Foundational Confidence: 100% ·Mar 10, 2026

Council Beacon and BEAM Authority

How the Core Council controls all operational authority in the post-transition system through the Council Beacon, aBEAMs, and Synome write rights.

Overview

The Council Beacon is the root of all operational authority. It is an HPHA (High Power, High Authority) beacon operated by the Core Council. Through SpellCore spells, the Council Beacon sets aBEAMs, which in turn control all other BEAM types. The Council Beacon also governs all Synome write rights.

SpellCore (16/24 Core Council Guardian hat)
    │
    ▼
Council Beacon (HPHA)
    │
    ├── Sets aBEAMs (admin BEAMs)
    │       │
    │       ├── aBEAMs grant cBEAMs (configurator BEAMs)
    │       │       │
    │       │       └── cBEAMs set pBEAMs (process BEAMs)
    │       │               │
    │       │               └── pBEAMs execute on PAUs
    │       │
    │       └── aBEAMs register PAUs, approve inits
    │
    ├── Sets all Synome write rights
    │
    └── Can override all BEAM ownership

Council Beacon

Property Value
Beacon type HPHA (High Power, High Authority)
Operator Core Council (24 Guardians)
Set by SpellCore spells
Authority Root of all BEAM and Synome write authority

The Council Beacon is the single point from which all downstream authority flows. It is set and modified exclusively through SpellCore spells (requiring the 16/24 Guardian hat). This means modifying the Council Beacon requires the same governance process as any other core spell.

BEAM Hierarchy

BEAMs (Bounded External Access Modules) are on-chain authorized roles. The Council Beacon controls the top of the hierarchy; authority cascades downward.

Authority Cascade

Level BEAM Type Set By Capabilities
1 Council Beacon SpellCore Sets aBEAMs, overrides all BEAM ownership, sets Synome write rights
2 aBEAM (Admin) Council Beacon Registers PAUs, approves inits, grants cBEAMs; additions timelocked (14 days), removals instant
3 cBEAM (Configurator) aBEAM Sets rate limits (within SORL), executes approved controller actions, manages relayer/freezer
4 pBEAM (Process) cBEAM Direct execution on PAUs — calls Controller functions, moves capital within rate limits

How Authority Flows

  1. SpellCore sets the Council Beacon via core spells
  2. Council Beacon grants aBEAMs to administrative entities (currently Core Council members via the Configurator Unit)
  3. aBEAM holders grant cBEAMs to GovOps teams, making them accordant to specific PAUs (via BEAMTimeLock, 14-day delay)
  4. cBEAM holders (accordant GovOps) set pBEAMs by configuring relayers and operational parameters for their PAUs
  5. pBEAM holders execute operations on PAUs within rate limits

BEAM Override

SpellCore can override all forms of BEAM ownership at any level. This means the Core Council can:

  • Revoke any aBEAM, cBEAM, or pBEAM
  • Reassign BEAM ownership
  • Bypass the normal cascade in emergencies

This override power is subject to the same 16/24 hat threshold and SKY holder freeze/override as any other SpellCore spell.

Synome Write Rights

The Council Beacon is the root authority for all Synome write access. No entity can write to the Synome without authority that traces back to the Council Beacon.

Write Right Granted By Used For
Agent Artifact updates Council Beacon → aBEAM Modifying governance documentation for Primes, Halos, Generators, Guardians
Parameter updates Council Beacon → aBEAM → cBEAM Rate limits, init configurations, operational parameters
Role registry Council Beacon Guardian registration, role assignment
Precedent creation Council Beacon → Core Guardians Guardian Action Precedents (governance interpretations)
Beacon registration Council Beacon → aBEAM Registering new beacons in the Synome
Transaction logs Council Beacon → cBEAM → pBEAM Operational transaction records

Implication: If the Council Beacon is frozen or the Core Council is dismissed via SKY override, Synome write access halts until governance is restored (either through direct SKY holder control or a new Core Council).

Freeze/Cancel on BEAMs

Individual CC Guardian Freeze/Cancel

Any single Core Council Guardian can freeze or cancel any BEAM across the entire system. This is a powerful emergency brake — one person can shut down all operational authority.

Property Value
Who Any single CC Guardian
Scope All BEAMs (aBEAM, cBEAM, pBEAM)
Effect Immediate freeze/cancel of the targeted BEAM
Purpose Emergency response — halt compromised or rogue operations instantly

SKY Holder Freeze/Cancel

SKY token holders also have freeze/cancel authority on all BEAMs, providing a second independent emergency brake outside the Core Council.

Property Value
Who SKY token holders
Scope All BEAMs
Mechanism Same graduated response as SpellCore freeze (minority freeze → escalation)

Anti-Paralysis: Mutual Freeze/Cancel Among CC Guardians

The individual freeze/cancel power creates a paralysis risk: a rogue Guardian could freeze everything and hold the system hostage. The anti-paralysis mechanism addresses this.

Property Value
Mechanism CC Guardians can freeze/cancel each other
Quorum 2/3rds of the Core Council (16 of 24)
Effect Removes the targeted Guardian's freeze/cancel ability

Attack and response scenario:

1. Rogue Guardian freezes all BEAMs (paralysis attack)
              │
              ▼
2. Remaining CC Guardians coordinate
              │
              ▼
3. 16/24 vote to remove rogue Guardian
              │
              ▼
4. Rogue Guardian's freeze/cancel authority revoked
              │
              ▼
5. BEAMs unfrozen, operations resume

Design rationale: The threshold to halt (any single Guardian) is deliberately much lower than the threshold to act (16/24 for spells) or to remove a blocker (16/24 to kick). This asymmetry favors safety — it is always easier to stop the system than to do damage.

Relationship to Current System

Aspect Current Post-Transition
aBEAM holder Core Council (via Configurator Unit) Council Beacon (set by SpellCore)
aBEAM scope PAU registration, init approval, cBEAM grants Same + Synome write rights + BEAM override
cBEAM granting aBEAM via BEAMTimeLock (14-day delay) Same mechanism, unchanged
BEAM override Not formalized SpellCore can override all BEAM ownership
Freeze authority BEAMTimeLock pause (aBEAM holders) Individual CC Guardian + SKY holders on all BEAMs
Anti-paralysis Not formalized 2/3rds CC mutual freeze/cancel
Synome write root Governance spells Council Beacon