What Is a Governance Token? Everything You Need to Know

Crypto isn’t nearly shopping for, promoting, or investing. It’s additionally about taking part within the ecosystems and platforms that you just imagine in. On this planet of decentralized finance and blockchain-based tasks generally, customers can play main roles in shaping the way forward for protocols and platforms themselves. That’s the place governance tokens are available in.

These distinctive tokens give their holders the flexibility to vote on proposals, affect protocol upgrades and adjustments, and assist information the path of decentralized tasks.On this information, we are going to break down what governance tokens are, how they work, and why they matter.

What Is a Governance Token?

Governance tokens are a serious a part of how choices are made in lots of decentralized crypto tasks. As an alternative of centralizing the entire energy within the fingers of some builders or group members, governance tokens give the group a voice.

In easy phrases, a governance token is a sort of cryptocurrency that grants the holder voting rights. Governance token holders can vote on adjustments to a protocol, determine the place funds within the treasury are allotted, and even weigh in on new options or upgrades.

Governance tokens are sometimes linked to decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Decentralized autonomous organizations are like community-run tasks that haven’t any central management. In a DAO, the principles are enforced utilizing good contracts, and the members (token holders) steer the path of the undertaking by casting votes.

Governance tokens are frequent in decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain gaming, NFT tasks, and even some metaverse worlds. They play a significant function to make sure that the platforms keep decentralized, giving customers a direct say in how platforms evolve.

What Makes Governance Tokens Priceless?

At first look, a governance token won’t appear particularly helpful. In contrast to utility tokens, they don’t at all times grant entry to companies, yield rewards, or different quick performance. So, why are they precious?

In a phrase: affect. Holding a governance token provides you the ability to assist form the way forward for a undertaking. You may vote on integral protocol upgrades, charge adjustments, and even vote on main treasury allocations. In some instances, this affect is tied to billions of {dollars} of property.

Take Uniswap’s UNI token for instance. Uniswap gave UNI holders the flexibility to vote on how protocol’s treasury, which holds over $3 billion of {dollars} in property as of early 2025, is managed. This sort of decision-making energy can carry main weight.

One other notable instance is Compound Finance’s governance token, COMP. Launched in 2020, COMP was one of many first main governance tokens, permitting the group to form rate of interest fashions, protocol upgrades, and supported property. The extra COMP you maintain, the extra affect you may wield. Right here is an instance of a profitable, executed proposal on Compound, using the voting energy of the vast majority of governance token holders.

Even when tokens don’t generate direct earnings or utility, they will recognize in worth if the protocol is profitable and group engagement is powerful. Many crypto buyers like to invest on these tokens after they count on the protocol to develop and succeed sooner or later, even when they haven’t any cause to forged votes. That is very true for tokens in tasks with giant treasuries and future money flows, like well-liked DeFi protocols.

It’s necessary to keep in mind that governance tokens, like all cryptocurrencies, aren’t with out threat. Their worth will be extraordinarily unstable and pushed extra by hype than fundamentals. If the governance system is taken over by a handful of whales or if voter turnout is low, the token’s worth can crash shortly.

Ultimately, governance tokens are sometimes intently tied to the well being, credibility, hype, and potential of the undertaking they govern.

Governance Tokens vs. Utility Tokens Defined

Not each crypto token is designed to do the identical job. The 2 commonest sorts within the trade are utility tokens and governance tokens. Whereas the 2 generally overlap, they really serve essentially totally different core roles within the blockchain ecosystem.

A utility token is principally used to entry a services or products inside a blockchain-based platform. Consider it as a key that unlocks options. As an example, the Primary Consideration Token (BAT) is used within the Courageous browser to reward customers for viewing adverts and supporting content material creators. Token holders don’t get voting rights – it’s all about performance.

Governance tokens, however, are all about participation and management. Whenever you maintain a governance token, you assist information the undertaking’s path by way of voting. You would possibly vote on whether or not a brand new function must be added, how charges are dealt with, and the way funds are distributed. The MakerDAO undertaking, as an example, makes use of the MKR token to manipulate the DAI stablecoin protocol. Determination-making is left to MKR token holders, who govern the DAI stablecoin protocols.

The road between governance and utility tokens can get blurry. It is because some tokens do double obligation. As an example, AAVE is a governance token that enables holders to vote on protocol choices, but it surely additionally features as a utility token. Holders can stake AAVE to earn rewards and assist safe the lending system.

Within the early days of crypto, most tokens cleanly match into both the governance or utility field, however these days many new tasks give their tokens each governance rights and another type of utility or staking reward. Much like AAVE, Balancer’s BAL can be utilized for each liquidity and governance incentives.

