https://github.com/cekcreator/explaining_daos
https://github.com/anpl1623/explaining_daos
A Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is an entity where governance is coded into smart contracts and decisions are made collectively by token holders.
Key Traits:
- Decentralized decision-making
- On-chain voting using tokens
- Transparent treasury and rules
- Blockchain-based operations
- Community-driven governance
More information sources:
- Vitalik Buterin's take on DAOs: https://vitalik.ca/general/2021/08/16/voting3.html
- Ethereum DAO Primer: https://ethereum.org/en/dao/
- Aragon DAO Framework: https://aragon.org/
This guide will help you set up the DAO Governance Dashboard project on your local machine.
Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:
- Open your bash terminal
- Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/cekcreator/explaining_daos.git && cd dao-governance-dashboard- Install dependencies
npm install - Start the server
npm start-
Go to
http://localhost:3000/on your browser -
You did it
Structure:
- Centralized board structure (Board of Directors)
- Hierarchical with clear reporting lines
- Shareholder voting often symbolic or non-binding
- Decisions driven by executive management
- Regulatory compliance required (e.g., SEC filings)
Voting:
- Shareholder voting rights proportional to shares owned
- Annual general meetings and special votes
- Proxy voting common for major shareholders
- Typically requires majority or supermajority for significant changes
Transparency:
- Quarterly and annual disclosures required for public companies
- Board meetings mostly private
- Decision processes often not visible to shareholders
Regulation:
- Governed by corporate law, securities regulations
- Subject to jurisdictional oversight (SEC in US)
- Formal fiduciary responsibilities for directors
Examples of Corporate Governance Sources:
- OECD Corporate Governance Framework: https://www.oecd.org/corporate/principles-corporate-governance/
- SEC Guidance on Shareholder Voting: https://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/votinginannualshareholdersmeetings.pdf / https://www.sec.gov/resources-small-businesses/going-public/annual-meetings-proxy-requirements
Structure:
- Flat or minimally hierarchical
- Direct community governance through token voting
- Working groups/committees for specific functions
- Governance processes encoded in smart contracts
Voting:
- Token-weighted voting (similar to shares)
- On-chain voting for proposals
- Continuous governance (not just periodic)
- Various voting mechanisms: simple majority, quadratic voting, conviction voting
Transparency:
- Full transaction history publicly visible on blockchain
- Proposal discussions typically in public forums
- Governance parameters visible in code
- Treasury movements transparent
Regulation:
- Regulatory frameworks still evolving
- Legal status varies by jurisdiction
- Self-regulation through governance parameters
- Limited formal oversight
Popular DAO Governance Models:
| DAO Platform | Governance Mechanism | Token Voting? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapshot | Off-chain signaling | Yes | Uniswap, ENS |
| Tally | On-chain voting (Ethereum) | Yes | Compound, Gitcoin |
| Aragon | Modular DAO tooling | Optional | Decentraland |
- Token: UNI
- Governance: Uses Snapshot for off-chain voting
- Challenges: Low participation and vote centralization
- Treasury Size: One of the largest by treasury size
- Notable for: Pioneered liquidity protocol governance
- Token: MKR
- Governance: Complex system with delegates, executive votes, and governance facilitators
- Documentation: Well-documented via Maker Governance Portal
- Notable for: Pioneer in on-chain governance
- Unique feature: Multiple types of votes (polls, executive votes)
- Token: AAVE
- Governance: Uses Snapshot + on-chain actions via Tally
- Focus: Lending protocol DAO
- Proposal types: Protocol updates, grants, and treasury allocation
- Notable for: Well-structured governance process
- Token: MANA
- Governance: Uses Aragon stack
- Focus: Metaverse-focused DAO
- Tools: Uses Agora for proposals and discussion
- Notable for: Governance of virtual land and digital assets
- Token: COMP
- Governance: On-chain voting with time-lock execution
- Notable for: Pioneered on-chain governance for DeFi
- Challenge: Developer-heavy proposals
- Governance structure: Centralized with Mark Zuckerberg holding major control via dual-class shares
- Power distribution: Zuckerberg controls ~58% voting power
- Notable for: Example of how centralized power can shape corporate policy
- Leadership: Led by Warren Buffett
- Structure: Small board and centralized decision-making
- Shareholder influence: Minimal influence over daily operations
