Governance Token
A cryptocurrency token that grants holders voting rights in a decentralized autonomous organization or protocol governance.
Last Updated
2026-03-29
Related Concepts
What is Governance Token?
A governance token is a cryptocurrency that grants its holders the right to participate in the decision-making process of a blockchain project or DAO. Holders use these tokens to vote on proposals, effectively acting like digital "ballots."
How does Governance Token work?
- Tokens are distributed to users, investors, and team members.
- Holders can
votedirectly ordelegatetheir voting power to someone else. - One token typically equals one
votein standard governance models. - Voting power is calculated using the following basic logic: Voting Power = Tokens Held + Tokens Delegated
- Proposals pass or fail based on the total voting power cast for each option.
Why does Governance Token matter?
Governance tokens decentralize power, shifting control from a small group of founders to a global community of stakeholders. They align the interests of the users with the success of the protocol, as token holders benefit from good governance.
Key features of Governance Token
- Grants voting and proposal rights
- Tradable on secondary markets
- Can be delegated to experts
- Often used for treasury management
- May grant rights to protocol fees
Examples of Governance Token
UNI (Uniswap), AAVE (Aave), and COMP (Compound) are well-known governance tokens that allow their holders to control some of the largest protocols in DeFi.