So, whereas the phrases “governance” and “utility” describe totally different ideas, in follow, many tokens will put on each hats. The necessary factor right here is to know how the token features in context and whether or not it provides you energy, entry, or each.

How Governance Tokens Work

Governance tokens aren’t simply collectibles or speculative property. They’re central to decentralized governance and the way tasks make choices.

However how precisely do these tokens operate inside the governance processes? Listed here are the principle fashions of governance that crypto tasks use to form their future.

The Predominant Fashions of Governance

There are a couple of major methods governance tokens are used throughout platforms (with some variations relying on the undertaking’s distinctive wants).

1. One Token, One Vote (Direct Democracy)

That is probably the most simple and customary mannequin. Every token represents one vote, so the extra tokens you maintain, the extra voting energy you will have. In direct democracy, choices like protocol upgrades are made based mostly on the bulk vote of token holders.

Instance: Uniswap, the favored decentralized alternate, makes use of this mannequin. UNI token holders vote on governance proposals that have an effect on the path of the platform. The extra tokens you personal, the larger your affect in voting.

2. Quadratic Voting

Quadratic voting, popularized by Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin, is a mannequin designed to cut back the dominance of enormous token holders. On this system, the price of further votes will increase quadratically. For instance, casting 4 votes would possibly require 16 tokens, not simply 4.

Instance: Gitcoin makes use of quadratic voting to fund open-source tasks. This technique provides smaller holders extra significant affect and prevents whales from taking on your complete course of.

3. Delegated Voting

Delegated voting, also called liquid democracy, is a mannequin that enables token holders to delegate their votes to a trusted consultant, much like how a democratic republic features. This manner, the holders don’t need to take the time to assessment and vote on proposals themselves and may move on their rights to somebody extra educated on the subject.

Instance: Aragon makes use of a delegated voting mannequin the place customers can delegate their votes to trusted brokers to vote on their behalf.

The selection of a governance mannequin will rely upon the undertaking and its targets. Extra centralized tasks would possibly use a easy one-token-one-vote system. Others would possibly go for quadratic or delegated voting to cut back the centralization of energy.

Methods to Get Governance Tokens

Now that you know the way governance tokens work, it’s time to discover ways to truly get your fingers on them. There are a couple of totally different strategies, every with its personal set of benefits.

1. Shopping for Them on an Change

Some of the simple methods to amass governance tokens is by buying them on a crypto alternate. Main platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and Uniswap listing tons of governance tokens for direct buy.

Centralized exchanges like Coinbase and Binance will let you buy governance tokens with fiat currencies, although they could not provide smaller tokens. Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Raydium provide many extra tokens, although you’ll have to buy some cryptocurrency and arrange a crypto pockets earlier than you need to use them.

2. Incomes Tokens Via Staking

Some tasks launch governance tokens as rewards for staking different tokens. On this mannequin, you may lock up a certain quantity of cryptocurrency in a protocol for a interval, and in return, you’ll obtain governance tokens.

It is a frequent follow in DeFi platforms the place customers can stake tokens like DAI or ETH and earn governance tokens like AAVE or SUSHI in return. For instance, AAVE staking returns simply over 4.5% on the time of writing (although this may doubtless range over time).

3. Airdrops

Maybe among the finest methods of getting governance tokens is thru token airdrops, although it’s not often a straightforward job. They’ve grow to be a very fashionable methodology for tasks to reward early adopters and distribute their tokens. In the event you meet sure standards like holding a particular token at a specific time or interacting with a particular protocol, the undertaking will ship your pockets tackle free tokens.

As an example, Uniswap famously airdropped 400 UNI tokens to anybody who had used the platform earlier than a sure date, even when they didn’t maintain any UNI tokens on the time. 400 UNI was value almost $18,000 on the token’s all-time excessive, making it a particularly profitable airdrop. Sadly, protocols by no means reveal the particular necessities earlier than the cutoff for eligibility, which may make securing airdrops tough. Most don’t even let it slip that they’re planning an airdrop earlier than the cutoff.

4. Collaborating in DAO Voting

Some tasks will distribute governance tokens as rewards for participation in governance or group engagement. In the event you interact with group members, vote on proposals, and take part in boards, you may be rewarded with governance tokens.

By doing this, the tasks encourage energetic participation and governance involvement. DAOstack is one instance of this. It provides out governance tokens to customers who interact in group choices.

5. Liquidity Mining

One other methodology to earn governance tokens is thru liquidity mining. On this setup, you present liquidity to a decentralized alternate (DEX) or lending platform in alternate for governance tokens.

The thought right here is that, by including liquidity, you assist keep the operations of the platform. In return, the platform rewards you with governance tokens. Numerous DeFi apps, together with Curve Finance and Balancer, use this methodology as a result of it’s an effective way to incentivize liquidity provision.

