Latest news with #DAOs
Coin Geek
3 days ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
BSV: Powering decentralized voting systems
Homepage > News > Business > BSV: Powering decentralized voting systems Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In an era where trust in electoral processes and governance systems is increasingly fragile, the need for transparent, secure, and verifiable voting mechanisms has never been more critical. BSV, a blockchain designed to scale and fulfill Satoshi Nakamoto's vision of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, offers a groundbreaking solution for decentralized voting systems. By leveraging its immutable ledger, high transaction throughput, and low-cost transactions, BSV can revolutionize voting—from global elections to niche micro-democracies like decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and local cooperatives. This article explores how BSV addresses the challenges of traditional voting systems, its unique advantages for niche voting applications, and its potential to reshape democratic processes. The crisis in traditional voting systems Traditional voting systems, whether paper-based or electronic, face persistent vulnerabilities; centralized databases are prone to hacking, as seen in the 2016 U.S. election interference concerns, while paper ballots can be lost, manipulated, or miscounted. Transparency is often lacking, with citizens unable to independently verify results. In niche contexts like corporate governance or community organizations, inefficiencies in vote tallying and disputes over legitimacy further erode trust. There is a growing public demand for systems that ensure every vote is provable and untouchable. Centralized digital voting platforms, while convenient, introduce risks of censorship and control. Governments or corporations managing these systems can suppress votes, alter records, or exclude participants based on arbitrary criteria. These challenges are particularly pronounced in micro-democracies—small-scale governance structures like DAOs, neighborhood councils, or worker cooperatives—where frequent, low-stake votes require cost-effective, secure solutions. BSV's decentralized architecture and technical capabilities position it as an ideal platform to address these issues, offering a level of transparency and security that traditional systems cannot match. BSV's technical edge for voting systems BSV's design makes it uniquely suited for voting applications. Its unbounded block size—reaching 4GB in recent tests—enables massive transaction throughput, with the BSV Infrastructure Team reporting 1,000,000 transactions per second (TPS) on the Teranode upgrade. This scalability ensures that BSV can handle the high volume of votes required for national elections or frequent micro-votes in DAOs without network congestion or delays. Unlike blockchains like Ethereum, which face high gas fees and throughput limits, BSV's low transaction fees—often below $0.00011—make it economically viable for small-scale, high-frequency voting. The immutability of BSV's proof-of-work blockchain is a cornerstone of its voting potential. Once a vote is recorded on-chain, it cannot be altered or deleted, ensuring a tamper-proof record. Each vote can be timestamped using BSV's native timestamping capabilities, providing a verifiable audit trail. Voters can use Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) to independently confirm their vote was counted, without relying on a central authority. This transparency addresses concerns that verifiable voting is the only way to restore trust. BSV's smart contract functionality further enhances its voting capabilities. Smart contracts can automate vote tallying, enforce eligibility rules, and ensure anonymity where needed, using cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs. For instance, a voter could prove they meet eligibility criteria (e.g., membership in a cooperative) without revealing their identity. This flexibility makes BSV adaptable to diverse voting scenarios, from anonymous ballots to weighted shareholder votes. Niche applications: Micro-democracy BSV's low-cost, scalable infrastructure shines in niche voting contexts like DAOs, local cooperatives, and community organizations. DAOs, which govern decentralized projects through token-based voting, often face challenges with voter apathy and high costs on other blockchains. BSV's micropayment capabilities allow DAO members to vote frequently without prohibitive fees, fostering active participation. For example, a DAO managing a decentralized fund could use BSV to record daily micro-votes on investment decisions, with each vote costing a fraction of a cent. Local cooperatives, such as agricultural or housing co-ops, can leverage BSV for transparent governance. Votes on resource allocation or leadership elections can be recorded on-chain, ensuring members can verify outcomes. In regions with limited digital infrastructure, BSV's