Token House Overview
Purpose and Evolution
Governance of the Optimism Collective began with the launch of the OP token, and token-weighted voting in the Token House. The Token House works alongside the Citizens' House to govern the Optimism Collective, and is responsible for the governance of the Superchain protocol.
The goals of the Token House are:
- Safeguard the evolution of the Optimism protocol in line with the long term benefit of the Superchain
- Manage sustainable economic policies aligned with the long-term viability of the Collective
- Protect against abuses of power in the Citizensā House
- Enable network operation to continue without reliance on any individual entity
Relationship with Citizens House
While membership in the Token House and Citizens' House can overlap, each is designed to balance power in different ways:
- The Token House uses token-weighted voting, giving influence proportional to OP token holdings
- The Citizens' House uses a ā1 member, 1 voteā model, so all members have the same level of influence
Together, these two houses create a governance system that balances the different types of interests in the Superchain, making the system more resistant to capture and more aligned with the diverse stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Token House Governance Powers and Responsibilities
As Token House members, OP holders are responsible for submitting, deliberating, and voting on various types of governance proposals.
In its current phase, the Token House is responsible for overseeing the allocation of the Governance Fund and all protocol and governor upgrade proposals, as well as proposing any changes to the inflation rate of the OP Token, in addition to various other proposal types outlined in theĀ Operating Manual (opens in a new tab).
The Token House is in an initial bootstrapping phase, and will take on progressively more governance responsibilities over time.
Protocol Upgrades
Delegates have the power to veto decisions about protocol upgrades made by the Developer Advisory Board (DAB). This veto power serves as a critical check on technical changes, with the aim of ensuring they align with the interests of those who rely on the protocol.
Resource Allocation
Delegates participate in resource allocation decisions, including:
- Approving the Collective Intent, missions, and budget
- Approving Governance Fund proposals
Representative Elections
Delegates elect members to the Councils and Boards and/or approve any alternative selection mechanisms
For a full description of the voting mechanics for each of these proposal types, please refer to the Operating Manual (opens in a new tab). In future phases, the Token House may gain additional governance powers.