Proposal
Governance Layer • Validators • Protocol Control
formal governance submission
Proposal refers to a formal suggestion or drafted plan submitted for review within a decentralized governance system. In blockchain protocols and DAOs, proposals are a core mechanism for initiating upgrades, allocating funds, modifying smart contracts, or changing governance structures. They must typically follow a structured format and are subject to review, discussion, and voting by validators, token holders, or DAO members, depending on the system’s rules.
Use Case: A DAO member submits a proposal requesting funding to build an analytics dashboard for the community. Once submitted, it enters a voting period where token holders decide whether to approve or reject the initiative.
Key Concepts:
- On-Chain Governance — A voting mechanism to approve protocol-level changes.
- Validator Node — Network actors who approve and secure protocol upgrades via consensus.
- Governance — The decision-making framework within decentralized systems.
- DAO — A decentralized autonomous organization governed by code and token-weighted voting.
Summary: A proposal is the starting point for enacting change within decentralized systems. It formalizes community input and provides a pathway for protocol evolution, funding allocation, or rule modifications.