Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are experiencing an unexpected revival driven by an unlikely catalyst: meme coins.
This resurgence comes after a period of declining interest following the 2020-2021 crypto bull market hype. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is leading a charge to reimagine these digital organizations through the lens of charitable giving and community engagement.
DAOs, which function as internet-native organizations collectively managed by their members through blockchain-based rules, initially gained prominence during the last bull market as a new paradigm for corporate governance. However, interest waned as the crypto market entered a prolonged downturn.
This week, Buterin ignited fresh discussion about DAOs’ potential by advocating for memecoin communities to evolve into charitable DAOs.
“I truly prefer if you guys send to charity directly, maybe even make a DAO and get your community directly engaged in the decisions and process,” Buterin tweeted on Tuesday, adding , “I’ve said before that I think the best thing for memecoins is if they can be maximally positive-sum for the world, so it’s great to see moments when that actually happens.”
Notably, the statement came after Buterin’s significant liquidation of various meme coins, with blockchain analytics firm Spot-On-Chain reporting last week that Buterin has already donated $884,000 to charities.
That said, Buterin’s advocacy coincides with major regulatory developments in the UAE, where the Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) recently announced it is introducing a comprehensive legal framework for DAOs on Friday, October 25. This framework aims to clarify compliance, governance, and legal protection for DAO participants, potentially creating a model for other jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, major projects are already embracing this renewed vision for DAOs. Shiba Inu (SHIB), the world’s second-largest meme coin by market capitalization, recently announced plans to launch the Shib Doggy DAO foundation. This initiative will introduce a multi-token governance structure where different tokens (SHIB, BONE, TREAT, and LEASH) will serve distinct roles in ecosystem management.
This transformation suggests a broader shift in how value is created and managed in the crypto ecosystem. Rather than focusing solely on technological innovation, projects increasingly emphasize community engagement and social impact through structured governance frameworks.
According to research conducted by Gartner, a leading American research and consulting firm specializing in information technology, the current crypto landscape is witnessing the emergence of renewed trends. The firm pointed out that established concepts like DAOs are regaining prominence, signaling a readiness within the industry for a transformative narrative.
Their report further suggested that while many new blockchain technologies have plateaued, there is an opportunity to revitalize existing frameworks and harness them for future growth.