According to Cointelegraph, the Solana-based Jupiter decentralized exchange (DEX) has announced a temporary halt to its governance voting process. Kash Dhanda, the chief operating officer of Jupiter, revealed this decision in a detailed statement on Thursday, emphasizing the need for the protocol to concentrate on growth. Dhanda described the current moment as a critical juncture for decentralized finance (DeFi), noting that the opportunity to shape its future is fleeting.
Dhanda explained that the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structure is not functioning as intended, leading to a decision to suspend DAO votes until 2026. The aim is to return with a more cohesive approach that fosters unity rather than division. He pointed out that the DAO is caught in a negative feedback loop, which hampers execution and creates discord within the community. By pausing DAO voting, Jupiter intends to prioritize execution, speed, and growth while re-evaluating the optimal operation of the DAO.
The suspension will not impact active staking rewards, and all previously funded work groups will continue their operations. However, no new proposals will be accepted, and the community reserve will remain untouched until voting resumes. The development team plans to support community growth using its operational treasury. DAO voting is expected to resume next year after Jupiter's team establishes a new process through community engagement, aiming for a more effective governance model. Dhanda reiterated that this is a temporary pause, not an end to governance.
This decision comes amid a broader trend of reevaluating DAO governance structures. Earlier this month, Yuga Labs proposed an overhaul of the ApeCoin ecosystem, suggesting the closure of the ApeCoin DAO in favor of a new entity called ApeCo. Greg Solano, CEO of Yuga Labs, argued that the DAO had become dysfunctional, slowing development and devolving into ineffective governance. He criticized the allocation of resources to low-impact initiatives and vanity proposals, echoing concerns similar to those expressed by Dhanda. The ongoing discussions highlight the challenges and potential limitations of DAO governance in the rapidly evolving DeFi landscape.