Dodona's first module implements a query and dispute resolution mechanism grounded in the principle of "resolution": the oracle produces binding outcomes that parties have agreed in advance to accept. Currently live on Ethereum Sepolia testnet.
The oracle does not claim access to objective truth. Many real-world queries concern events whose "correct" answer depends on interpretation, framing, or contextual judgment, where honest and informed parties may legitimately disagree.
Like the ancient Delphic Oracle, Dodona serves as a coordination mechanism, providing credible, attributable focal points for resolution. This is analogous to a referee's decision: the call may not always be "correct," but it is final and accepted because the parties agreed to the rules in advance.
Petitioners submit queries through the web application at any time during an active month (Day 19–16). Each submission includes the query in a constrained format, an optional donation in ETH, and any additional context. Query hash and answer option hashes are recorded on-chain; plaintext is stored securely off-chain.
The attached donation enters escrow in the smart contract. It is not transferred to the protocol until an answer is published. The petitioner may increase the donation before the monthly freeze to raise priority.
On Day 17, the pending set for that cycle is frozen on-chain. Withdrawals and donation increases are disabled. The resolver then studies the finalized query set.
On Day 18, the resolver publishes answers or refusals on-chain. The resolver selects one of the options pre-committed by the petitioner: no free-form answers. This ensures cryptographic verifiability.
Upon publication, the donation is transferred to the protocol. From Day 19 onward, petitioners who did not receive an answer may withdraw their donation, increase it, or leave it to roll over.
Only structured queries with bounded answer spaces are accepted. The resolver cannot write free-form answers: they can only select from the options pre-committed by the petitioner.
The resolver reserves the right to refuse queries, mirroring the Delphic gatekeeping function. Refusals are not silent: they are published on-chain with reasoning, contributing to the protocol's evolving case law.
Open-ended queries, or those requiring inaccessible information
Queries that may conflict with applicable law or appear to facilitate illegal activity
Queries that may raise ethical concerns or appear likely to facilitate harm
Queries outside the protocol's defined competence domains
A donation does not purchase a guaranteed answer; it gives you access to the monthly review cycle and signals your interest in receiving a resolution. This design mirrors the Delphic accessibility model.
When volume exceeds capacity, queries with higher donations receive priority, analogous to the ancient Delphic practice of promanteia.
Donations fund ongoing research, development, and dissemination of results. No native token exists or is planned.
| Dimension | Dodona | Kleros | UMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Model | Single expert; reputational accountability | Schelling-point jurors; token-staked voting | Optimistic; challenge window with DVM escalation |
| Resolver Identity | Named, public (Giulio Caldarelli) | Anonymous jurors | Anonymous proposers; DVM token holders |
| Latency | Monthly cycle (deliberate) | Days to weeks (depends on appeals) | Hours (optimistic); days (disputed) |
| Economic Model | Donation-based; refundable if unanswered | Arbitration fees; juror staking rewards | Bond-based; dispute fees |
| Query Types | Structured (binary, MC, bounded range) | Open (jurors interpret evidence) | Binary or bounded |
| Chain Dependency | Agnostic; off-chain submission, on-chain publication | Ethereum-native (with bridges) | Ethereum-native (with L2 support) |
| Native Token | None. No token exists or is planned | PNK (staking & voting) | UMA (DVM voting) |
| Theoretical Grounding | Delphic procedural framework | Schelling focal points; game theory | Optimistic verification; mechanism design |
Module 1 is live on Ethereum Sepolia testnet. Connect your wallet and submit your first structured query.
Launch App →