DUSTETHIC - THE COMPLETE GUIDE [2025-11-13]

French version: Le guide complet

Version: 1.1-draft
Date: 2025-11-13
Last updated: [2025-11-13]
Status: Phase 0 - Scoping document

Warning::

• Informational document - not financial or legal advice.
• Some capabilities depend on ERC-4337, paymasters and L2 usage.
• Reference amounts are expressed in crypto units. Fiat equivalents are for readability only.
• Transparency required: fee schedule (published tier), aggregation windows, supported networks, chosen gas option and campaign cap must be disclosed publicly.
• Campaign cap: gas + fee + technical reserve ≤ public threshold (e.g. 15%).

We reason in crypto units, not in fiat.
Amounts are counted in native units of the chain in use. Example: you donate 0.0100 ETH, the NGO receives 0.0090 ETH if the announced fee is 10%. This logic neutralises volatility in the split between actors. The fiat value remains floating until each party converts its share.
In this guide, fiat equivalents are provided for readability only.

• L2-first: operations are prioritised on low-fee L2s (e.g. Optimism, Arbitrum) so that gas cost stays marginal.
• Conditional execution: only execute when the ratio Aggregated donations / estimated gas reaches a favourable threshold T.
  • DustEthic v0.2 recommendation: T ≥ 30 by default (≈ 3% gas max before fees).
  • Example with a 7% fee: T ≈ 33 keeps ≈ 90% net for the NGO.
• Relayer gas pool: the relayer maintains a pool of the native gas token (e.g. ETH on L2 EVM). No conversion is made on donations to fund the fee.
• Optional safety net: if the gas pool is insufficient, a minimal, on-chain documented conversion may be triggered to buy gas token, without changing the distribution formula.
• Standard display:
  • Calculation formula: NGO net = Aggregated amount - reimbursed gas - relayer fee - technical reserve
  • Fee displayed as a percentage of the donated crypto (e.g. 7% in ETH if the donation is in ETH)
• Transparency: chosen gas option (gas pool, L2-first, safety net) and campaign cap (e.g. 15%) are disclosed publicly by each relayer.

• Core principle
• Gas policy v0.2 - default
• 1) The real problem today
• 2) The solution proposed by DustEthic
• 3) Realistic operational flow
• 4) Gas, conversions and design options
• 5) Volatility - principles and strategies
• 6) Actors and responsibilities
• 7) Donors - how it works
• 8) NGOs - integration, accounting, compliance
• 9) Relayers - minimum requirements for DustEthic v0.1
• 10) Market references and positioning
• 11) Roadmap
• 12) Join the project
• 13) Licence
• 14) Notes and references

• On Ethereum L1, gas fees are paid in ETH and can exceed small donations. On L2 they are much lower, but never zero.
• Several EVM L2s also use ETH as gas token (e.g. Arbitrum, Optimism). Polygon PoS uses POL following the MATIC→POL migration.
• As a result, an isolated micro-donation is often inefficient on L1, sometimes acceptable on L2, and depends heavily on network conditions.

Aggregation + on-chain transparency + splitting in crypto units:

• Relayers aggregate micro-donations over a limited period, then perform one grouped payout to the NGO.
• Splitting happens in crypto units, with gas reimbursed first and a published degressive fee schedule.
• A campaign cap is published: gas + fee + technical reserve ≤ public threshold (e.g. 15%).
• The NGO share and the fee are expressed as a percentage of the donated crypto, not a fiat equivalent.
• Traceability is ensured via public explorers (e.g. Etherscan for Ethereum).

Building blocks already exist:

• Account Abstraction ERC-4337 with paymasters to sponsor donor gas.
• EIP-2612 permit, when available, for approvals by signature without an on-chain approve transaction.

Step 1 - Donation

• Donation via AA smart account with paymaster: gas sponsored, donor does not pay directly.
• Donation via EOA + token with permit: approval without gas, then relayed donation.
• Donation via EOA + token without permit: a paid approval may be required, depending on the token.

Step 2 - Aggregation

• Donations are collected into an aggregation smart contract. Recommended triggers: amount threshold, maximum time window, acceptable gas window.

Step 3 - Grouped payout

• A single transaction sends the funds to the NGO.
• Standardised formula: NGO net = Aggregated amount - reimbursed gas - relayer fee - technical reserve

Step 4 - Public breakdown

• Donations, any conversions and the final payout can be inspected on the chain explorer.

Physical constraints: on EVM, gas is paid in the native token of the chain. Examples: ETH on Ethereum, Optimism, Arbitrum; POL on Polygon PoS.
To respect the principle “no donation conversion for the fee”, DustEthic v0.2 proposes explicit gas funding options:

• Option A - Relayer gas pool: the relayer maintains a pool of the required gas token. No conversion on donations.
• Option B - Minimal documented conversion: pro-rata skim in kind to buy gas token, logged on-chain, without affecting the split formula beyond gas cost.
• Option C - L2-first: operate primarily on low-fee L2s so gas is marginal.
• Option D - Sponsors: paymasters funded by partners who supply gas and are reimbursed periodically.

