Governance & DAO
Pocket Network is governed by its community through the Pocket DAO — a decentralized autonomous organization that controls protocol parameters, treasury, and strategic direction. Governance is not a formality; it is how the network evolves. PIP-41 (deflationary mechanics), F-Chains II (long-tail chain coverage), and the Shannon upgrade itself were all enabled by DAO governance.
The Governance Structure
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Pocket DAO | Sets protocol parameters, controls the treasury, approves strategic changes via community vote |
| Pocket Network Foundation (PNF) | Implements DAO decisions, operates infrastructure, manages partnerships, stewards ecosystem growth |
PNF implements what the DAO decides. The DAO cannot force PNF to take actions outside its mandate, and PNF cannot implement major protocol changes without DAO approval.
Who Can Vote
Pocket Network uses a Proof-of-Participation model — governance power is earned through contribution, not purchased. Under the CREDS system (PIP-37, 2024), the DAO has two Houses:
| House | Weight | Voting Model | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder House | 80% | One-person-one-vote | Verified contributors to the protocol, ecosystem tools, community |
| Staker House | 20% | Stake-weighted (√) | Node operators, liquidity providers, gateway operators |
Voting happens on Snapshot. To participate, you need to earn Builder or Staker Credentials through contributions.
What the DAO Votes On
| Proposal Type | Scope | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| PIP (Improvement) | Protocol changes, governance structure | PIP-41 deflation, Shannon upgrade |
| PEP (Ecosystem) | Funding, ecosystem investment, grants | PNF budget, F-Chains II |
| PUP (Parameters) | On-chain parameter changes | CUTTM adjustments, mint ratio |
Token Logic Modules — Governance Without Hard Forks
Shannon’s TLMs are modular, independently adjustable components of the protocol’s economics. Before Shannon, changing a parameter required a software upgrade (hard fork). Under Shannon, the DAO can change many parameters through a simple on-chain governance vote — making governance dramatically more responsive.
What’s in This Section
- How to Submit a Proposal — the full PIP/PEP/PUP process from idea to vote
- Governance Parameters — all on-chain parameters with current values and CLI queries
Key Resources
- Forum: forum.pokt.network — where governance discussion happens
- Snapshot: snapshot.org/#/pokt-dao.eth — where votes happen
- Constitution: github.com/pokt-network/governance
- Discord: discord.gg/pocket-network — #governance channel
- Parameters: poktscan.com/params — live on-chain values
In this section
Governance Parameters
All governance-controlled parameters in Pocket Network Shannon — what they do, current values, and how to query them.
Learn more →How to Submit a Governance Proposal
Step-by-step guide to moving a proposal from idea through forum discussion to a binding DAO vote — PIPs, PEPs, and PUPs.
Learn more →