Regenerant Catalunya

ENCAES

Workshop 1: Kickoff - Introducing Regenerant Catalunya

Workshop 1: Kickoff - Introducing Regenerant Catalunya

Date: November 19, 2025 at 15:52 CET
Duration: ~1 hour 52 minutes
Format: Online workshop
Facilitators: Andrea Farias, Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes (ReFi Barcelona)

📹 Workshop Recording

Direct link: Watch on Google Drive

👥 Participants

Facilitators

  • Andrea Farias — ReFi Barcelona (Barcelona)
  • Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes — ReFi Barcelona (Barcelona/Brasil)

Project Representatives

  • Juan Luis — La Granja del Tillo
  • Mariló Lafundicio — Les Yuntas
  • Nadia Aquino — Marmita & Les Juntes
  • Raquel Prado Pérez — Les Juntes cooperative
  • Julia Portal Fernández — Laurel & Les Juntas
  • Oriol Lopez — Miceli Social (Cenntelles, Vic) — representing health and culture projects
  • Bessy Ponce — Asociación Mujeres Unidas Entre Tierras, Cooperativa Cuiden Ancor, Les Yuntas
  • Hebe Gándara — Laurel
  • Angela Lidia — COPE de Hospitalet
  • Natalia — La Suculenta
  • Alejandra Verde Medina — ReFi Paca

🎯 Workshop Overview

This kickoff workshop introduced participants to the Regenerant Catalunya program, ReFi Barcelona’s mission, and the fundamentals of blockchain and Web3 technology in the context of regenerative finance. The session covered program structure, funding mechanisms, transparency tools, and addressed participant concerns about trust and cryptocurrency.

📋 Key Topics Covered

1. Introduction to ReFi Barcelona

What is ReFi Barcelona?

  • Cooperative project started 2.5 years ago
  • Mission: Articulate technology and finance in service of regeneration
  • Operates as a cooperative of work based in the cooperative hub of Barcelona (Bloc4BCN)
  • Role: Connective tissue between local regenerative projects and global Web3 ecosystems

Key Events:

  • ReFi Barcelona Conference (2024) — Focused on global regenerative finance ecosystem
  • BioFi Barcelona (2025) — Focused on bioregional finances and ecosocial transition

2. Regenerant Catalunya Program

Program Context:

  • Operated by ReFi Barcelona
  • Focus: Catalonia bioregion
  • Total funding: ~€27,000 (local + global matching)
  • Local partners: Miceli Social (€6,000) and La Fundició / Keras Buti (€5,000)
  • Global matching: Via Localism Fund program

The Tree Metaphor:

  • Roots: Local regenerators (projects doing the work)
  • Trunk: Regenerant Catalunya / ReFi Barcelona (articulation layer)
  • Crown: Global ecosystems (resources, tools, funding)

Important note: While the metaphor shows resources flowing from global to local, the emphasis is that most value should be generated locally, with external resources acting as support to empower strong local ecosystems.

3. Program Structure: Two Phases

Phase 1: Baseline Allocation (November–December 2025)

Requirements:

  • Participate in Workshop #2 (Karma GAP training)
  • Use Karma GAP platform to report past and planned impact
  • Support from ReFi Barcelona operators

Funding:

  • €1,000 per project (minimum)
  • Distributed before Christmas (end of December 2025)
  • Funds come from local networks (Miceli Social & La Fundició / Keras Buti)
  • Funds received in digital wallet

Deliverables:

  • Web3 wallet setup (guide shared separately)
  • Impact reporting via Karma GAP

Phase 2: Network-Level Collective Governance (January–February 2026)

Structure:

  • €1,000 per project allocated to network-level pools:
    • Miceli Social network: ~€6,000
    • La Fundició / Keras Buti network: ~€5,000
  • Networks collectively govern funds using Web3 tools
  • Two additional workshops
  • Experimentation with tools like shared wallets, Cycles, etc.

Governance:

  • Networks (Miceli Social & La Fundició) will fully administer funds
  • ReFi Barcelona provides training and support
  • Focus on collective decision-making processes

4. Blockchain & Web3 Basics

What is Blockchain?

  • Distributed digital ledger (vs. centralized bank records)
  • Visible and interactive for all actors
  • No single point of control
  • Applications beyond financial speculation

Key Points:

  • Bitcoin: Digital asset, slow and energy-intensive — not what we use
  • Ethereum & alternatives: Where most applications run (including our work)
  • Real-world adoption: Widely used in India, Latin America, Africa for better financial infrastructure
  • Europe/North America: Lower adoption due to existing functional financial systems

Why Blockchain for Regeneration?

  • Transparency: All transactions publicly visible and verifiable
  • Efficiency: Reduces time and bureaucratic costs
  • Decentralization: No single entity can control or alter records
  • Impact tracking: Immutable records of impact metrics
  • Community validation: Enables future community verification (e.g., tree planting tracking)

Political Context:

  • Most crypto space: Conservative, anarcho-capitalist values
  • ReFi movement: Minority leftist subculture using blockchain for:
    • Class struggle empowerment
    • Social change
    • Radical democracy
    • Solidarity
    • Inclusion

Reference: Project Cybersyn (Chile, 1970s) — early attempt at democratic economic management using computers

5. Transparency & Trust Mechanisms

Multisig Wallet (Safe):

  • 3-of-4 signature requirement for any fund movement
  • Current signers: Andrea Farias, Giulio Quarta, Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes (ReFi Barcelona)
  • Future plan: Include local network representatives:
    • Mariló (La Fundició / Keras Buti)
    • Oriol (Miceli Social)
  • Public visibility: All transactions visible on-chain via Etherscan

