Snapshot voting is an off-chain signaling tool that allows token holders to vote on governance proposals without executing on-chain transactions. It uses a cryptographic signature mechanism where voters sign messages with their private keys to cast votes, which are then recorded on a decentralized storage network like IPFS. This approach eliminates gas fees, making participation more accessible. The system relies on a block number or timestamp—the 'snapshot'—to determine which token balances are eligible to vote, preventing manipulation through last-minute token acquisitions. The final tally is calculated based on the recorded votes and the token balances from that specific block.
LABS
Glossary
Snapshot Voting
Snapshot voting is an off-chain signaling mechanism that uses a snapshot of token holdings at a specific block height to gauge community sentiment on a proposal without incurring gas fees.
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definition
GOVERNANCE MECHANISM
What is Snapshot Voting?
Snapshot voting is a gasless, off-chain governance system used by decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to make decisions without spending transaction fees.
The core components of a Snapshot vote include the proposal, which outlines the decision; the voting strategies, which define how voting power is calculated (e.g., simple token weight, delegation, or time-locked tokens); and the voting system, such as single-choice, weighted, or quadratic voting. Proposals are created by authorized addresses, and the voting period is set with a defined start and end block. While the vote result is authoritative within the community, it is not self-executing; a separate, on-chain transaction is typically required to implement the approved action, such as upgrading a smart contract or allocating treasury funds.
A key distinction is between off-chain signaling via Snapshot and on-chain execution. Snapshot provides a cost-efficient forum for debate and consensus-building. The passed proposal then mandates a multisig wallet or a specialized smart contract (like a Governor contract) to execute the will of the voters on-chain. This separation allows for complex deliberation without incurring costs for every voter, while maintaining the security of on-chain execution for final changes to the protocol's state or treasury.
Snapshot's design introduces specific security and Sybil resistance considerations. Since voting is off-chain, it is not constrained by the native blockchain's consensus rules. Security instead depends on the integrity of the snapshot block data, the correctness of the voting strategy, and the honesty of the entity that posts the final results. To prevent Sybil attacks, projects often use token-based voting power, which is economically expensive to amass, or incorporate proof-of-personhood and delegation mechanisms. The platform is also permissionless, allowing any community to create a space and define its own governance parameters.
Major protocols like Uniswap, Aave, and Compound use Snapshot for their governance processes. For example, a Uniswap governance proposal might be voted on via Snapshot to signal community support for a new fee mechanism. Once the vote passes, the Uniswap governance multisig would execute the corresponding code change on-chain. This pattern demonstrates how Snapshot has become a critical infrastructure layer for DAO operations, enabling scalable and inclusive governance while leveraging the blockchain for secure, final settlement of decisions.
how-it-works
GOVERNANCE MECHANISM
How Snapshot Voting Works
Snapshot is a gasless, off-chain voting platform that enables decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and token-based communities to conduct governance polls and signal votes without spending transaction fees.
Snapshot voting is a mechanism where token holders cast votes by cryptographically signing a message with their wallet, rather than executing an on-chain transaction. This process occurs entirely off-chain, meaning no gas fees are required to participate. Votes are weighted by the voter's token balance, typically measured at a specific block height known as the snapshot block. The platform uses a decentralized storage system like IPFS to record and verify these signed messages, ensuring the integrity and immutability of the voting data without the cost and latency of on-chain execution.
The workflow follows a clear sequence: a proposal is created, a snapshot block number is set to determine eligible voting power, voters connect their wallets and sign a message indicating their choice, and the results are tallied based on the predefined voting strategy. Common strategies include token-weighted voting (one token, one vote), quadratic voting to reduce whale dominance, and delegation models. Because it is off-chain, Snapshot is primarily used for signaling—gauging community sentiment—before potentially executing binding decisions through an on-chain transaction via a separate smart contract.
