Echelon, also known as the Echelon Prime Foundation, is a non-profit organization that has established a game economy within the web3 ecosystem on Ethereum and works on advancing Play-to-Earn (P2E) economies through a community-driven structure and an open-source methodology. ^[1][2]

They are currently working on the Parallel TCG and Parallel Colony. ^[2]

Overview

Echelon is a non-profit organization committed to constructing and fostering a gaming and Play-to-Earn (P2E) ecosystem for game developers. Utilizing an ERC-20 token called PRIME and web3 tools within the Echelon ecosystem, the foundation operates as an ecosystem and toolset dedicated to supporting the decentralized innovation of gaming within a community-led environment. ^[5]

Echelon's decentralization encompasses an infrastructure, including the PRIME token, designed to animate the ecosystem of games. The foundation makes PRIME and P2E-focused development tools accessible to the ecosystem, with the community playing a significant role in determining its direction. Community-elected leaders, known as Emissary Primes, will eventually run the foundation when the governance platform becomes available, placing the future of PRIME and the Echelon ecosystem in the hands of the community or elected leaders. ^[5]

Echelon aims to build a platform with limited-supply PRIME tokens structuring resource allocation, smart contracts, and NFT issuance protocols for scarce in-game resources. The PRIME token facilitates the progressive decentralization of the Echelon ecosystem and encourages broad community participation through skill-based emissions in a P2E economy. ^[5]

Ecosystem

Echelon's distinctive ecosystem, featuring the PRIME token economy, is crafted to lay the groundwork for an innovative gaming and collecting environment that supports Play-to-Earn (P2E) mechanisms. The technological structure, token economy, and governance modules within Echelon deliver value to three key stakeholder groups: ^[5]

• Ecosystem Managers: PRIME holders play a role in determining community treasury allocations, auditing system smart contracts, and electing foundation members. The Echelon Prime Foundation, governed by a board of elected members who stake PRIME for candidacy and as slashable collateral to promote responsible behavior, holds overall supervision of the Echelon Prime Foundation. Their responsibility includes ensuring the execution and finalization of decisions made through community-based processes. ^[5]
• Players and Collectors: Approximately 30% of the initial PRIME token supply, with the potential for additional distribution through sink redistribution, can be earned through a Play-to-Earn (P2E) model based on skill emissions. This pool supports P2E gaming initiatives that utilize the PRIME token and the Echelon smart contract ecosystem. PRIME holders enjoy various benefits within the ecosystem, such as governance rights, priority access to NFT sales, and additional perks. ^[5]
• Content Producers: Entities developing within the Echelon ecosystem can utilize Echelon's smart contracts and overall ecosystem. To foster a cohesive environment and alleviate development costs, projects within this ecosystem are encouraged to make their assets and intellectual property (IP) interoperable and accessible to each other. This approach supports a unified ecosystem where collaboration and shared resources contribute to mutual benefits. ^[5]

Parallel TCG

Parallel TCG is a science fiction-themed trading card game. Beta access began in July 2023. Players can utilize PRIME in Parallel through designated products and experiences known as PRIME Sinks and earn the token within Parallel through gameplay. ^[3]

Parallel Colony

Parallel Colony is a simulation game where players collaborate with an AI Avatar to manage a mining colony. Each avatar controls a 6551 wallet, signifying ownership of digital assets, including ERC 1155s and PRIME tokens. ^[4]

Technology

Games within the Echelon ecosystem can access various technologies the Echelon Prime Foundation provides. These technologies are accessible to members of the Echelon ecosystem through the utilization of Echelon's software tools and Software Development Kits (SDKs). ^[5]

Inb0x

Inb0x is a messaging tool created for web3 applications. It employs end-to-end encryption to enable secure communication to and from Ethereum addresses. Users can connect to inb0x using their MetaMask wallet (with additional wallet options expected in the future), engage in conversations with the owner of a specific wallet, make offers on NFTs, and utilize ENS to contact wallets through their associated ENS address. ^[5]

PR[SYS]

