07. Scott Moore: Dunbar’s number, civic roles in web3, and consensus by humming
Aug 4, 2021
auto_awesome
Scott Moore, co-founder of Gitcoin, discusses the impact of Dunbar's number on DAOs, the challenges of governing at scale, and the evolution of decentralized autonomous organizations in the tech space. The conversation also explores group dynamics and decision-making processes within DAOs, the role of stewards as content creators in web3 governance, and favorite items in the guest's wallet like the Kudos NFT and Infinite Token.
Effective governance in DAOs requires high-trust systems and structured decision-making processes.
Maintaining community engagement in expanding DAOs involves strategies like smaller group sizes and informal processes.
Experiences with token challenges in Gitcoin's DAO led to the evolution of governance practices and decentralized grants mechanisms.
Deep dives
Scott Moore's Experience with DAOs and Gitcoin
Scott Moore, a key figure from Gitcoin, shares his journey into the crypto space and highlights his early involvement with DAOs and the development of Gitcoin. Starting in Toronto in 2015-16, Moore participated in hackathons and experimented with creating DAOs linked to GitHub repositories, ultimately leading to the birth of Gitcoin. The focus shifted to funding open source projects, particularly supporting open source maintainers.
Challenges Faced by Gitcoin's DAO and Coordination with the Akita Community
Gitcoin's DAO encountered challenges when gifted with a large percentage of SHIB and Akita tokens, leading to a complex coordination game within the DAO. Stewards navigated through the dilemma of maximizing the token value for public goods while avoiding a sell-off that could harm everyone involved. This experience laid the groundwork for governance practices and the scope of DAO functions.
Evolution of Work Streams and Governance in Gitcoin's DAO
Following the Akita coordination challenge, Gitcoin's DAO consolidated into work streams, ratifying grants and transitioning towards a decentralized grants mechanism. The DAO's structure evolved, emphasizing organic coordination among stewards, members, and inter-DAO relationships. This process highlighted the importance of effective governance and alignment on goals within the ecosystem.
Consensus-Based Decision Making and Governance Models in DAOs
The podcast delves into the concept of consensus-based decision making versus token-based voting systems within DAOs. It emphasizes the need for high-trust systems, executive bodies, and structured governance processes to ensure legitimacy and effective decision-making. Discussions around adapting governmental checks and balances within DAOs and assessing governance participants' roles as content creators highlight ongoing evolution in decentralized governance.
Addressing Apathy and Participation Challenges in Growing DAOs
The conversation explores the impact of Dunbar's number on community dynamics within DAOs and the challenge of maintaining engagement and participation as communities expand. Strategies involving high trust, smaller group sizes, and informal processes resonate within smaller DAOs like PleaserDAO and C-club. The evolving focus on creating engaging content and maintaining momentum while addressing objections and ensuring accountability shapes the future of decentralized governance.