Methods to Vote With Governance Tokens

All (reputable) governance tokens give their holders some type of voting energy. Nevertheless, the voting course of can differ dramatically relying on which token or platform you’re utilizing. Let’s take MakerDAO for instance. It is among the most necessary platforms in DeFi that makes use of its MKR token for governance choices associated to its DAI stablecoin. Right here is how the method works:

First, you need to maintain MKR tokens in your pockets (and never an alternate). Keep in mind – the extra you maintain, the larger your voting energy!

Entry the voting platform. MakerDAO makes use of Oasis, a platform the place you may view ongoing proposals and vote on them.

Vote on proposals. These can embrace adjustments to the DAI stability charge, changes to the chance parameters of sure collateral sorts, or choices about MakerDAO’s treasury. As a token holder, you may vote by choosing “approve” or “reject” on the proposals.

As soon as the proposal reaches the mandatory threshold of approval, the adjustments will probably be carried out on the Maker protocol. For a extra in-depth rationalization of methods to vote on MakerDAO, try their step-by-step video information.

The Execs and Cons of Governance Tokens

Governance tokens are crucial in decentralized finance and blockchain tasks. Nevertheless, like another system, they arrive with a set of benefits and downsides.

Benefits
Disadvantages

Decentralized resolution making: The group could make choices with out counting on a government.
Centralization dangers: Giant token holders (whales) can disproportionately affect choices.

Elevated group engagement: Holders usually tend to actively take part within the undertaking’s future.
Voter apathy: Low voter turnout can result in choices being made by a small set of token holders.

Transparency: Proposals and votes are sometimes public.
Complexity: The voting course of will be technical and hard for non-expert customers.

Incentives for participation: Many tasks reward energetic individuals with tokens.
Safety dangers: Voting programs and proposals will be exploited if the platform isn’t well-secured.

Revenue potential: If the undertaking grows and succeeds, the worth of governance tokens might enhance.
Lack of utility: In lots of instances, governance tokens provide little quick utility past voting.

Most In style Governance Tokens

Listed here are a number of the hottest governance tokens in use right this moment by market capitalization and basic reputation:

Uniswap (UNI)

Market cap: $7.5 billion as of April 2025

Governance overview: UNI holders can vote on proposals resembling altering liquidity supplier charges or governance mannequin changes. Uniswap follows a one-token, one-vote mannequin.

MakerDAO (MKR)

Market cap: $5.4 billion as of April 2025

Governance overview: MKR holders can vote on essential choices resembling changes to the system’s threat parameters and updates to the DAI stablecoin. MakerDAO additionally makes use of a one-token, one-vote mannequin however entails varied ranges of governance.

Aave (AAVE)

Market cap: $6.9 billion as of April 2025

Governance overview: AAVE holders can vote on protocol upgrades, treasury administration, and different essential choices. They’ll additionally stake AAVE to assist safe the community. Aave has a liquidity mining program the place holders not solely govern however may also earn rewards by taking part within the platform.

SushiSwap (SUSHI)

Market cap: $2.1 billion as of April 2025

Governance overview: SUSHI holders vote on points like protocol upgrades and charge distribution. The platform additionally has liquidity incentives.

Compound (COMP)

Market cap: $2.8 billion as of April 2025

Governance overview: COMP holders vote on protocol adjustments, together with including and eradicating property from the platform. The protocol is ruled by liquidity suppliers who obtain tokens as rewards for his or her participation.

Conclusion

Governance tokens have performed a serious function in shaping the way forward for cryptocurrency for a few years. They’re the muse of the decentralized governance mannequin, the place choices are made by the communities relatively than CEOs or centralized groups.

Because the crypto market continues to evolve, on-chain governance will doubtless grow to be much more necessary. Tasks are slowly leaning into transparency and decentralization, transferring increasingly more of their decision-making onto the blockchain, the place all the things is traceable and community-oriented. Nonetheless, you will need to keep in mind that not all tokens are created equal. Some are simply rewards or funds, whereas others are separate governance tokens – used strictly for voting.

In actuality, decentralized governance is much from good proper now. We now have voter apathy, whale dominance, and quite a few technical obstacles that also pose main issues. A number of supposedly decentralized tasks even disregard their governance fashions completely after they disagree, rendering your complete system moot. Nonetheless, the thought of constructing a community-led ecosystem stays highly effective and, when it’s carried out effectively, it should assist create extra user-focused and resilient platforms sooner or later.

FAQs

References

DAOstack documentation

Shifting past coin voting governance – Vitalik Buterin’s weblog

MakerDAO Governance Portal

Compound Finance documentation

Uniswap Airdrop – Earnifi