Towards Enlightened Protocolism

Protocolized publishes science fiction and essays about technology. As the name suggests, we specialize in pieces that cover or explore the protocol technologies – like TCP/IP or the Montréal Protocol – that manage our toughest problems via decentralized mechanisms.

We produce an old fashioned, 50-50 split of sci-fi and non-fiction. Detailed technical analysis and rich narratives are complementary, not mutually exclusive.

Here, you’ll stories and essays about strange rules: controlled burns, S.A.D. lamps, antimemeplexes, drug-induced dystopias, efficiency-thoroughness tradeoffs, diplomacy for AI agents, chore protocols, negotiation games, urban planning, engineering arguments, climate accords, handwashing, biohacking, antifragile insurance… the list goes on.

Existing technopolitical dynamics, such as artificial intelligence, struggles over state capacity, platform economics, and climate change, continue to drive centralization and inequality. Protocol technologies offer a different set of trade-offs and have potential to act as a new set of building blocks for the future.

Protocolized is funded by the Ethereum Foundation.