# Discussion: Hub CosmWasm guidelines?

**URL:** <https://forum.cosmos.network/t/discussion-hub-cosmwasm-guidelines/13788>\
**Category:** Proposal Ideas\
**Tags:** draft\
**Created:** [May 7, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/discussion-hub-cosmwasm-guidelines/13788 "2024-05-07T15:59:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![jtremback](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forum.cosmos.network/jtremback/32/605_2.png) [@jtremback](https://forum.cosmos.network/u/jtremback)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/discussion-hub-cosmwasm-guidelines/13788/1 "2024-05-07T15:59:42Z")

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_We are working on integrating CosmWasm into the Cosmos Hub. It will go live in the v18 release, after the release of ICS 2.0. Before then, I wanted to start a discussion about possible guidelines for the use of CosmWasm, since it is something that has come up in the community._

_Please note- Informal Systems will integrate and deploy CosmWasm in Gaia v18 whether or not these guidelines (or any guidelines) are approved in a signaling proposal. I just wanted to get a discussion going before then._

# Proposed Cosmos Hub CosmWasm guidelines

- **What should not go on the Hub:** CosmWasm should not turn the Hub into an “app store”, or try to attract general purpose CW contracts, defi, etc.
  - Making a smart contract platform successful takes a lot of BD work and it is what Neutron is good at. Having the Hub compete with Neutron would muddy the waters and dilute the narrative. Additionally, the Hub would not even be successful at this, not having the BD organization for it. Neutron is the Hub’s CosmWasm platform.
  - Analogy: In the 2010’s, Google cannibalized their lead in messenger apps with incessant new product launches and rebrands and lost the market completely.
  - Examples of what should not go on the Hub:
    - A new lending protocol
    - A dog themed memecoin
    - An AMM

- **What should go on the Hub:** CosmWasm is a great tool for programming a chain’s core logic, Stargaze does this. This will be very helpful for teams to build on the Hub more quickly and flexibly
  - A CosmWasm contract should only be deployed on the Hub if it adds an important piece of core functionality to the Hub, and it cannot be deployed on Neutron while preserving the same functionality.
  - Examples of what could go on the Hub:
    - A DAO which is tied tightly into the Hub’s governance, for example having the ability to modify parameters, deploy funds from the community pool, or direct inflation. These things would be unnecessarily complicated to do on a consumer chain.
    - An upgrade to ICS which needs the ability to slash validators or delegators for infractions on other chains (AKA Mesh Security). This would not be secure on a consumer chain.
    - An IBC client for Rust-based blockchains. This needs deep integration into the IBC system and by definition doesn’t make sense on a consumer chain which is itself connected over IBC.

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_[View the full topic](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/discussion-hub-cosmwasm-guidelines/13788)._