We're thrilled to announce the launch of EIP-1, the first Ethos Improvement Proposal targeting our credibility scoring system. This proposal is now open for community voting and discussion!

What's Changing?

At the core, EIP-1 aims to rebalance credibility scores, placing greater emphasis on reviews—particularly those from highly credible individuals—and reducing the outsized influence of mutual vouches.

Why These Changes?

Analyzing the credibility scores under our previous algorithm (v1.0.7), we identified some key areas needing adjustment:

• Review Impact Saturation: Previously, highly reputable users quickly hit the maximum positive review impact (+270), limiting differentiation between consistently positive contributors and those receiving fewer reviews.
• Mutual Vouch Overweighting: Mutual vouches previously offered a substantial bonus, often overshadowing the importance of reviews and potentially inflating scores for pairs who frequently vouched for each other.

EIP-1 addresses these issues, creating a more accurate and balanced representation of reputation.

Detailed Adjustments

Starting with algorithm version v1.0.8, the scoring parameters have changed as follows:

• Review Impact Factor:
  • Increased maximum positive impact from 270 to 540
  • Minimum negative impact remains unchanged at -800
• ELO-Style Scaling:
  • We're adopting an ELO-inspired scoring model with an ELO scale of 1600. Unlike traditional ELO (used widely in chess rankings), which quickly amplifies score differences, the 1600 scale ensures more moderate and balanced sensitivity. Only very substantial differences in credibility scores significantly amplify review impact, ensuring high-quality reviewers carry appropriate weight.
• Mutual Vouch Bonus Reduction:
  • The multiplier for mutual vouches is reduced from 0.5 (50% bonus) to 0.2 (20% bonus), emphasizing broader community feedback over close reciprocal endorsements.

Community Impact and Benefits

Most Ethos users will experience a positive boost to their credibility scores due to increased review weight. Specifically:

• Top Contributors Rewarded: High-performing users known for consistent, quality reviews (such as ZachXBT, Ethos, DeeZe, and IcoBeast) will notice significant score increases.
• Reduced Mutual Vouch Inflation: Users reliant on mutual vouches alone may experience slight score reductions, but this is balanced by increased potential gains from genuine reviews.
• Level Transitions: Some users may ascend to higher reputation tiers (e.g., from Reputable to Exemplary), reflecting their authentic positive impact.
• Minimal Negative Effects: Even users most impacted by the mutual vouch multiplier reduction see minimal negative changes, ensuring fair treatment.

Next Steps

We invite all community members to participate in the voting and discussion for EIP-1. Your input is crucial as we continue refining Ethos’ credibility scoring system to be fairer, more accurate, and reflective of true community sentiment.

Thank you for your continued support and valuable feedback as we build a robust and trusted platform together.