Decentralization
There is no central point on which everything depends.
Protocol structure
How Mycelium works
Mycelium is designed from the top down, but is applied from the bottom up. The protocol – the language, the structure, the principles – is given. But the community that uses it appears on its own, through its members.
The structure of the protocol
| Level | What it is | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Member | The individual person who practices the protocol | Personal |
| Cell | A small group of members connected to each other | Interpersonal |
| Local core | Coordination of cells in a single settlement | Local |
| Regional core | Coordination of local cores in a region | Regional |
| Global core | Coordination of the regions | Global |
The name "Mycelium" comes from the structure. The mycelium is a network
without a center – every point is connected to many others, none is primary. That is exactly
how the protocol works: fractal, decentralized, autonomous at every level.
Principles
Autonomy
Every level decides for itself. No level commands another.
Federation
Levels connect voluntarily. Each can leave without losing identity.
The direction of the protocol
| Aspect | Direction | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Top down | The rules and the structure are given |
| Community | Bottom up | People, cells, cores appear on their own |
| Decisions | At every level | Autonomy – no level commands another |
The analogy is language: the grammar is given, but the sentences are created by the speakers. No one "owns" the language.
Governance
Decisions in the community are made by all members. The community has its own governance mechanism, described in the rulebook. It is not publicly available.
What is not on this page
This page shows the structure of the protocol, not the methodology. It does not contain how a cell is exactly formed, how decisions are made, how cores are coordinated, or what the concrete practices are.
The SV model
How the community exchanges resources internally and how – with the market.