Orbs has launched OIP-9, its first formal community governance vote, in a move aimed at pushing the protocol further along a phased decentralization process. The proposal asks eligible participants to approve both the creation of the Orbs DAO and the initial governance structure that would define how certain network-level decisions are made.

Under the plan, voting would be open at first to holders of tokens staked in the Orbs Proof-of-Stake contract. Votes would be conducted through Snapshot, while any approved decisions would be carried out through DAO-controlled multisig wallets rather than remaining solely in the hands of the core team.

What OIP-9 would establish

The proposal lays out the basic operating model for the Orbs DAO. Community governance would function through submitted proposals and Snapshot voting, creating a formal mechanism for participants to weigh in on protocol matters that the project wants to shift toward community control.

OIP-9 is framed as the first step in that transition. Rather than attempting to decentralize every area at once, the proposal introduces a narrower initial framework intended to move defined decisions to the community while keeping the system workable at an early stage.

Who can vote and how decisions would be executed

At launch, governance participation would be limited to holders of tokens that are staked in the Orbs Proof-of-Stake contract. That means the initial voting base is tied directly to the network’s existing staking structure.

If the community approves a proposal through Snapshot, implementation would not happen automatically on-chain. Instead, dedicated multisig wallets controlled by the DAO would be used to execute the approved outcome, providing an operational layer for carrying out governance decisions.

Initial powers proposed for the DAO

If OIP-9 passes, the DAO’s first responsibilities would cover several core areas of protocol oversight. These include network parameters related to the Proof-of-Stake infrastructure, as well as Guardian certification and revocation.

The proposed scope also includes approval of major protocol upgrades and approval of new protocol deployments and network-level product modules. According to the proposal, this starting mandate is meant to give the community meaningful authority over the network without making the first governance phase too broad.

Broader governance could come later

The governance model described in OIP-9 is designed to expand over time. The proposal says future governance votes could bring additional areas under DAO control as the community develops processes and operating experience.

Topics that may be addressed in later proposals include protocol revenue, treasury management, liquidity strategies, grants, burn mechanisms and wider tokenomics. Those items are not part of the initial framework being voted on now, but they are identified as possible next stages in Orbs’ decentralization roadmap.

Emergency powers remain limited during transition

To reduce risk during the handover to community governance, the proposal includes a limited emergency mechanism for the Orbs core team. That mechanism is intended for situations where immediate action is required to protect network stability.

Even so, the proposal says any use of emergency powers would need to be ratified afterward through DAO governance. The immediate next step is the outcome of the OIP-9 vote, which will determine whether the Orbs DAO is formally established under this initial framework.

Source: crypto.news