Definition

Snapshot vote

An off-chain governance vote on Snapshot.org or similar platforms — token holders sign messages with their wallet to vote, without paying gas.

Most DAO governance happens via Snapshot. The flow: a proposal is posted, voting opens for a fixed window (typically 3-7 days), token holders sign votes with their wallet (free, no gas), and the result is published. Some DAOs treat snapshot results as binding signal; others require a follow-up on-chain transaction to execute.

The trade-off: gasless voting drives participation but doesn't finalize on-chain. Sophisticated voters may participate in snapshot only; deeper coordination (multi-sig execution, treasury moves) still requires on-chain transactions.

Why it matters

Snapshot is the de facto DAO voting infrastructure. Major governance decisions for Uniswap, Aave, ENS, and most major DAOs happen there.

How CryptoRadar24 tracks it

CryptoRadar24 references major DAO votes when they affect protocols we track.

Related terms

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
An organization governed by token-holder voting rather than a traditional executive structure, with rules encoded in smart contracts.
Governance Token
A token granting holders voting rights over protocol decisions and treasury management.
Multisig wallet
A cryptocurrency wallet that requires multiple private-key signatures to authorize a transaction, rather than a single key.

FAQ

Are snapshot votes binding?

Depends on the DAO. Some treat snapshot as the canonical vote; others use it for sentiment polling and require on-chain execution to bind. Read the DAO's constitution.

Can I delegate my snapshot vote?

Yes — most token-holders delegate to active community participants. Active delegates publish their voting records and rationales.

Can snapshot be manipulated?

Vote-buying through governance markets exists. Whales also distort. Quorum requirements and time-weighted voting partially mitigate but not fully.

What is voting power?

Usually one token = one vote. Some DAOs use quadratic (vote weight = √tokens) or boosted (locked tokens count more). Each design has trade-offs.