Trust & Accountability:

  • Projects do not contribute money — only local partners contribute
  • Signed commitment agreement with local partners
  • Personal guarantees (DNI, names) for accountability
  • Funds held in transparent, on-chain wallet
  • No investment or speculative mechanisms — direct grants only

6. Tools Introduction

Phase 1 Tools

Karma GAP:

  • On-chain impact reporting platform
  • Create living, public “project resume”
  • Report past activities and future plans
  • Training in Workshop #2 (December 8-14, 2025)

Web3 Wallets (Celo):

  • Required to receive funds
  • Recommended: Valora, Minipay (social recovery)
  • Setup guide shared separately (with screenshots)
  • Alternative: MetaMask, Zerion, Rainbow

Phase 2 Tools (Preview)

GR Economics:

  • Community-based economies since 2010 (Kenya)
  • Communities create own currencies and credits
  • Commitment pooling (time banking)
  • Uses blockchain stablecoins for value circulation

Game Forest:

  • Combined technology system for impact measurement
  • Projects measure and record impact online (on-chain)
  • Transparent donation system
  • Builds biodiversity data commons

Other Tools Mentioned:

  • Shared wallets between projects
  • Cycles (mutual credit systems)
  • Gardens (conviction voting)
  • Sarafu Network (local currencies)

💡 Important Information for Projects

Immediate Next Steps

  1. Set up Web3 Wallet

    • Guide with screenshots will be shared
    • Can be done as homework (not completed during workshop)
    • Support available in next workshop

  2. Join WhatsApp Group

    • Link shared during workshop
    • Ongoing communication channel
    • Contact collection for group creation

  3. Prepare for Workshop #2

    • Date: December 8-14, 2025
    • Focus: Karma GAP training and impact documentation
    • Office Hours: December 4-19, 2025 (support available)

  4. Impact Reporting

    • Use Karma GAP platform
    • Report at least 3 past activities + 3 future plans
    • Support from ReFi Barcelona operators

Key Dates

  • Workshop #2: December 8-14, 2025 (Karma GAP training)
  • Office Hours: December 4-19, 2025 (support for Karma submissions)
  • Phase 1 Disbursement: End of December 2025 (before Christmas)
  • Phase 2: January–February 2026 (network governance activation)

Funding Details

Phase 1:

  • Minimum: €1,000 per project (tied to minimum participation)
  • Maximum: Up to €1,500 per project (based on impact evaluation)
  • Source: Local funds (Miceli Social + La Fundició / Keras Buti)
  • Distribution: End of December 2025

Phase 2:

  • €1,000 per project allocated to network pools
  • Miceli Social network: ~€6,000
  • La Fundició / Keras Buti network: ~€5,000
  • Governance: Networks decide collectively how to distribute

❓ Participant Concerns & Responses

Trust & Transparency Questions

Question: “What guarantees do we have that the money will reach projects and not disappear?”

Response:

  • Projects do not contribute money — only local partners contribute
  • Signed commitment agreement with local partners (with personal DNI/names)
  • Funds held in multisig wallet requiring 3-of-4 signatures
  • All transactions publicly visible on-chain (Etherscan)
  • Plan to include local network representatives (Mariló, Oriol) as signers
  • No investment or speculative mechanisms — direct grants only
  • ReFi Barcelona team based in Barcelona (accessible, not anonymous)

Question: “How does funding work? Where does the money come from?”

Response:

  • Local partners: Miceli Social (€6,000) + La Fundició / Keras Buti (€5,000)
  • Global partners: Sponsors interested in promoting tools/services/infrastructure
  • Match funding program: Local programs that secure local funds receive global matching
  • Purpose: Promote local programs, demonstrate real-world applications, build capacity

Program Understanding

Oriol (Miceli Social):

  • Appreciated synthesis of complex concepts
  • Interested in how to put Web3 at service of projects
  • Liked example of “datons” (data tokens) for citizen science and biodiversity
  • Views Web3, BioFi, and networks as different ecosystem roles (not parts of same organism)

Mariló (La Fundició / Keras Buti):

  • Understood some concepts, but many still unclear
  • Committed to learning step by step
  • Appreciated practical approach

🔗 Related Resources

Essential Guidebooks

Tool Documentation

Program Documentation

📝 Additional Notes

Follow-up Actions (from workshop)

  • Andrea Farias to share recording and privacy/data sharing document
  • Projects to use Karma GAP platform for impact reporting
  • Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes to share wallet setup guide (with screenshots)
  • Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes to organize shorter workshop version (1 hour) for Miceli Social network participants
  • Andrea Farias to share WhatsApp group link and resources
  • Luiz Fernando Segala Gomes to share article connecting program pieces (once funds received)

Program Vision

Bioregional Financing Facility:

  • Minimal version of a “Bioregional Financing Facility”
  • Co-finances regeneration
  • Connects local and global resources
  • 150-page book available in Spanish (to be shared)

Long-term Goals:

  • Build “internet of nature” — decentralized monitoring system
  • Managed by local communities
  • Increased accountability and transparency
  • Connect regenerators globally
  • Create data commons for biodiversity

📞 Support & Contact

Email: [email protected]
ReFi Barcelona: refibcn.cat
Program Website: regenerant.refibcn.cat

Need help? Don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]

Together, let’s finance the future we want to see — one bioregion at a time.

8 min read