Re: RUBI: A Self-Sovereign Identity-Based Retroactive UBI System - Seeking Community Feedback

ne 23. 3. 2025 v 16:26 odesílatel Nivas <nivas.cool@gmail.com> napsal:

> Thank you, Melvin, for your positive feedback on the RUBI proposal and for
> raising insightful questions. I’m glad you see value in the idea, and I’d
> like to address your queries below. See inline against your questions.
>
> Regards,
> Nivas
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 12:11 AM Melvin Carvalho <melvincarvalho@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> út 18. 3. 2025 v 20:17 odesílatel <nivas.cool@gmail.com> napsal:
>>
>>> Dear W3C-CCG Community,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I hope you’re doing well.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I wanted to share an idea that intersects Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI),
>>> decentralized governance, and Universal Basic Income (UBI): Retroactive
>>> Universal Basic Income (RUBI). I have attached a one-page explanation of
>>> the concept, breaking down the mechanics.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *What is RUBI?*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> RUBI is a framework that proposes a globally governed, open-source
>>> monetary system where:
>>>
>>>    - Personhood credentials (SSI-based) ensure UBI eligibility while
>>>    preventing fraud.
>>>    - Democratic governance enables citizens to vote on UBI rates and
>>>    demurrage policies.
>>>    - Retroactive UBI ensures individuals receive compensation based on
>>>    their birthdate, correcting past economic exclusion.
>>>    - Interoperable and competing digital currencies operate with
>>>    open-source governance to prevent speculation.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Seeking Community Feedback*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I would love to hear your thoughts on any aspect of this concept,
>>> whether from a technical, governance, economic, or interoperability
>>> perspective.
>>>
>>> Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
>>>
>>>    - The feasibility of integrating SSI-based personhood verification
>>>    into such a system.
>>>    - Political possibilities of making such a system come to reality.
>>>    - Design considerations for privacy.
>>>    - Potential alignment with existing decentralized identity
>>>    frameworks or monetary governance models.
>>>    - Broader implications and challenges of a retroactive UBI approach
>>>    within a decentralized ecosystem.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I understand that UBI itself can be a controversial topic, and I welcome
>>> discussions on its feasibility, having worked with the International
>>> Movement for Monetary Reform (IMMR) on sovereign monetary policies.
>>> However, I wanted to keep this conversation focused on the identity,
>>> governance, and interoperability aspects. If anyone is interested, I’d be
>>> happy to elaborate on the economic rationale separately.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Why I’m Sharing This Here*
>>>
>>> As someone early in my career and transitioning from a technical
>>> background into public policy, I want to ensure that I take a well-informed
>>> approach in integrating governance and identity frameworks into broader
>>> economic systems. I greatly value the experience and insights of this
>>> community and would appreciate any perspectives—whether on feasibility,
>>> challenges, or alternative approaches—that could help refine this idea.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I would also like to extend special thanks to Manu and Harrison, who
>>> encouraged me to step forward and participate in this discussion rather
>>> than hesitating. Their encouragement means a lot.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
>>>
>>
>> Seems like a good idea.
>>
>> Does it apply only to countries?
>>
>> NS: RUBI is designed to be flexible and not limited to nation-states. We
> can certainly introduce regional RUBIs, which can apply to any
> participating region- whether a country, a group of countries (e.g., the
> Eurozone), or even sub-national entities.
>

Great!


>
>
>> It didnt seem obvious why to retroactively do it according to birth date.
>>
>
> NS: The retroactive design, tied to birthdate, ensures equitable wealth
> distribution by addressing past economic exclusion. As explained in my
> response to Manu (NS: Response 4), RUBI currencies are allocated based on
> the number of days lived—a fair metric that reflects each individual’s
> lifetime, ensuring those who have lived longer receive compensation for
> historical inequities. This creates an effect as if RUBI had existed since
> inception, promoting fairness at a human level. (In simple terms, we are
> fixing the past as well from the present).
>

Makes sense.  But then what about people that just died, or die during
application.


