Governance Model
EhanLabs implements a progressive decentralization model that transitions from hybrid governance to full DAO control, ensuring the platform evolves from centralized management to complete community control while maintaining stability and security.
Progressive Decentralization Philosophy
EhanLabs believes in progressive decentralization - a gradual transition from centralized control to full DAO governance. This approach:
Maintains Stability: Core team handles critical decisions during early growth
Builds Trust: Community involvement from day one creates ownership and alignment
Reduces Risk: Gradual transition prevents governance attacks and protocol failures
Ensures Quality: Professional management during critical growth phases
Governance Phases
Phase 1: Hybrid Governance (Q2 2026)
Control Distribution: 70% Core Team / 30% Community
Core Team Responsibilities:
Critical protocol upgrades and security patches
Platform operations and infrastructure management
Emergency response and incident handling
Strategic partnerships and business development
Smart contract audits and security reviews
Community Voting Rights:
Feature requests and product enhancements
Platform fee adjustments (with minimum thresholds)
Marketing initiatives and community programs
UI/UX improvements and user experience changes
Category additions and marketplace organization
Governance Mechanisms:
Community polls for feedback
Advisory board input
Public forums for discussion
Transparency reports and updates
Why This Phase:
Early stage requires rapid iteration and technical expertise
Security and stability are paramount during MVP launch
Community is still forming and learning platform
Token distribution is still concentrated
Phase 2: Balanced Governance (Q3 - Q4 2026)
Control Distribution: 50% Core Team / 50% Community
Core Team Responsibilities:
Protocol security and critical upgrades
Technical infrastructure management
Legal and regulatory compliance
Strategic partnerships (with community approval)
Community Voting Rights:
All previous rights expanded
Treasury allocation and spending decisions
Partnership approvals and strategic initiatives
Tokenomics adjustments (with safeguards)
Platform fee structure changes
Major feature development priorities
New Governance Features:
Formal Proposal System: Structured proposal submission process
Voting Platform: On-chain voting with $EHAN tokens
Discussion Periods: Mandatory discussion before voting (5-7 days)
Proposal Thresholds: Minimum stake required for proposal submission
Governance Process (overview):
Proposal submission (requires minimum $EHAN stake)
Community discussion period (5-7 days)
Core team review and recommendation
On-chain voting (weighted by staked $EHAN)
Implementation (if approved by majority)
Why This Phase:
Platform has proven stability and security
Community is mature and engaged
Token distribution is more decentralized
Governance mechanisms are tested and trusted
Phase 3: Full DAO (2026 Onwards)
Control Distribution: 30% Core Team / 70% Community → Eventual Full Community Control
Core Team Role:
Service Providers: Core team transitions to service providers
Technical Implementation: Execute community-approved proposals
Advisory Role: Provide expertise but no decision-making power
Operational Support: Maintain infrastructure and support
Community Full Control:
All major decisions require community approval
Treasury fully controlled by DAO
Protocol upgrades voted on by community
Strategic direction set by community
Platform fee adjustments community-controlled
Governance Mechanisms:
On-Chain Voting: All votes recorded on blockchain
Proposal System: Anyone can submit proposals (with stake)
Governance Committees: Elected committees for oversight
Treasury Management: Multi-sig treasury controlled by community
Transparency: All decisions and spending visible on-chain
Transition Criteria:
Token distribution sufficiently decentralized
Governance mechanisms proven and secure
Community engagement and participation high
Platform stability and security validated
Legal and regulatory framework established
Governance Process
Proposal Submission
Proposal Types:
Protocol Upgrades: Technical improvements to smart contracts
Feature Requests: New marketplace features or capabilities
Fee Adjustments: Changes to platform fee structure
Treasury Allocation: Spending proposals for DAO treasury
Partnership Approvals: Strategic partnerships and integrations
Governance Changes: Modifications to governance process itself
Submission Requirements:
Minimum Stake: Requires minimum $EHAN stake to submit (prevents spam)
Proposal Deposit: Deposit required (returned if proposal reaches voting stage)
Format: Structured proposal format with:
Title and description
Rationale and impact analysis
Implementation plan
Budget (if applicable)
Timeline
Proposal Review:
Community Discussion: 5-7 day discussion period
Feedback Incorporation: Proposer can update based on feedback
Core Team Assessment: Technical feasibility and risk assessment
Voting Decision: Proposal moves to voting if meets criteria
Voting Mechanism
Voting System:
On-Chain Voting: All votes recorded on ICP blockchain
Weighted by Stake: Voting power = staked $EHAN amount
Transparency: All votes visible and auditable
Finality: Votes cannot be altered once cast
Voting Options:
For: Support the proposal
Against: Reject the proposal
Abstain: No position
Voting Requirements:
Quorum: Minimum participation required (e.g., 20% of staked tokens)
Majority: Simple majority (50%+1) for most proposals
Super Majority: 67%+ required for critical decisions (fee changes, tokenomics)
Voting Period: Typically 5-7 days
Proposal Execution
Implementation Process
Vote Completion: Voting period ends
Result Verification: Results verified on-chain
Approval Check: Proposal passes if meets thresholds
Implementation: Core team (or designated party) implements
Verification: Implementation verified and tested
Completion: Proposal marked complete on-chain
Governance Committees
Purpose: Provide specialized oversight and expertise for different areas
Potential Committees:
Security Committee: Protocol security and audits
Treasury Committee: Treasury management and allocation
Product Committee: Feature development and priorities
Partnership Committee: Strategic partnerships and integrations
Compliance Committee: Legal and regulatory compliance
Committee Structure:
Elected by community vote
Fixed terms (e.g., 6-12 months)
Regular reporting to community
Transparent decision-making
Governance Transparency
Public Information:
All proposals and votes visible on-chain
Treasury balance and spending tracked
Governance metrics and participation statistics
Core team decisions and rationale
Regular transparency reports
Communication Channels:
Governance forum for discussions
On-chain voting interface
Regular community calls
Written updates and announcements
Public documentation
Token Holder Rights
As $EHAN Token Holder:
Voting Rights: Vote on all governance proposals
Proposal Submission: Submit proposals (with stake)
Treasury Oversight: Review and vote on treasury spending
Transparency Access: Access to all governance data
Committee Participation: Eligible for governance committees
Staking Requirements:
Basic Voting: No minimum (but voting power = stake amount)
Proposal Submission: Minimum stake required (prevents spam)
Committee Eligibility: Higher stake requirements
Risk Management
Governance Attacks Prevention:
Minimum Thresholds: Prevent spam proposals
Quorum Requirements: Ensure meaningful participation
Super Majority: Critical decisions require higher approval
Voting Periods: Prevent last-minute manipulation
Stake Requirements: Align incentives with platform success
Transition Safeguards:
Gradual Phase-In: Phases implemented gradually
Testing Periods: Governance mechanisms tested before full launch
Emergency Powers: Core team retains emergency powers during transition
Reversibility: Governance changes can be reversed if issues arise
Governance Roadmap
Q3-Q4 2025: Hybrid governance with community feedback
Q1-Q2 2026: Balanced governance with formal proposal system
Q3-Q4 2026: Full DAO launch with complete community control
Last updated