From Discussions to Decisions: Understanding User Behavior in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations

Abstract

Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) have emerged as significant governance models, prioritizing transparency and community participation. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the impact of online discussions on the decision-making processes within these organizations. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationships between engagement metrics and proposal approval rates. We find a strong coherence between the most discussed topics in each DAO’s forums and their stated missions. Our analysis also reveals a nuanced but noticeable correlation between community engagement and voting outcomes. Furthermore, our paper explores the complexities of community coordination and collective governance within DAOs, highlighting existing challenges and providing design recommendations.