Code of Conduct (CoC) – Change Report (HSP-XXX v1.0)
Thank you to all the community members who participated in workshops and provided feedback on the Forum, as well as the Head of Governance, Screening Committee reviewers, and NEAR Foundation contributors who shaped this document. Special thanks to Bianca Guimaraes-Chadwick (NF Legal) for the legal-style consolidation draft and discussions.
Executive Summary
This Code of Conduct evolved from an HSP-format proposal [HSP-005] that was not advanced to a sensing vote, with multiple comments that shaped a new version, that was then reviewed by NEAR Foundation Legal, to incorporate final suggestions and reach the consolidated version here proposed (HSP-XXX v1.0), which is designed to be enforceable immediately without deferring value to future proposals. For the nature of changes made, this version is submitted as a new HSP.
The CoC feedback log contains 108 entries, of which 61 were adopted or partially adopted (~66%) based on the spreadsheet’s “Action Taken” field. The log reflects a mix of community workshops, moderator focus groups, GitHub/forum input, and internal drafting resolutions.
A key inflection point was the Screening Committee feedback that deferred HSP-005, because it led to addressing undefined topics and improving the CoC to deliver full end-to-end standalone value.
Key Changes in this version
Changes can be grouped into three primary themes:
1. Removing Governance Debt by the Code of Conduct Operable during progressive decentralization
A core change from HSP-005 to the final CoC is eliminating the “define later” approach to moderation and appeals that was explicitly flagged as insufficiently specified. (NEAR Forum)
This is reflected by:
- Proposing an immediately usable appeals pathway, where a temporary, case-limited Appeals Panel can be created by the Head of Governance for specific disputes.
- Covering moderation/enforcement standards so enforcement can function with installed capacity.
- Including the Head of Governance within the appointers and removers of moderators, as progressive decentralization advances.
2. Converting a Broad, Values-Heavy Draft Into a Rule-Based, Operational Standard
HSP-005 included broad pledge/values and expansive definitions with examples (NEAR Forum). The consolidated CoC shifts toward a tighter structure that reads as enforceable governance rules that:
- Reduce ambiguity by expressing the CoC primarily as “what is expected / prohibited” plus “how reporting/enforcement works,” rather than mixing policy narrative, examples, and future operational plans into the core text.
3. Strengthening Standards for Governance-Related Roles
The CoC preserves the idea that role-holders carry higher expectations, but expresses it as a practical governance constraint:
- Governance body members, delegates, moderators, and other role-holders are held to higher standards due to their influence.
- Disclosure of conflict of interest is placed as expected conduct for all stakeholders, with the Conflict of Interest Policy being enforceable to governance Body Members.
Conclusion
The final CoC v1.0 is shaped around a single execution goal: make behavioral accountability workable from day one. Compared to the earlier HSP-005 approach that deferred key mechanisms. The consolidated version improves readability, establishes clearer rules, clearer enforcement pathways, and practical moderation standards while remaining amendable as House of Stake governance matures.