgrades  
      
* Ecosystem growth  
  * Published findings will attract and support institutional adopters and projects evaluating the Futarchy Management tool on Solana  
    

### Scope of work

The research team will design and run controlled experiments with 500 student participants (500@$50 each, $25,000 total) in structured decision-making scenarios. All protocols will undergo Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. Dr. Daniel Houser (experimental economics) will participate as co-investigator. A graduate research assistant will handle programming, recruitment, data collection, and analysis across the full academic year and summer.

### Budget Allocation

| Item | Amount (USDC) |
| :---- | ----: |
| Dr. Robin Hanson — 2 months summer salary | \~$30,000 |
| Dr. Daniel Houser — Co-investigator (0.85% AY \+ summer) | \~$6,000 |
| Graduate research assistant — full AY \+ summer | \~$19,007 |
| Participant payments (500 @ $50) | $25,000 |
| Total | $80,007 |

### Risks and Mitigations

The primary risk is that experimental results challenge some assumptions underlying futarchy — this is a feature, not a bug. Regardless, MetaDAO benefits from honest/accurate data either way. 

A secondary risk is IRB or recruitment delays; the GRA timeline includes buffer for both. 

We propose funds to be disbursed in two payments (subject to the final grant agreement): 50% on agreement execution, 50% upon delivery of the interim report, giving the DAO a natural checkpoint.

### Onchain action

Upon passing the program will authorize a treasury transfer of $80,007 USDC. In the event that George Mason University is unable to accept cryptocurrency payments, the MetaDAO servicing entity is authorized to convert the approved USDC to USD and execute a cash payment to GMU in the full amount of $80,007, with any conversion or transfer fees borne by the MetaDAO treasury. No further governance action required.

### Supporting Documentation

[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MBStw8sAwjn7_cdoufQ-ooJjt4_nKY4o?usp=drive_link](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MBStw8sAwjn7_cdoufQ-ooJjt4_nKY4o?usp=drive_link)

## Raw Data

- Proposal account: `Dt6QxTtaPz87oEK4m95ztP36wZCXA9LGLrJf1sDYAwxi`
- Proposal number: 2
- DAO account: `CUPoiqkK4hxyCiJcLC4yE9AtJP1MoV1vFV2vx3jqwWeS`
- Proposer: `tSTp6B6kE9o6ZaTmHm2ZwnJBBtgd3x112tapxFhmBEQ`
- Autocrat version: 0.6