Key advantages of Snapshot include its gasless nature, which dramatically increases voter participation by removing cost barriers, and its flexibility in designing complex voting strategies. However, its off-chain design means votes are not automatically enforceable; they require a trusted party or a separate on-chain transaction to implement the outcome. This makes it ideal for preliminary polls, parameter adjustments, and community sentiment checks, forming a critical governance layer for many leading DAOs like Uniswap, Aave, and Curve.
key-features
GOVERNANCE MECHANISM
Key Features of Snapshot Voting
Snapshot is an off-chain, gasless voting platform that enables decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and token communities to make governance decisions by leveraging cryptographic signatures instead of on-chain transactions.
01
Gasless Voting
Snapshot enables users to cast votes by signing a message with their private key, which does not require paying a gas fee or submitting an on-chain transaction. This dramatically lowers the barrier to participation, allowing any token holder to vote regardless of their wallet's native token balance. Votes are aggregated off-chain and the final result is recorded on-chain only when a proposal is executed.
02
Flexible Voting Strategies
The platform supports customizable voting strategies that define how voting power is calculated. Common strategies include:
- Token-weighted voting: Power based on token balance in a specific ERC-20 or ERC-721.
- Delegated voting: Power from votes delegated by other users.
- Multichain strategies: Aggregating balances across multiple blockchains (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum).
- Time-weighted voting: Power based on how long tokens have been held.
03
Proposal Types & Voting Systems
Snapshot supports various proposal formats and voting mechanisms to suit different governance needs.
- Single-choice voting: Choose one option from a list.
- Approval voting: Vote for multiple options.
- Quadratic voting: Voting power increases with the square root of tokens committed, reducing whale dominance.
- Ranked-choice voting: Rank options in order of preference.
04
Off-Chain Execution with On-Chain Verification
While the voting process occurs off-chain, it maintains cryptographic integrity. Each vote is a signed message (EIP-712 standard) that can be independently verified. The final proposal state and votes are stored on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System). This hybrid model provides cost-efficiency and scalability while ensuring the process is transparent and tamper-resistant, with the hash of the result often used to trigger on-chain actions via tools like SafeSnap.
05
Space Configuration & Permissions
A Space in Snapshot is a configurable hub for a specific DAO or project. Admins can set:
- Strategies for calculating voting power.
- Validation criteria (e.g., minimum token threshold).
- Proposal thresholds for who can create proposals.
- Voting delay and period durations.
- Network and snapshot block number for determining token balances at a specific past block.
ecosystem-usage
SNAPSHOT VOTING
Ecosystem Usage & Examples
Snapshot voting is a gasless, off-chain governance mechanism used by DAOs to signal community sentiment and make decisions. It leverages a snapshot of token holdings at a specific block to determine voting power.
01
Proposal Types & Use Cases
Snapshot is used to vote on a wide range of governance actions, including:
- Parameter Changes: Adjusting protocol fees, reward rates, or collateral ratios.
- Treasury Management: Approving budgets, grants, or multi-signature wallet signers.
- Protocol Upgrades: Signaling support for new features or smart contract migrations.
- Delegation: Electing or removing key community representatives or committee members.
- Meta-Governance: Deciding on changes to the governance process itself, like voting thresholds.
02
Voting Strategies & Power
Voting power is determined by a strategy that queries on-chain data from the snapshot block. Common strategies include:
- Token Balance: 1 token = 1 vote (e.g., UNI, AAVE).
- Delegated Voting: Power from tokens delegated via on-chain systems (e.g., Compound, ENS).
- Quadratic Voting: Power = sqrt(balance), reducing whale dominance.
- Multi-token Strategies: Weighted votes across different assets (e.g., LP tokens + governance token). The snapshot block prevents manipulation by locking voting power at a specific historical state.
03
Integration with On-Chain Execution
While Snapshot votes are off-chain signals, they often trigger on-chain actions via governance executors. A successful vote can:
- Queue a Timelock: The proposal is submitted to a Timelock contract, introducing a mandatory delay before execution for community review.
- Execute Directly: Authorized addresses (like a Safe multisig) execute the approved transaction on-chain.
- Bridge to L2: Votes on Layer 1 (e.g., Ethereum) can authorize actions on a connected Layer 2 network. This separation allows for cheap, flexible signaling followed by secure, verifiable execution.