The pack reservation system, PR[SYS], is a proprietary NFT distribution mechanism. This system allows projects issuing NFTs to manage orders distinctively, minimizing the impact on the Ethereum network. PR[SYS] aims to enhance the user experience by reducing "gas wars" and bot purchases. In the production environment, this has resulted in a more efficient on-chain transfer process decoupled from the asset reservation, completed within 24 hours of reservation. This process significantly lowers gas costs and increases certainty for those with reservations during gas spikes. The PR[SYS] workflow involves reservation, payment, reveal, and distribution: ^[6]

1. Reservation: Users reserve a limited number of NFTs through a web page. PR[SYS] guides users to the reservation page if the requested NFTs are unavailable.
2. Payment: After reservation, users enter a payment queue. When their turn arrives, they can submit the payment transaction.
3. Reveal: Upon successful payment, users can view the purchased NFTs.
4. Distribution: PR[SYS] automates the NFT distribution to users' Ethereum wallets in waves, minimizing network impact. In future drops, purchasers may claim their NFTs at their convenience, incurring gas costs. PR[SYS] incorporates on-chain randomization with Chainlink collaboration to ensure the random distribution of card packs. Other projects can utilize PR[SYS] for their drops, but a fee in PRIME is required. PR[SYS] undergoes continuous updates to counteract bot attacks and undesirable outcomes.

Faucet

The Faucet serves as an additional method for distributing NFTs. Users with access to the Faucet can acquire an NFT by paying a gas fee to initiate the transaction. Upon activation, the Faucet randomly allocates one NFT from a pre-defined set. ^[5]

Game Oracles

Echelon relies on game oracles to observe a player's performance and NFTs within an on-chain ledger. The ledger then activates the emissions smart contract to distribute PRIME for victories while organizing data into APIs supporting the game. These APIs encompass details regarding wins, losses, and the overall player and NFT history. ^[6]

Dynamic Repricing Oracle

Echelon and projects within its ecosystem employ a dynamic repricing oracle to modify the pricing of PRIME Sinks, ensuring a balance between the supply of game rewards and the replenishment of sinks. Essentially, the price of PRIME Sinks is dynamically adapted to meet the replenishment needs of caching and game reward pools. ^[6]

Echelon Digital Assets

NFTs

Echelon-approved NFTs encompass all NFTs introduced by games within the Echelon ecosystem. Once games receive community approval through governance mechanisms, the NFT assets associated with those games attain Echelon-approved status. ^[5]

Primary NFTs

Certain NFT assets can be identified as Primary NFTs to initiate the Echelon ecosystem. These Primary NFTs receive additional benefits within various components of the Echelon ecosystem, including staking. The main purpose of Primary NFTs is to trigger the distribution of PRIME to NFT holders. ^[5]

Cornerstone NFTs

Projects within the Echelon ecosystem can designate specific assets as Cornerstone NFTs. These NFTs leverage Echelon staking contracts, contributing foundational value to the ecosystem through decentralized mechanisms. ^[5]

PRIMEsets

PRIMESets refer to collections comprising individual NFTs from a specific game or a group of games within the Echelon ecosystem. Changes or additions to PRIMESets can be made through community governance mechanisms. Additionally, PRIMESets have the option to be staked for continuous PRIME earnings. This staking pool is allocated 2% of the initial token distribution, emitted over 12-24 months. Long-term staking rewards will be consistently provided through PRIME sink redistribution. The total pool is evenly distributed among those staking each PRIMEset, effectively integrating the influence of a PRIMEset into the staking model. ^[5]

PRIME Token

PRIME serves as the utility token for Echelon and its array of games. It empowers token-gated products, services, and experiences known as PRIME Sinks. PRIME has a fixed supply of 111,111,111.111, and to ensure broad decentralization and distribution, it will be claimable by all owners of Echelon-approved digital assets. The initial distribution: ^[7]

• Gameplay Pool: 30%
• Investors: 16.24%
• Founding Team: 15.06%
• Caching: 14.1%
• Echelon Foundation Reserve: 10.996%
• Prime Events: 9%
• Parallel Studios Reserve: 4.6%

The PRIME token facilitates Play-to-Earn (P2E) economies for games developed within Echelon's ecosystem. The ecosystem will distribute a significant amount of the token supply through P2E mechanisms and allocate it to the initial game or games that utilize the ecosystem. PRIME holds various utilities within the Echelon ecosystem, such as acting as a payment method for accessing exclusive Echelon technologies and being used in in-game offerings (sinks) created by projects in the ecosystem. PRIME token holders can also govern the Echelon ecosystem by proposing or voting on governance changes. ^[5]

