Voting Rights & Mechanics

1. Basic Governance Flow

SWELL’s governance generally follows these steps:

  1. Proposal

    • Community members or the core team formally submit ideas for protocol improvements, parameter changes, or new feature implementations.

    • Proposals include an overview, objectives, potential impact, and how they will be executed, so that the community can easily understand the scope.

  2. Discussion

    • After a proposal is published, discussions take place on forums, social media, or off-chain voting tools.

    • The community explores pros and cons and may propose alternatives, fostering constructive dialogue.

  3. Voting

    • Once a defined discussion period ends, an on-chain vote (or a specified signaling method) is held.

    • Voting rights may be tied to SWELL token ownership or staking status, and results are recorded on the blockchain.

    • Certain approval thresholds, such as a majority vote or a quorum, may be required for adoption.

  4. Implementation

    • Approved proposals are implemented by the development team or the community.

    • Post-implementation testing and reviews ensure safe and reliable deployment.

2. On-Chain Voting and Off Chain Signaling

  • On-Chain Voting

    • Votes are recorded as transactions on the blockchain, offering high integrity though incurring transaction costs.

    • In some cases, results may trigger automated smart contract execution, while others may require a final confirmation.

  • Off Chain Signaling

    • Community members use forums, social media, or specific voting tools to gauge sentiment before committing to an on-chain vote.

    • This step often makes the ultimate on-chain vote smoother, ensuring higher awareness and clarity.

3. Voting Power and Staking

  • SWELL tokens held or staked typically determine voting power.

  • Users who stake tokens not only earn rewards but also gain incentives and responsibilities to participate actively in governance.

  • Broader distribution of tokens leads to more diverse perspectives, resulting in a more democratic decision-making process.

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