peer-to-peer nature allows offline communities to sync votes via mobile apps, bridging accessibility gaps. These applications, rarely discussed in mainstream blockchain conversations, highlight BSV's potential to democratize governance at the grassroots level. The future: BSV as a voting standard BSV's potential to transform voting extends beyond niche use cases. Its regulation-friendly design, built to comply with legal frameworks, makes it appealing for governments exploring blockchain-based elections. Pilot projects, suggest BSV could underpin national voting systems, reducing fraud and increasing turnout. By integrating with digital identity protocols, BSV could ensure voter authenticity while preserving privacy and addressing concerns about centralized digital IDs. Challenges remain, including educating stakeholders and countering misinformation about BSV's capabilities. However, ongoing developments, such as Teranode's scalability enhancements and the BSV Association's outreach, are paving the way for broader adoption. As trust in traditional voting erodes, BSV's transparent, decentralized approach could become a global standard, from micro-democracies to national elections. Conclusion BSV offers a powerful solution to the transparency and security challenges plaguing voting systems. Its scalable, immutable blockchain, low-cost transactions, and smart contract capabilities make it ideal for both large-scale elections and niche micro-democracies. BSV restores trust in governance processes by enabling verifiable, tamper-proof voting empowering communities and individuals. As the world grapples with democratic deficits, BSV stands poised to redefine how we vote, proving blockchain can deliver on its promise of decentralization and fairness. Watch: State of the Union with John Pitts title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EtherMail wants to reinvent email for crypto: ‘Give it a decentralized backbone'
Gerald Heydenreich, President and co-founder of EtherMail, believes email — one of the internet's oldest tools — may hold the key to the next wave of crypto engagement. In a conversation with TheStreet Roundtable, Heydenreich shared how EtherMail's newly launched platform, Stake4Ads, is reshaping how projects reach users by blending email with blockchain incentives. 'The challenge in Web3 marketing is predictability,' Heydenreich said. 'Budgets are tight, audiences are fragmented, and traditional platforms don't speak the language of crypto. We wanted to fix that.' Launched in 2022, EtherMail is a blockchain-based email platform designed for wallet-to-wallet communication. It enables users to receive authenticated, on-chain messages from DAOs and crypto projects while protecting privacy. The platform also lets users earn rewards for consenting to targeted content. Launched on May 5, Stake4Ads lets companies stake EMT tokens to earn recurring ad credits — instead of spending tokens on one-off ads. These credits guarantee email placements in verified wallet-to-wallet inboxes, reaching users active in DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and governance protocols. 'By staking, you're not spending,' Heydenreich explained. 'You're allocating resources to access attention — attention that's measurable, consent-based, and tied to real wallets.' In short: marketers lock up tokens, and in return, they get reliable access to crypto-native inboxes. This is a big shift from relying on social media, influencers, or paid campaigns with vague returns. EtherMail's platform is built to support direct, privacy-preserving communication between wallets — meaning users can get messages from token issuers or DAOs without giving up their data. Users can also set preferences and earn from receiving emails, making the relationship more balanced. It's a win-win: projects get consistent delivery with built-in fraud protection, and users only receive content they've opted into — sometimes with incentives. 'You can still market without market-making,' Heydenreich said. 'You're not burning tokens. You're using them as a signal of intent.' Early results show higher open and click-through rates, and EtherMail is offering a 25% performance boost for campaigns in their first month — a smart move to capture attention in the crowded Web3 space. Agencies are taking note, too. Stake4Ads gives them a quantifiable, blockchain-native way to deliver for crypto clients — not just views, but performance. 'It's not just about ads,' Heydenreich added. 'It's about performance. Staking makes that performance auditable.' While email may sound old-school, EtherMail sees it as a powerful tool when combined with blockchain principles. 'This isn't about reinventing email,' Heydenreich adds. 'It's about giving it a decentralized backbone. We just happen to think staking is a better way to earn attention than spending blindly.' With Stake4Ads now live, EtherMail aims to make email not just useful, but central to how crypto projects communicate — one staked token at a time. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
