In the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisation) has become one of the most important and innovative concepts in the blockchain world. It is an organisation where governance and decision-making occur based on smart contracts and voting by members (token holders). Nevertheless, in order to successfully launch and allure investors to a DAO project, one of the pivotal documents required is the White Paper.
What is a White Paper for DAO?
The White Paper is a presentation document that describes in detail the DAO project’s concept, goals, strategy and technological features. It is a business plan that helps potential investors and members understand the uniqueness of the project, its goals, and how it will be realised.
Why compile a White Paper for DAO?
- Attracting potential investors. White Paper serves as a powerful auxiliary tool for attracting investments. Potential investors pay attention to a detailed description of the project, its prospects and development plans, which makes the project more transparent and attractive for financing.
- Establishing trust. The White Paper demonstrates transparency and provides a thorough understanding of the project. This helps to establish trust both among investors, who can fully understand all the nuances of the project that interest them, and on the part of the registration authority, which sees all the organisational details of the project and its clear and honest intentions in the planned activities, which can have a positive impact on the registration procedure.
- Definition of Objectives and Strategies. The White Paper details the project’s objectives, strategies, and steps to achieve them. This allows all participants to clearly understand what outcomes to expect and how the project will be implemented.
- Informed decision-making. DAO participants, including token holders, can make informed decisions based on the contents of the White Paper. They can assess the project’s risks and potential, contributing to more informed and effective decisions.
What should a White Paper for a DAO include?
To create an informative and persuasive White Paper, it is recommended to include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Purpose and overview. A brief introduction to the project, its objectives and general concept.
- Description of the project structure
- Product/service description. Detailed description of technological solutions and products offered by the project.
- Description of principles. Detailed description of the underlying principles on which the project will be built.
- Tokenomics
- Token Architecture. Description of the token or cryptocurrency used in the DAO system and its functionality, enumeration of its advantages and description of its security mechanisms.
- Token distribution. Information on how tokens (shares) will be distributed among various members (token holders).
- Explanation of the technological aspects and techniques used.
- Capitalisation. An explanation of how the value of a token will increase and what mechanisms ensure its stability.
- Governance
- Description of governing/executive bodies and departments in the DAO structure, their functions, number of participants in this or that internal unit, their rights and responsibilities.
- Voting and decision-making
- A description of the voting system and participant participation in project management.
- Role of participants. Explanation of token holders’ roles and how they can influence internal decisions.
- Partners
- Partners and advisors. Mention of external partners or advisors who support the project and/or provide the legal basis for any additional transactions/legal actions.
- Risks and responses
- Risk map. Identification of possible risks associated with the project.
- Plans to minimise the risks. A description of the steps that will be taken to manage the risks.
- Roadmap
- Plans and strategy. A description of the steps the project intends to take in the future to achieve its objectives.
- Conclusion
- General summary. A brief recap of the key points and factors that allow potential investors to be convinced of the success of the project.
- Communication and contacts
- Contact Information. An indication of how to contact the project team and support.
The DAO White Paper is, therefore, an integral part of launching and successfully developing a project. It provides all the necessary information for potential investors and members, helping them to understand what the project is about and what opportunities it can offer. This is why a White Paper is an essential step on the way to creating a successful and sustainable DAO. Its quality and informative content will help attract support and investment in your decentralised autonomous organisation.
By Dmitry Vyalkov, LLM, lawyer at COREDO.