Methodology
MoatRank™ Scoring Framework
How MoatRank™ Works
MoatRank™ is L'AURA's proprietary scoring system for evaluating projects in the agent economy. Each project is assessed across five structural dimensions, each scored from 0 to 20, producing a total score of 0 to 100.
Scoring is editorial and longitudinal — not a one-time snapshot. L'AURA continuously observes projects, updating scores as new evidence emerges. This approach captures trajectory, not just current state.
Two layers, two instruments
L'AURA covers the agent economy in two layers, and deliberately judges them with different instruments.
Infrastructure — protocols, frameworks, and platforms — is scored with MoatRank™, the five-dimension framework below. These are durable, comparable, and fundable; a 0–100 score is meaningful.
Individual agents — the long tail built by people — are a different kind of object. You cannot honestly grade a solo builder's agent on “governance maturity.” So the Agents tier uses a separate, qualitative rubric — does it work, is it original, is there a real mind behind it, did it earn its attention, is it still alive — feeding a verdict tier rather than a false-precision number. That layer is curated-in: a human vouches for every entry.
The Five Dimensions
Structural Integrity
0–20Protocol architecture, smart contract design, and technical resilience. Evaluates whether the technical foundation is sound, audited, and capable of withstanding adversarial conditions at scale.
Behavioral Coherence
0–20Consistency between stated goals and observable actions. Measures whether the project's behavior aligns with its stated mission — tracking roadmap delivery, communication honesty, and deviation from promises.
Governance Maturity
0–20Decision-making frameworks, token governance, and upgrade mechanisms. Assesses how decisions are made, who holds power, how upgrades are proposed, and whether governance processes are transparent and decentralized.
Adoption Legitimacy
0–20Organic usage, real demand, and sustainable growth metrics. Distinguishes genuine adoption from artificial metrics — evaluating whether growth is organic, sustainable, and driven by real utility rather than incentive farming.
Composability Index
0–20Integration potential, ecosystem positioning, and developer adoption. Evaluates how well the project integrates into the broader ecosystem — measuring API quality, developer tooling, partnerships, and cross-protocol utility.
Total Score Range
Certification Tiers
Certified
MoatRank ≥ 75Projects that demonstrate strong, durable advantage across all five dimensions. Certification is editorial — not algorithmic — and can be revoked if quality degrades.
Rising
60 ≤ MoatRank < 75Projects showing positive trajectory and meaningful signal, but not yet reaching the certification threshold. Monitored with standard frequency.
Watchlist
MoatRank < 60Early-stage or elevated-risk projects — low overall scores, or thin and unproven adoption. Monitored with increased frequency.
Scoring Principles
Longitudinal over snapshot
Scores reflect trajectory over time, not a single-point assessment. Score history is preserved and publicly visible.
Editorial, not algorithmic
Scoring involves human judgment informed by structured criteria. This is not automated scraping with a score veneer.
Revocable certification
Certification can be revoked at any time if a project's quality degrades. Scarcity and accountability make the signal meaningful.
Transparent observations
Every scoring decision is accompanied by published observations that explain the reasoning. Disagreement is expected; opacity is not.