04
Major DAOs Using Snapshot
Snapshot is the standard for off-chain governance across DeFi and beyond. Prominent examples include:
- Uniswap: Governs the UNI token treasury and protocol upgrades.
- Aave: Votes on risk parameters, asset listings, and Aave Grants.
- ENS (Ethereum Name Service): Manages the ENS DAO treasury and root domain control.
- Compound: Uses delegated COMP token balances for voting power.
- Lido: Governs stETH parameters and validator set decisions. These platforms use Snapshot for its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and robust delegation infrastructure.
05
Security & Sybil Resistance
Snapshot's security model relies on the integrity of the snapshot block and the underlying token's distribution. Key considerations:
- Block Finality: The snapshot must be taken from a finalized, immutable block to prevent chain reorg attacks.
- Token Gating: Proposals and votes can be restricted to holders of specific NFTs or tokens to prevent spam.
- Sybil Resistance: It inherits the Sybil resistance of its voting strategy (e.g., a token's cost-of-acquisition).
- Execution Trust: The final step requires trust in the multisig or timelock executor to carry out the will of the vote.
06
Advanced Features & Plugins
The Snapshot platform supports extensible plugins for complex governance logic:
- Voting Validation: Custom rules to check voter eligibility beyond simple token balance.
- Quorum & Thresholds: Dynamic requirements based on circulating supply or past participation.
- ERC-712 Signatures: Votes are cryptographically signed messages, providing non-repudiation.
- Space Settings: DAOs ("Spaces") can configure voting periods, proposal thresholds, and moderators.
- Cross-Chain Strategies: Aggregate voting power from tokens on multiple blockchains (e.g., Ethereum and Polygon).
GOVERNANCE MECHANISM COMPARISON
On-Chain vs. Off-Chain (Snapshot) Voting
A comparison of the core technical and operational characteristics of executing governance votes directly on a blockchain versus using off-chain signature aggregation.
| Feature / Metric | On-Chain Voting | Off-Chain (Snapshot) Voting |
|---|---|---|
Execution Layer | Smart contract on the blockchain | Off-chain website and IPFS |
Transaction Required | ||
Gas Fees for Voting | ||
Vote Finality | Immediate, on-chain settlement | Requires separate execution (often manual) |
Voter Sybil Resistance | Native (1 token = 1 vote) | Delegated to snapshot strategy (e.g., token balance) |
Vote Privacy | Fully public on-chain | Publicly visible signature, off-chain |
Typical Cost per Vote | $10 - $100+ | $0 |
Execution Speed | Block time (e.g., ~12 sec for Ethereum) | Near-instant (website submission) |
Formal Consensus Impact | Direct state change | Signaling only; requires trusted execution |
security-considerations
SNAPSHOT VOTING
Security Considerations & Limitations
While Snapshot voting is a popular off-chain governance tool, it introduces specific security trade-offs and attack vectors that DAOs must understand.
01
Sybil Attack Vulnerability
Snapshot's reliance on token ownership for voting weight makes it vulnerable to Sybil attacks, where an attacker splits their holdings across many addresses to gain disproportionate influence. Mitigations include:
- Proof-of-Personhood integrations (e.g., BrightID, Worldcoin).
- Delegation to trusted, known entities.
- Quadratic voting formulas to reduce large-holder dominance.
02
Off-Chain Execution Risk
Snapshot votes are signals, not on-chain transactions. This creates a trust gap between the vote and execution. Risks include:
- Malicious or buggy execution scripts that implement the proposal differently than intended.
- Timelock manipulation where executors delay or ignore the vote result.
- Multisig signer collusion to override the community's decision.
03
Vote Sniping & Timing Attacks
The public nature of Snapshot votes enables vote sniping. A well-resourced actor can monitor a proposal and, in the final moments, cast a decisive vote to swing the outcome. This is exacerbated by:
- Low voter participation, making outcomes easier to manipulate.
- Strategies based on a single block (e.g.,
erc20-balance-of), which can be gamed via flash loans or last-minute token transfers.
