12.4 · Phase-gating signals
The calendar plans the review rhythm. The exit criteria decide whether the Web3 Capital Network advances.
A phase advances only when its exit criteria hold, not when the calendar turns. This page sets out the first 90 days, the gate between each phase, and the review that decides go or no-go.
The first 90 days
The opening quarter sets the foundation: the founder's key decisions, the legal entity, the first signed nodes, and the first closed PoB. Each milestone is a checkpoint a reviewer can verify.
Day 14 · Five founder decisions
Five key decisions are settled: the GP role, the Agent downgrade, US blocking, the node candidate list, and the founder narrative.
Day 30 · Foundation and Track Record
Foundation registration begins, and the Track Record Pack is complete.
Day 60 · First nodes and counsel
The first 10 nodes are signed, General Counsel hiring is underway, and the Foundation Charter v0.1 is drafted.
Day 90 · First PoB and whitepaper
The first PoB loop closes — a nameable deal from the founder's existing pipeline — and whitepaper v2.1 is published.
The Day 90 PoB draws on a deal already in the founder's pipeline. It closes a real, nameable outcome rather than a projected one, which is what makes the milestone verifiable.
Why milestone-gated, not calendar-driven
Time passing does not prove that the network works. A roadmap that turns pages on a fixed schedule pressures the team to overpromise to keep the schedule.
A phase exits on evidence, not on a date. WCN advances when its exit criteria hold over a sustained window, which keeps the plan honest and gives reviewers a basis to check.
The gate between each phase
Each phase carries an exit threshold. WCN advances only when the threshold holds.
Phase 1 → Phase 2Requires 30+ Founding nodes and 5+ verified PoB records. This confirms a real supply side and a loop that produces verified outcomes.
Phase 2 → Phase 3Requires 200+ nodes and a documented Token decision. This confirms the network scaled and that any Token follows a deliberate choice.
Phase 3 exitRequires 1,000+ nodes and compliance across five jurisdictions. This confirms scale and a regulatory base before full decentralization.
Sustained, not a single monthA threshold counts when it holds across a window, not in one reporting period. A single-month spike does not open a gate.
The go/no-go review
Review the roadmap each quarter. Compare progress against the exit criteria, then decide stay, advance, or return to strengthen. When a criterion is unmet, record the reason — demand, product, compliance, or organization.
Milestone-gated versus one-time launch
| Dimension | Milestone-gated (WCN) | One-time full launch |
|---|---|---|
| Failure diagnosis | Traceable to nodes, outcomes, or compliance | Often ambiguous |
| Trust | Each phase has reviewable outputs | Rests on narrative and time |
| Token timing | Phase 3, after compliance | Front-loaded, before demand |
| Regulatory posture | Boundaries tighten as the network grows | Easy to overstep at once |
Phase-gating exists to prevent self-deception inside WCN and to give reviewers a verifiable rhythm outside it.