>
>> Does it discriminate against people that do not join the system in such a
>> way as to make it unfair?
>>
>
> NS: RUBI aims to be inclusive, but I acknowledge the fairness challenge
> for non-participants, as noted in Scenario 4. Regions or individuals not
> joining the system (e.g., due to geopolitical constraints) can’t claim
> RUBI, which raises equity concerns. Scenario 2.2 mitigates this by
> collaborating with the World Bank’s ID4D initiative to include undocumented
> individuals (e.g., refugees) through alternative proofing, ensuring broader
> access. The long-term vision is to scale adoption globally, reducing
> exclusion over time.
>

I see this as problematic.  Because those that are for example illiterate
or the most vulnerable in society have increased likelihood of inclusion
possibly corrupting the whole system.


>
>> Did you think about a system where groups could get together and provide
>> themselves with a self-issued UBI then grow the group?
>>
>
> NS: But how do we ensure the accuracy of birth dates in this system,
> which is crucial for RUBI to work effectively?
>

So we need a system for sybil resistance.  Possibly social verification.
Im not 100% sold on backdating it to birth, it seems an arbitrary rule (not
saying it's wrong).  I can see the fairness.  But I also see the fairness
at starting upon an agreed upon, well-publicized date.


>
>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Nivas Sivaprakasam
>>> Exploring SSI & Monetary Reform for Global Inclusion
>>>
>>> Nivas Sivaprakasam | LinkedIn
>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nivas-sivaprakasam-57972128/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
> On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 12:11 AM Melvin Carvalho <melvincarvalho@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> út 18. 3. 2025 v 20:17 odesílatel <nivas.cool@gmail.com> napsal:
>>
>>> Dear W3C-CCG Community,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I hope you’re doing well.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I wanted to share an idea that intersects Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI),
>>> decentralized governance, and Universal Basic Income (UBI): Retroactive
>>> Universal Basic Income (RUBI). I have attached a one-page explanation of
>>> the concept, breaking down the mechanics.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *What is RUBI?*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> RUBI is a framework that proposes a globally governed, open-source
>>> monetary system where:
>>>
>>>    - Personhood credentials (SSI-based) ensure UBI eligibility while
>>>    preventing fraud.
>>>    - Democratic governance enables citizens to vote on UBI rates and
>>>    demurrage policies.
>>>    - Retroactive UBI ensures individuals receive compensation based on
>>>    their birthdate, correcting past economic exclusion.
>>>    - Interoperable and competing digital currencies operate with
>>>    open-source governance to prevent speculation.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Seeking Community Feedback*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I would love to hear your thoughts on any aspect of this concept,
>>> whether from a technical, governance, economic, or interoperability
>>> perspective.
>>>
>>> Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
>>>
>>>    - The feasibility of integrating SSI-based personhood verification
>>>    into such a system.
>>>    - Political possibilities of making such a system come to reality.
>>>    - Design considerations for privacy.
>>>    - Potential alignment with existing decentralized identity
>>>    frameworks or monetary governance models.
>>>    - Broader implications and challenges of a retroactive UBI approach
>>>    within a decentralized ecosystem.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I understand that UBI itself can be a controversial topic, and I welcome
>>> discussions on its feasibility, having worked with the International
>>> Movement for Monetary Reform (IMMR) on sovereign monetary policies.
>>> However, I wanted to keep this conversation focused on the identity,
>>> governance, and interoperability aspects. If anyone is interested, I’d be
>>> happy to elaborate on the economic rationale separately.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Why I’m Sharing This Here*
>>>
>>> As someone early in my career and transitioning from a technical
>>> background into public policy, I want to ensure that I take a well-informed
>>> approach in integrating governance and identity frameworks into broader
>>> economic systems. I greatly value the experience and insights of this
>>> community and would appreciate any perspectives—whether on feasibility,
>>> challenges, or alternative approaches—that could help refine this idea.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I would also like to extend special thanks to Manu and Harrison, who
>>> encouraged me to step forward and participate in this discussion rather
>>> than hesitating. Their encouragement means a lot.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
>>>
>>
>> Seems like a good idea.
>>
>> Does it apply only to countries?
>>
>> It didnt seem obvious why to retroactively do it according to birth date.
>>
>> Does it discriminate against people that do not join the system in such a
>> way as to make it unfair?
>>
>> Did you think about a system where groups could get together and provide
>> themselves with a self-issued UBI then grow the group?
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Nivas Sivaprakasam
>>> Exploring SSI & Monetary Reform for Global Inclusion
>>>
>>> Nivas Sivaprakasam | LinkedIn
>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nivas-sivaprakasam-57972128/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>