24-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Vocdoni raises $1M to launch DAVINCI: The first universal digital voting protocol
Vocdoni, a leader in governance solutions, announces the upcoming launch of DAVINCI, a protocol designed to set a new global standard in secure, accessible, anonymous, anticoercion and censorship-resistant digital voting. Following a successful $1M angel investment round, Vocdoni will launch DAVINCI's public testnet this June. Canton of Zug, Switzerland, April 24, 2025 -- Backed by individuals from leading projects in the Web3 sector, Vocdoni is redefining digital democracy with DAVINCI, the first digital voting technology that meets all the criteria for universal adoption. DAVINCI, an acronym for 'Decentralized Autonomous Vote Integrity Network with Cryptographic Immutability,' addresses critical vulnerabilities in existing digital and traditional voting systems by using advanced cryptographic methods such as zkSNARKs and threshold homomorphic encryption, leveraging Ethereum security and cryptographic integrity. These technologies ensure voter privacy, prevent coercion, and enable verifiable transparency without relying on central authorities. 'Current digital voting systems are costly, vulnerable, and inaccessible, failing to meet the democratic needs of billions,' stated Pau Escrich, Vocdoni cofounder. 'DAVINCI solves these issues, providing universally anticoercion, anonymous, tamper-proof, and cost-efficient voting capabilities.' Inspired by Bitcoin and Ethereum's success in enabling censorship‑resistant financial participation, DAVINCI brings that proven model to governance. Its token powers a fully decentralized voting network in which organizers stake tokens to launch transparent elections, and sequencers earn rewards by honestly aggregating votes. Vocdoni's longstanding leadership in decentralized governance has already provided secure voting solutions to over 300 organizations globally, including city councils, political parties and DAOs. DAVINCI emerges as a culmination of Vocdoni's extensive experience with the aim to establish new standards in digital democracy, enabling low‑cost, highly scalable, coercion-free and anonymous voting. Throughout 2025, Vocdoni will initiate token pre-sales, offering individuals and communities an opportunity to shape the future of digital governance. For more information, please visit About the company: Vocdoni, a pioneer in decentralized governance technology, empowers communities and institutions through secure, verifiable, and censorship-resistant digital voting solutions. Built on open-source principles, decentralized technologies and advanced cryptography, Vocdoni ensures integrity, privacy, and accessibility in global democratic processes. Vocdoni works with notable clients such as FC Barcelona, the Barcelona City Council, the Belarusian Coordination Council, Esquerra Republicana, one of the largest political parties in Spain, and Òmnium Cultural, the largest cultural association in Europe, along with hundreds of other Web2 organizations, institutions, and DAOs. Contact Info: Name: Ferran Reyes Email: Send Email Organization: Vocdoni Phone: +34744407401 Website: Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence. Release ID: 89158313 In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Estate Planning For DAO-Owned Collectibles: Navigating Digital And Tangible Wealth
DAO, Decentralized Autonomous Organization, leadership by code and blockchain. Vector stock ... More illustration n recent years, the evolution of blockchain technology has introduced novel complexities to estate planning, none more so than the emergence of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations—or DAOs—that invest in artwork, NFTs, and physical collectibles. As clients increasingly turn to DAOs to manage high-value assets, estate planners are encountering challenges that straddle both digital and tangible domains, requiring innovative legal and fiduciary solutions. DAOs first gained prominence during the NFT boom, where groups like FlamingoDAO and PleasrDAO pooled capital to acquire digital art and crypto-native collectibles. Their success inspired a new wave of collective ownership models, many of which now target not only digital tokens but also physical artwork. Particle DAO, for example, famously fractionalized a Banksy painting, while Arkive positioned itself as a decentralized museum, allowing members to vote on acquisitions ranging from fine art to historical artifacts. These efforts demonstrated that DAOs could serve as serious vehicles for curating and preserving cultural value—but they also exposed the gaps in legal frameworks, tax classifications, and inheritance protocols. Estate planning for these types of assets begins with one fundamental issue: how to define ownership. Because many DAOs are not formal legal entities, it