- Notable for: Long-term shareholder focus, unique annual meetings
- Leadership influence: Elon Musk's influence dominates decision-making
- Governance history: Known for controversial corporate governance decisions
- Notable for: Strong CEO influence, retail investor engagement
- Structure: Traditional board structure with active shareholder meetings
- Reputation: Frequently held up as a corporate governance benchmark
- Notable for: Strong board, shareholder activism, large retail investor base
| Metric | DAO Example (Aave, Uniswap) | Corporate Example (Apple, Meta) |
|---|---|---|
| Voter Turnout (%) | 1–10% typical turnout in token votes | ~70% institutional shareholder voting (proxy) |
| Power Concentration | UNI whales hold majority of votes | Zuckerberg controls ~58% voting power in Meta |
| Decision Flow Timeline | Avg. 7–30 days from proposal to execution | Weeks to months via board meetings |
| Proposal Volume | 10–100+/month depending on DAO | Few major votes/year (AGMs) |
| Treasury Transparency | Fully on-chain, viewable via Etherscan | Financial statements filed quarterly |
| Execution Rate | Varies – often low follow-through | High (board resolutions usually implemented) |
| Participation Barriers | Gas fees, UI complexity | Legal barriers, bureaucracy |
| Transparency Score | Treasury & proposal visibility | SEC filings, disclosures |
- Forum discussion → gov.uniswap.org
- Temperature Check vote → Snapshot
- Consensus Check vote → Snapshot
- Proposal code posted on-chain → Executed via Governor contract
- Execution → If successful, implemented by smart contract
Challenge: Low participation. Token whales dominate votes.
- Board prepares proposals
- Proxy statement issued to shareholders
- Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- Shareholder vote → binding/non-binding depending on proposal
- Board decision → implemented by executives
Challenge: Often symbolic; board retains discretion.
- DeepDAO Data Explorer: https://deepdao.io
- Tally Proposal Histories: https://tally.mirror.xyz/6e3I6e4K2FL_dcv5cnDTnJdQ0NSpqFnENZBAs7zre4s
- Snapshot: https://snapshot.box/#/explore
- Aragon: https://aragon.org
- DAO-specific governance forums: https://forum.sky.money/
- Proxy Statements (DEF 14A): https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sec-form-def-14a.asp
- OECD Corporate Governance Principles: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/policy-issues/corporate-governance.html
- SEC on Shareholder Voting : https://www.sec.gov/resources-small-businesses/going-public/annual-meetings-proxy-requirements
- Proxy voting services: ISS, Glass Lewis
- Bar/line chart comparing DAO voter % (token holders) vs. shareholder proxy voting %
- Time-series visualization showing participation trends
- Drill-down capability to see participation by proposal type
- Gini coefficient of token ownership vs. shareholder ownership
- Pie charts showing % held by top 10 wallets vs. board shares
- Interactive slider to show how power distribution affects voting outcomes
- Timeline visualization from proposal → discussion → voting → execution
- Comparative view showing DAO vs. corporate processes side-by-side
- Highlight delays or bottlenecks in each system
- Success/failure rates of proposals by type
- Implementation time metrics
- Case study examples of successful/failed governance actions
- User selects "How do DAOs govern?" learning path
- Dashboard displays selected DAO's live governance stats
- Interactive animation walks through proposal lifecycle
- Side panel compares with corporate analog
- User can access case study links & governance explainers
- Uniswap V3 Deployment - Governance process for a major protocol upgrade
- MakerDAO Emergency Shutdown Vote - Crisis governance during market volatility
- Meta/Facebook Privacy Policy Changes - Corporate governance affecting billions
- Tesla Compensation Package Approval - Controversial corporate vote
- Aave Safety Module - Risk management through DAO governance
- Token-weighted voting vs. share-based voting
- On-chain vs. off-chain governance
- Delegation mechanisms in both systems
- Treasury management differences
- Proposal lifecycle comparisons
- Different voting mechanisms across DAOs
- Varied reporting standards for corporations
- Blockchain data normalization needs
- Time-based comparison challenges
- Multi-dimensional governance data
- Power relationships are difficult to display clearly
- Timeline representations of non-linear processes
- Finalize your target DAOs and corporations based on data availability
- Create a data collection plan for each metric
- Develop initial wireframes for your core visualization modules
- Outline educational content needed for each section
- Identify specific case studies to feature in your dashboard