Rule: splitting happens in crypto units. Percentages stay constant; fiat value moves until the NGO and relayer convert.

Stablecoins: reduce volatility but do not remove risk (depeg, address freezes, issuer risk).

Post-receipt strategies:

• NGO: sell immediately, sell partially, or hold according to internal policy and risk tolerance.
• Relayer: regular selling, holding, or a mixed approach.

• Donors: send small amounts, ideally via AA so they don’t pay gas directly.
• Relayers: operate aggregation, publish public parameters, comply with v0.1 and keep signed logs of sensitive operations (with on-chain links).
• NGOs: receive funds directly into their wallet, define a conversion policy and basic compliance procedures.

1. Choose a DustEthic-compliant relayer.
2. Connect your wallet.
3. Select the NGO.
4. Enter the amount in crypto.
5. Sign.

Depending on the setup, the donation is gasless via AA or permit. Otherwise a paid approval may be required depending on the token.

Cost for the donor: ideally zero via AA or permit. Otherwise, only the initial approval if required by the token. Gas for the final grouped payout is mutualised and deducted before the NGO payout.

Tracking: each donation and the final payout are visible on the chain explorer.

• Recommended wallet: Safe (ex-Gnosis Safe) with multi-signature for custody.
• Fiat conversion: via a registered exchange, according to internal policies.
• Accounting: book the value at reception time, define a conversion policy, track addresses.
• Minimal compliance: even in a non-custodial setup, adopt address screening and a written policy. References: OFAC and FATF R.15 / Travel Rule. Exact obligations depend on jurisdiction and status.

Transparency

• Open-source code. Public parameters: degressive fee schedule (suggested max 15%), campaign cap, aggregation windows, supported networks, chosen gas option.
• Signed logs and on-chain links; CSV export.
• Readable on-chain dashboard.

Non-custodial

• Funds held by smart contracts. Technical governance without unilateral withdrawal power.

Technical governance

• Admin roles under Safe multi-sig. Timelock on critical changes. Emergency procedures.

Security

• Independent audit before mainnet. Bug bounty after launch.

Gas and conversions

• Explicitly choose Option A, B, C or D and display it publicly.
• Execute only if the ratio Aggregated donations / estimated gas ≥ T (T ≥ 30 recommended); gas reimbursed first.
• Fee always expressed as a percentage of the donated crypto (published degressive schedule).
• If gas conversion is necessary, log it on-chain.

AA and compatibility

• ERC-4337 support and paymaster recommended on L2. The published EntryPoint is the implementation reference.
• Fallback: EIP-2771 meta-transactions where 4337/7702 (AA) is not supported.

v1 asset whitelist

• Ethereum & EVM L2s: ETH, USDC, USDT.
• Polygon PoS: possible, but gas in POL - plan logistics accordingly.
• By default reject illiquid, taxed, honeypot tokens or those without permit support if UX becomes impractical.

Minimal compliance

• Proportionate AML policy, basic screening, logging of refusals.

• “Classic” crypto donation platforms exist and mainly target medium or large donations with fast fiat conversion.
  • Every.org: instant conversion to USD, 1% broker fee + network fees.
  • The Giving Block: subscription packages and processing fees, details provided commercially.
• DustEthic focuses on micro-donations via aggregation, native crypto splitting on low-fee L2s, with a published campaign cap and degressive fee schedule.

Phase 0 - Foundations [Q4 2025]

• v0.1 standard specification
• v1 asset and network whitelist
• Aggregation and paymaster contract design - testnet
• Security and governance policy

Phase 1 - Development [2026]

• Open-source reference implementation
• Sepolia and matching L2 testing
• Third-party audit
• Pilots with 1 relayer and 2 NGOs

Phase 2 - Launch [2026+]

• Mainnet + 2 L2 deployments
• 3–5 compliant relayers, 10+ NGOs
• Community dashboard

Phase 3 - Expansion [2027+]

• More L2s, possibly other EVM ecosystems
• Broader governance if traction

• Developers: smart accounts, paymasters, aggregators. ERC-4337 and EntryPoint are good starting points.
• NGOs: test with a Safe wallet and an internal conversion policy.
• Relayers: run an L2-first implementation and publicly document gas metrics and delays.
• Community: feedback, translations, content.

Useful links:

• Website: https://dustethic.org
• Discord: https://discord.gg/fVFc26GV
• GitHub: https://github.com/DustEthic
• Bluesky: @dustethic.bsky.social

• Text: CC BY 4.0
• Future code: MIT

(Same URLs as in the GitHub version.)

End of DustEthic Guide v1.1-draft