is often unclear whether a member's interest constitutes equity, a partnership share, or simply an intangible asset. This ambiguity has significant tax implications. If the DAO is treated as a pass-through entity, income and capital gains could be allocated directly to members. If not, the tokens might be considered intangible property, complicating valuation and transfer at death. The fact that federal tax law treats collectibles differently—imposing a capital gains rate of up to 28%—only adds to the complexity when those collectibles are held within a DAO structure. There is also the matter of control and access. Most DAOs operate through smart contracts and token-based governance. While efficient in theory, these mechanisms can conflict with traditional estate planning tools such as wills and trusts. A fiduciary may be empowered to transfer stock or real estate, but unless they possess the decedent's private keys, they may be unable to access or manage DAO-held assets. This raises urgent questions about how to store and transfer those keys securely, and how to ensure that designated fiduciaries understand both the technological and legal dimensions of DAO participation. Moreover, the automation inherent in smart contracts can present additional problems. Some DAOs are programmed to make distributions or sales based on preset governance votes, timelines, or token ownership thresholds. These automated functions may not align with probate court timelines or beneficiary intentions. Without careful integration between smart contracts and estate documents, assets could be distributed in unintended ways—or not at all. Valuation also presents a unique challenge. Unlike traditional estate assets, which are typically appraised based on the comparison with established market transactions, DAO interests often require a two-layer appraisal process. One must assess the value of the token itself, which may be volatile and subject to market sentiment, as well as the underlying collectible, whose worth may depend on provenance, condition, or cultural significance. Illiquidity adds yet another layer of risk. In many cases, neither the token nor the collectible can be sold quickly without a discount, making it difficult to meet estate tax obligations or execute equal distributions among heirs. Given these risks, planning structures must evolve. Purpose trusts have become an increasingly useful tool for holding DAO interests, particularly when the client wishes to preserve the integrity of a collection or maintain voting rights over future acquisitions. Grantor Retained Income Trusts (GRITs) can help mitigate estate taxes by freezing the asset's value while transferring appreciation to the next generation. Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) offer another strategy, especially when the client seeks both philanthropic impact and income for heirs. These structures can defer capital gains and ultimately donate the collectible to a museum or institution that aligns with the client's values. Documentation remains essential. Estate plans should clearly define the scope of authority granted to fiduciaries, including the ability to vote on DAO proposals, sell tokens, or initiate liquidation events. Equally important is the maintenance of a comprehensive digital inventory. This should include not only information about the collectible itself—such as appraisals, condition reports, and storage details—but also metadata related to the DAO, including token IDs, governance protocols, and relevant smart contract terms. Jurisdictional issues further complicate the landscape. While DAOs operate across borders, estate planning remains tethered to the laws of individual states and countries. Advisors must ensure that digital asset planning is compliant with the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), which governs fiduciary access to online accounts and cryptographic keys. Additionally, the high value of many collectibles may trigger anti-money laundering scrutiny during transfers, making it essential to maintain thorough documentation of the asset's provenance and acquisition history. Liquidity planning is another essential component. DAO interests are thinly traded. Clients who hold significant portions of their wealth in DAO-governed collectibles should consider supplemental strategies—such as life insurance policies—to cover estate tax liabilities or provide heirs with immediate access to cash, so avoiding selling the DAO interests at a steep discount. The rise of DAOs in art and collectible investing is reshaping the way families build and transfer wealth. While these entities offer unparalleled opportunities for cultural preservation and community governance, they also demand a rethinking of traditional estate planning tools. For clients seeking to steward their digital and tangible legacies across generations, proactive, coordinated, and technically informed planning is no longer optional, it is essential.
