Decentralized Autonomous Organizations

Why in news?

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) represent a groundbreaking innovation at the intersection of blockchain technology and governance.

What is DAOs?

• Legal structure- It operates without centralized control and is governed by smart contracts and the consensus of its members.
• Decision making- It uses blockchain technology and smart contract to take decisions in a bottom-up management approach.

Blockchain is a type of shared database that differs from a typical database in the way it stores information, it store data in blocks linked together via cryptography.

• Community driven-It is represented by rules encoded as a computer program that is transparent, controlled by the respective organization members, and not influenced by a government.
• Smart contracts- It executes predefined rules without the need for intermediaries, ensuring trust through code rather than traditional authorities.
• Enhanced cooperation- They enable global, borderless cooperation on an unprecedented scale.
• Constructive engagement-Participants, often referred to as token holders, can propose and vote on decisions related to the organization's goals and resources.
• Self-executing systems- This decentralized decision-making process ensures that no single entity holds undue influence.

What is the significance of DAOs?

• Decentralization- The authority of decision making is broad and made by a collection of individuals independent of third-party intermediaries.
• Transparency- In DAOs votes are cast via block chain and made publicly viewable.
• Fosters trust- As vote and their decisions will be made publicly viewable, this will incentivizes actions that will benefit voters' reputations and discourage acts against the community.
• Inclusivity-The concept of a DAO encourages people from all over the world to seamlessly come together to build a single vision.
• Simplicity-With just an internet connection, token holders can interact with other owners wherever they may live.
• Versatility- It demonstrates the potential to reshape industries across various sectors like finance, supply chain, governance etc.,

What are the challenges of DAOs?

• Lack of regulation- It is a new concept and there is lack of regulation and legal frameworks to govern their use, this can create uncertainty and expose to legal risks.
• Technical complexity- They are built on block chain technology which is difficult and complex to understand.
• Forgery- Malicious actors could exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts as they are transparent, use DAOs to launder money or engage in illegal activities.
• Security breach-DAO hack in 2016 exposed vulnerabilities in the code, leading to a contentious hard fork in the Ethereum block chain.

Hard fork refers to a change in a network’s protocol that makes previously invalid blocks and transactions valid or vice-versa.

• Lack of Accountability- DAOs operate through a consensus-based decision-making process, which can lead to slower decision-making and potential conflicts among members.
• Taxation compliance- DAOs have to comply with various regulations such as Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer further add layers of complexity to the legal framework
• Dispute resolution- It often rely on code-based solutions, present a unique challenge in the absence of traditional legal mechanisms.

What lies ahead?

• Stakeholders are working together to create legal frameworks that balance innovation with compliance for DAOs.
• DAO need to adhere to the complexities of the law while harnessing their transformative potential.
• It is crucial for regulators, developers, and participants to work collaboratively to harness the full potential of DAOs while addressing their evolving challenges.

Reference

     The Hindu- DAOs shaping the future