Decentralized Governance Embracing Disagreement

Decentralized organizations (DAOs) are shifting towards a new paradigm where disagreement is seen as a sign of engagement and vitality, rather than dysfunction. This perspective is reflected in the governance process of Curve Finance and Aave, two prominent players in the DeFi space.

The Curve Finance community has been grappling with a long-running debate over a grant to Swiss Stake AG, the company behind Curve's development. Despite the controversy, the revised proposals have attracted strong participation from members, demonstrating the importance of inclusive decision-making processes.

Meanwhile, Aave faced a governance dispute in December 2025 regarding the allocation of fees from a CoW Swap integration and the ownership of related intellectual property. The episode highlights the need for clear governance structures to handle issues surrounding IP and branding assets in a decentralizing environment.