Hey everyone,
Layered governance is an emerging model in decentralized systems that distributes decision-making across multiple interconnected levels rather than concentrating it in a single voting body. Instead of relying solely on one global DAO to handle all proposals, layered governance introduces specialized councils, committees, or sub-DAOs that focus on specific domains such as treasury management, technical development, or community engagement. This structure allows for more efficient decision-making and greater expertise in each area while maintaining overall coherence through higher-level oversight or cross-layer coordination.
By separating responsibilities, layered governance helps prevent bottlenecks and decision fatigue common in flat voting systems. It also improves accountability, as smaller groups can be more easily evaluated based on their performance and transparency. However, this approach introduces challenges in coordination and consistency—ensuring that lower-level decisions align with broader community values and long-term strategy.
Successful layered governance depends on clear delegation frameworks, transparent reporting, and mechanisms for conflict resolution between layers. It represents a step toward scalable and resilient decentralized organizations, capable of managing complex ecosystems without reverting to centralization. As DAOs grow, layered governance offers a pragmatic balance between autonomy, efficiency, and inclusivity—key elements for sustainable decentralized coordination.