This paper deals with the governance of systems based on distributed ledger technology (DLT). This technology enables the creation of a shared electronic archive accessible via the internet, in which information is stored in a secure and irreversible manner. The updating and management of the ledger takes place without resorting to a trusted third party. The absence of traditional organizational and governance structures makes DLT management complex.
The work provides the tools to understand DLT technology and analyzes its governance, both for open (permissionless) systems and for those with limited access (permissioned). Different approaches are suggested for the application of governance rules, including for DLT with entirely algorithmic governance. The study shows that the creation of tools known as governance tokens, which incorporate administrative and property rights, facilitates the management and control processes of DLTs. Finally, the governance structure of two DLTs is described: Ethereum and Polkadot.