PRIME Rewards

Players acquire PRIME by participating in and succeeding in games within the Echelon ecosystem. The game results and various factors generate PRIME tokens for players. The allocation of PRIME among games mirrors the popularity and achievements of each Echelon-approved game. Other applications and tools aligned with Echelon's mission can also access reward pool distributions by introducing innovative PRIME Sinks. ^[6]

PRIME Sinks

PRIME Sinks are components embedded within games or projects in the Echelon ecosystem, requiring payment in PRIME tokens. These Sinks serve the purpose of supporting feature development for user engagement and replenishing the game reward pool. The pricing of Sinks may fluctuate in PRIME based on Oracle inputs. PRIME used in Sinks stays in circulation, undergoing redistribution into the game reward pool contract, caching contracts, and other functions, aiding in economic balance during scalability. Introducing a PRIME Sink within a project requires approval through an Echelon community governance vote before accessing the game reward pool. ^[6]

Live Sinks

• Artigraph - An Artigraph refers to a digitally signed Parallel card. When introduced into the game field in Parallel TCG, Artigraphs display their signature. Each card has a restricted number of signed versions.
• Payload - Utilize PRIME to acquire random Parallel cards, ranging from common cards to rare assets.
• Echos - Employ PRIME to generate 'Echos,' which are NFTs reproduced from FE, SE, and PL cards. While not mandatory for playing Parallel, Echos are crucial in expanding limited NFTs to accommodate an increasing player base. NFTs are not obligatory for participating in Parallel but essential for earning PRIME through gameplay.
• Terminals - Terminals serve as a means of communication between the systems and outposts of each Parallel. The process involves using PRIME to refine Shard Fragments into Batteries, which are then used to activate Terminals. This activation results in the unveiling of unique in-game rewards.
• Avatars - Avatars represent distinctive characters from five factions referred to as Parallels. These fully rigged 3D models enhance engagement with the continually expanding Parallel universe. You can designate one as your profile picture, earn additional PRIME for TCG victories, and gain priority access to forthcoming experiences.
• Glints - Glints serve as a currency in Parallel TCG for non-NFT transactions. They can be obtained using PRIME or fiat.
• Cosmetics - Cosmetics in Parallel TCG include skins, emotes, and other digital collectibles designed to enhance your gaming experience. These items are purchasable solely with PRIME and have a limited availability, with no additional minting once the supply is capped. ^[8]

Future Sinks

• Card Lending - Players will pay a recurring fee in PRIME to borrow NFT cards for deck construction. Collectors can deposit NFT cards into a pool and will earn a portion of these fees.
• Bonds - Bonds will operate as a system for collective player economies, allowing members to lend NFT cards within the Bond without incurring borrowing fees. The cost of borrowed cards will be covered through a rake on gameplay emissions, with administrators able to set and adjust rake percentages. Memberships will be exclusive, limiting individuals to be part of only one Bond at a time. The system allows skilled players to join Bonds with potentially lower rakes, as prosperous borrowers may lead to lenders taking a smaller percentage for each win. The Bond system will involve sinking PRIME through upfront creation fees, ongoing maintenance fees, and a portion of rakes.
• Equipment - Players and collectors can use PRIME to extract fully rigged 3D gear from Parallel cards.
• Physical Cards - PRIME token holders can purchase real-life Parallel trading cards. ^[9]

Governance

Users with PRIME tokens can participate in governance through governance proposals and emissary prime elections.

• Governance proposals serve as a means to implement alterations within the Echelon ecosystem. The submission of a governance proposal requires a fee of 2 PRIME. The processing of governance proposals follows the outlined steps in the provided flowchart. ^[3]
• Emissaries Prime (EPs) are individuals selected by the community to act as representatives for PRIME holders and the Echelon ecosystem. They work with the community to improve the ecosystem and support Echelon's mission. ^[3]

The Echelon governance body, or Echelon Council, should comprise 11 members, each from distinct categories: player representation, game development studios, technical expertise, security expertise, economics expertise, and legal expertise. At least one community member should be included in each of these categories. ^[5]