This article is part of the “Inside The Collective” series, dedicated to guiding developers and community members through the ecosystem. From getting and staking RIF, to submitting and voting for proposals, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this series.
Because “decentralised” doesn’t have to mean “confusing.”
DAO stands for Decentralised Autonomous Organisation. It’s a way for people to coordinate around shared goals, resources, and decision-making, without relying on a central authority or CEO. Everything runs through smart contracts and community votes.
Instead of top-down leadership, DAOs distribute power to members. Proposals are made, discussed, and voted on. Actions (like spending funds or approving projects) are executed based on collective decisions, often automated by smart contracts. No single person can override the rules once they’re set.
Technically, no one. Practically, everyone who holds governance tokens.
In most DAOs, token holders propose and vote on initiatives. Some DAOs also have working groups or elected contributors to handle the day-to-day. It’s about permissionless contribution, not permissioned hierarchy.
Depends on the DAO, but usually:
In RootstockCollective, for example, stRIF holders vote on which builders receive rewards from the Collective Rewards program.
Usually by holding the governance token. In Rootstock Collective’s case, you stake RIF and receive stRIF, which gives you voting rights. No application, no approval process. Just skin in the game.
Only to a point. Smart contracts handle rule enforcement and execution – so once a proposal passes, the action is often triggered automatically. But the human part (ideas, alignment, votes) still matters a lot. DAOs aren’t free of humans, they just aim to be free of centralized control.
They allow for transparent, borderless, and community-led coordination. Whether it’s funding builders, running experiments, or stewarding ecosystems like Rootstock, DAOs give power back to participants – not just founders or investors.