04
Strategy & Data Integrity
A proposal's outcome is only as reliable as its voting strategy and the data source it queries. Key risks:
- Centralized or manipulable oracles providing incorrect token balances or scores.
- Complex custom strategies with unintended bugs or attack surfaces.
- Snapshot space admins have significant power to edit strategies, proposals, and settings, representing a central point of failure.
05
Lack of Vote Privacy
All votes and voter addresses are publicly visible on Snapshot, leading to potential issues:
- Voter coercion or bribery, as choices are transparent.
- Gasless voting does not equal anonymous voting; wallet addresses can often be linked to real identities.
- This can discourage honest voting due to fear of social or professional retaliation.
06
Spam & Proposal Fatigue
The low cost of creating Snapshot proposals opens the door to governance spam, which is a denial-of-service attack on community attention. Impacts include:
- Voter apathy due to overwhelming volume.
- Important proposals getting lost in the noise.
- Attackers flooding with proposals to hide a malicious one. Mitigations often involve proposal deposits or gatekeeping by delegates.
visual-explainer
DECENTRALIZED GOVERNANCE
Visual Explainer: The Snapshot Voting Flow
A step-by-step breakdown of how token holders participate in off-chain governance using the Snapshot protocol.
Snapshot voting is a gas-free, off-chain governance mechanism that allows decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and token-based communities to conduct polls and signal votes without executing transactions on the blockchain. Participants sign messages with their private keys to prove ownership of governance tokens at a specific block height, known as the snapshot block. This process creates a verifiable, tamper-proof record of voter sentiment without incurcing network fees, making governance more accessible. The core components are the Snapshot platform, individual proposals, and connected voting strategies that determine voter eligibility.
The voting flow begins with proposal creation, where a community member with sufficient proposal power drafts a suggestion—such as a parameter change or treasury allocation—on the Snapshot interface for a specific space. This triggers the recording of a snapshot block number, which freezes the state of token holdings to prevent manipulation via token buying or selling after the proposal is live. Voters then connect their Web3 wallets (e.g., MetaMask) to the Snapshot space. The platform checks their voting power based on the predetermined strategy, which is calculated from their token balance at the recorded block.
During the voting period, users select their choice (e.g., For, Against, Abstain) and submit a cryptographically signed message. This signature, which includes their vote, the proposal hash, and their address, is stored off-chain, typically on decentralized storage like IPFS. After the voting window closes, the results are tallied and displayed publicly. While the vote itself is not executed on-chain, many DAOs use the Snapshot result as a binding signal; a separate, on-chain multisig transaction or governance module (like Compound's Governor) is often required to formally enact the approved decision, linking off-chain consensus to on-chain action.
DEBUNKING MYTHS
Common Misconceptions About Snapshot
Snapshot is a widely used off-chain governance tool, but its decentralized nature and technical design are often misunderstood. This section clarifies key points about voting power, security, and its role in the governance lifecycle.
No, Snapshot voting is an off-chain signaling mechanism that does not directly execute on-chain transactions. A Snapshot vote is a non-binding poll where token holders express their preferences. The actual execution of a proposal—such as transferring treasury funds or upgrading a smart contract—requires a separate, on-chain transaction, typically submitted by a team member or a multisig wallet after the vote passes. This separation allows for gas-free voting and deliberation but means the Snapshot result itself is not self-executing.
Key Distinction:
- Snapshot: Off-chain signal (the "vote").
- On-chain Execution: Separate transaction (the "action").
This is why successful proposals often have a specified timelock or execution step documented in the proposal itself.
SNAPSHOT VOTING
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common questions about Snapshot, the leading off-chain governance platform for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Snapshot is an off-chain, gas-free voting platform that allows token holders in a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) to signal their preferences on governance proposals. It works by using a cryptographic snapshot of token holdings from a specific block number to determine voting power, eliminating the need for on-chain transactions during the voting process itself. Voters sign messages with their private keys to cast votes, which are recorded on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). The final vote tally is calculated based on the pre-recorded token balances, and the results are used to guide on-chain execution by DAO multisig signers or smart contracts.
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