Gno’s GovDAO Governance System

Complex three-tier membership structure proposed for Gno.land governance.

Three-Tier Hierarchy

Tier 1: Core Members

Voting Power: 3 votes each
Characteristics: Self-selecting core
Protection: Cannot be removed without cause
Cap: Maximum 50% of total voting power

Tier 2: Contributors

Voting Power: 2 votes each
Requirements: Continuous contribution
Cap: Maximum 33% of total voting power

Tier 3: Basic Members

Voting Power: 1 vote each
Entry: Easiest tier to join
Removal: Easiest to remove
Cap: Maximum 16% of total voting power

Membership Rules

General Requirements

Maximum member age: 70 years
Expertise assessment (subjective)
Contribution measurement
Regular participation

Tier Transitions

Complex rules for moving between tiers
Subjective evaluation criteria
No clear automation

Governance Structure

Voting Power Distribution

Total Voting Power = 
  (T1_members × 3) + 
  (T2_members × 2) + 
  (T3_members × 1)

With caps:
- T1: ≤ 50% of total
- T2: ≤ 33% of total  
- T3: ≤ 16% of total

Decision Making

Weighted voting by tier
Complex quorum calculations
Different thresholds for different decisions

Treasury System

Multiple Treasuries

GovDAO Pay: Member compensation
Validator Treasury: Network operations
Development Fund: Ecosystem growth
Emergency Reserve: Crisis management

Bicameral Structure

GNOTDAO: Token holder governance
GovDAO: Member governance
Complex interaction between both

Challenges Identified

Complexity Issues

Subjective tier assessments
Unclear contribution metrics
Age discrimination (70-year cap)
Power concentration in T1

Operational Challenges

Manual evaluation processes
Tier transition disputes
Voting calculation complexity
Multi-treasury management

This governance model represents one approach to blockchain governance, but its complexity may hinder adoption. The subjective nature of tier assessments and the potential for power concentration in T1 members are significant concerns.

Sources

GovDAO System Design: https://gist.github.com/jaekwon/918ad325c4c8f7fb5d6e022e33cb7eb3 - Original specification by Jae Kwon

gno-govdao