When you use a decentralized finance app like Uniswap or Aave, no CEO decides what happens next. Instead, DeFi governance, a system where token holders vote on protocol upgrades, treasury spending, and rule changes. Also known as token-based decision-making, it replaces top-down control with open participation. This isn’t theory—it’s how millions in crypto assets are managed daily. If a protocol needs a new feature, fixes a bug, or wants to spend its treasury, the community votes. Your tokens are your ballot.
But governance isn’t just about voting. It relies on tools like multisig wallets, secure accounts requiring multiple signatures to move funds. Also known as multi-signature wallets, they prevent single points of failure—like a hacker stealing the only private key. Most DAOs use them to protect their treasuries. And when votes pass, those multisigs execute the changes. Then there’s token voting, the mechanism where your voting power matches how many tokens you hold. Also known as weight-based governance, it’s the engine behind most DeFi proposals. But here’s the catch: if a few wallets hold most tokens, they control the outcome. That’s why some projects now use quadratic voting or delegation systems to give smaller holders more voice.
DeFi governance is messy, slow, and sometimes broken—but it’s also the only way to truly own your financial tools. You don’t just use a DEX; you help decide how it runs. You don’t just lend crypto; you vote on interest rates. The posts below show you real cases: how Gnosis Safe protects DAO money, why some governance votes fail, how airdrops manipulate voter turnout, and what happens when a project’s treasury gets hacked because no one was watching. These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re live systems with millions at stake. What you learn here could save your assets—or help you help shape the next big change in crypto.
vBNT is the governance token earned by staking BNT on the Bancor Network. It gives holders voting power in the Bancor DAO and represents ownership of staked liquidity pools. Learn how it works, its benefits, risks, and who should use it.