SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Blockchain
Sec. Blockchain Economics
The Metagovernance Trilemma Across Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: A Scoping Review
Provisionally accepted
- 1BIO.xyz, Zug, Switzerland
- 2Meridian Science, Zug, Switzerland
- 3Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Chicago, United States
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Abstract Introduction: Metagovernance in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) refers to the mechanisms through which one DAO shapes or constrains another DAO's governance, typically through token-based influence. Despite the growing inter-organizational relationships in decentralized ecosystems, metagovernance remains significantly understudied. Methods: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and systematically searched seven electronic databases from 2008 to 2025. From the 979 initial records, seven publications met the inclusion criteria. Results: Three mechanism families emerged: voting and control links, architectural layering through nested DAO structures, and participation coupling via airdrops that create governance interlocks. Recurrent challenges include procedural complexity, participation concentration, security vulnerabilities in multi-stage voting pipelines, and cross-chain infrastructure risks. A metagovernance trilemma emerged, whereby simultaneously maximizing decentralization, security, and participation proves impossible. Conclusion: Metagovernance spans forum deliberation, off-chain polling, and cross-chain execution, where decision points become obscured. Future research should focus on developing uniform definitions, interoperable measurement tools, and legal frameworks for cross-jurisdictional DAO governance.
Keywords: Blockchain technology, DAO, Metagovernance, review, Trilemma
Received: 02 Dec 2025; Accepted: 20 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Weidener, Bishop-Currey and Compton. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Lukas Weidener
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