The Framework

This framework is published for evaluation. Implementation is subject to formal licensing.

Progressive Depletion Minting and the Mann Mechanics Discipline

Supply governance fails for the same reason everywhere: expansion decisions are left to human discretion, and human discretion is slow, political, and reactive. PDM replaces the discretion with a mechanism.

This page describes how the mechanism works, what it does, and what it does not do.

Key Characteristics

Five properties define the mechanism: expansion is rules-anchored, not discretionary. System state is evaluated continuously, not periodically. Operating logic is transparent, not opaque. Parameters adapt across domains. Every outcome is observable and auditable.

What Progressive Depletion Minting Does

PDM governs how a system expands or contracts over time through three stages that repeat continuously.

First, the system contracts. Supply is reduced automatically in proportion to measured activity. This is not an intervention. It is the default state. Contraction is always running.

Second, the system evaluates. The mechanism measures the ratio between remaining supply and current obligations against a stability band anchored at φ (0.618). If the ratio is within band, nothing happens.

Third, the system may expand. If contraction has pushed the ratio below the band, the mechanism calculates a restoration amount. But expansion is damped: a progressive resistance function makes each successive mint harder as cumulative supply approaches the hard cap. Early in the lifecycle, replenishment is relatively easy. Late in the lifecycle, it becomes nearly impossible.

The result: contraction is continuous, expansion is conditional, and the system's ability to expand is progressively exhausted over time. That is why it is called Progressive Depletion Minting.

What the Mechanism Does Not Do

PDM does not decide how resources should be allocated. It decides whether expansion is permitted. Everything else remains with the institution. The mechanism does not eliminate uncertainty. It removes the single biggest source of systemic failure: uncontrolled, discretionary expansion.

How Parameters Are Defined

The adopting institution defines the parameters: capacity limits, starting conditions, stability ranges, and depletion dynamics. PDM enforces whatever boundaries the institution sets. Because the control logic stays consistent regardless of the parameters, the same mechanism works across sectors with completely different objectives and operating conditions.

Transparency and Auditability

Every operating cycle produces a complete record of inputs, calculations, and outcomes, maintained in a cryptographically chained format. The history is tamper-evident and independently verifiable. This is not an optional feature. It is built into the mechanism. System behaviour can be examined by stakeholders, regulators, and the public without relying on anyone's word.

Domain Application

PDM is domain-agnostic. It operates on abstract measures of demand and activity, which means the same control logic applies whether the system governs monetary issuance, carbon credits, energy capacity, compute allocation, or humanitarian aid distribution. The sector pages describe how.

The Personal Edition

A free reference implementation is available. It runs locally and demonstrates the full control cycle: contraction, state evaluation, conditional expansion, progressive resistance, and auditable records. Run it. Test it. Evaluate the mechanism on what it does, not what anyone says about it.

Free for personal use, education, research, and qualifying nonprofit projects serving fewer than 10,000 users.

Intellectual Property

Progressive Depletion Minting is subject to intellectual property protections including a pending patent filing (UKIPO GB2513172.3). These protections preserve implementation integrity while supporting responsible access and evaluation.

Institutional Engagement

Institutional engagement follows three stages: foundational evaluation, sector-specific analysis, and implementation planning. No commitment is required to begin.

Governance and Stewardship

The framework is currently stewarded by its originator through Mann Mechanics. Governance is intended to evolve over time toward broader participation as engagement develops.

A defined portion of founder participation is intended to transition progressively toward a collectively stewarded structure referred to as the Humanity Share, supporting long-term continuity and shared stewardship.