The ABCs of DAOs

DAOs will eventually replace the traditional model. A DAO is an internet-native organization with core functions that are automated by smart contracts, and with people who do the things that automation cannot (e.g., marketing, software development). In practice, not all DAOs are decentralized or autonomous, so it is best to think of DAOs as interne... See more

One mechanism to coalesce a nexus of smart contracts is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). You can think of it like a shared treasury among the members, with hard coded rules that govern how funds can be disbursed. DAOs can be used for any number of collective pursuits, much like an LLC can be formed to pool resources for any number of ... See more

Based on Vitalik Buterin’s DAOs, DACs, DAs and More: An Incomplete Terminology Guide from 2014, a DAO could be described then as a capitalized organization in which a software protocol informs its operation, placing automation at its center and humans at its edges. For example, a software protocol could specify the conditions upon which an organiza... See more

The decentralized automated organization (DAO) structure and the technologies underpinning them -- transparent ledgers, smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, automated governance and certifiable digital ownership -- were created specifically and solely to align incentives. And now that they have been in the market for several years, we are starting to... See more

The shape of this future is rapidly coming into focus and centers around an organization referred to by technologists as “decentralized autonomous organizations,” or DAOs. These DAOs operate with different assumptions than many of today’s traditional legal entities and other business associations. DAOs are not run by boards or managers, but rather ... See more

Since DAOs are blockchain-based organizations that usually are not tied to a corporate entity, they leave a lot of room for rapid experimentation in organization and incentive design. Members can collectively source an idea, funnel collectively managed resources toward shared goals, iterate, and ship with rapid speed.