Should Voting Power Be Dynamic Instead of Snapshot-Based?

DAO & Voting
1

Hey everyone,

I’ve been thinking about how most DAOs handle voting power—usually based on a token snapshot taken at the start of a proposal or vote. While this makes implementation straightforward and helps prevent last-minute manipulation, it also seems to ignore a lot of context, like whether someone has held tokens long-term or if they just acquired them minutes before the snapshot.

Would it make more sense to explore dynamic voting power models? For example, voting weight could be based on average token holdings over time, activity in the community, or even contribution reputation. Some protocols have experimented with time-weighted tokens or voting escrow systems, but they still rely on fixed moments in time.

There are obvious challenges—especially around complexity and potential manipulation if balances can shift during a live vote. But snapshots also feel static in a space that’s trying to build responsive, real-time systems.

Curious what others think. Is snapshot-based voting just good enough for now, or should we be experimenting with more dynamic or adaptive models? And if so, are there any projects already doing this well that are worth looking at?

1 Like
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Absolutely: voting should be dynamic!!!

Snapshot-based models are simple, but they’re outdated for what DAOs aim to be: adaptive, real-time, and context-aware. They reward opportunistic behavior (buy before the snapshot, sell after) and ignore long-term alignment or actual contribution to a project.

Dynamic voting power based on time-weighted holdings, on-chain activity, or community contributions, better reflects real engagement and commitment. It’s harder to game and aligns incentives over the long term.