[chain/appchain research] Define future appchain or L1 go/no-go criteria

[FlowmemoryAI]

Objective

Create a research-only criteria document for when FlowMemory should even consider appchain or L1 work, without designing or implementing a chain.

Allowed folders

• research/
• docs/ROADMAP.md only for a short cross-link
• docs/ARCHITECTURE.md only for a short cross-link
• docs/DECISIONS/ only if a durable no-go/criteria decision is made

Forbidden folders

• contracts/
• services/
• apps/
• hardware/
• crypto/
• Production chain code, validator design, tokenomics, sequencer plans, deployment config

Acceptance criteria

• A research note defines evaluation criteria for staying Base-native versus appchain/L1 exploration.
• The note lists explicit non-goals: no tokenomics, no production L1, no validator network, no deployment plan.
• Criteria include data availability, verification needs, hardware implications, operational burden, and security assumptions.
• The output is framed as research gates, not an implementation plan.

Risk level

High

Recommended worktree/agent

E:\FlowMemory\flowmemory-chain / Research Agent

Scope guard

Do not build or specify a production chain. Keep this as a go/no-go research gate.

[FlowmemoryAI]

Prepared the appchain/L1 research package locally for PR review.

Local deliverables:

• research/appchain/README.md
• research/appchain/FLOWMEMORY_APPCHAIN_THESIS.md
• research/appchain/BASE_FIRST_VS_APPCHAIN_VS_L1.md
• research/appchain/CHAIN_COMPONENTS_CHECKLIST.md
• research/appchain/FLOWMEMORY_APPCHAIN_ARCHITECTURE.md
• research/appchain/GO_NO_GO_CRITERIA.md
• docs/DECISIONS/2026-05-12-base-first-appchain-later.md
• docs/ROADMAP.md and docs/ARCHITECTURE.md cross-links

Recommendation recorded: Base-first MVP, then no-value Base Appchain prototype/research once gates pass, then sovereign L1 only if Base plus appchain is proven insufficient.

Follow-up issues created:

• [chain/appchain] Define no-value appchain prototype criteria #35 no-value appchain prototype criteria
• [chain/appchain] Define Base settlement anchor spec #36 Base settlement anchor spec
• [chain/appchain] Define appchain hardware node requirements #37 appchain hardware node requirements
• [chain/appchain] Research bridge and security review requirements #41 bridge/security review requirements

Not closing this issue until the PR lands.