> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.seedify.fund/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.seedify.fund/milestone-guidance-criteria/core-principles.md).

# Core Principles

### SMART Framework (Mandatory)

Every milestone must be:

* **Specific**: Clearly defined deliverable, no ambiguity
* **Measurable**: Quantifiable metrics with objective verification
* **Achievable**: Realistic within proposed timeline and resources
* **Relevant**: Directly advances project toward stated goals
* **Time-bound**: Explicit deadline (format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM UTC)

### Verifiability First

Milestones must be verifiable through:

* **Public on-chain data** (preferred)
* **Open-source repositories** (GitHub, GitLab with commit history)
* **Third-party platforms** (block explorers, DeFi aggregators, app stores)
* **Cryptographically signed attestations** (for off-chain activities)

❌ NOT ACCEPTABLE: Private databases, unverifiable claims, subjective assessments

### Anti-Gaming Design

Milestones must be structured to prevent:

* Easy sandbagging (setting trivially easy goals)
* Evidence manipulation (wash trading, fake metrics)
* Circular dependencies (metric depends on milestone passing)
* Ambiguous completion states (technically true, practically false)

### Proportional Complexity

Milestone difficulty should be proportional to funding allocated:

* **10-15% of funds**: Basic deliverables (documentation, testnet launch)
* **15-25% of funds**: Medium complexity (mainnet, initial features)
* **25-35% of funds**: High complexity (full feature set, major integrations)