Proposal: Governance Framework Update (Scroll DAO 2.0)

Proposal Governance Framework Update (Scroll DAO 2.0) – Delegate Architecture, Operations and DAO Execution https://forum.scroll.io/t/proposal-governance-framework-update-scroll-dao-2-0/1345

Proposal Type Governance and Operations Social Ratifications Author(s) Juan Molina (Scroll Foundation) alongside the Governance Council (SEED Gov and ETH TGU) and the delegate community through the Co-Creation Sprint of Q4 2025

Summary This proposal defines a new governance operating framework for Scroll DAO focused on improving delegation quality, accountability, execution capacity, and measurable ecosystem impact.

The proposal introduces the following elements • Staked SCR as the long term foundation of delegation • An enhanced Verified Delegate role with clearer expectations • A shift toward an execution oriented committee structure • A formal DAO budget and treasury allocation framework • Clear separation between execution and accountability • Structured DAO operated programs with explicit ownership

This proposal approves direction, structure, and operating principles, with phased implementation aligned to SCR Staking and governance infrastructure readiness.

Motivation Scroll DAO governance matured significantly throughout 2025, but several challenges became increasingly visible.

• Delegation participation is uneven and difficult to sustain • Inactive delegation reduces governance signal quality • Execution responsibility is diffuse and limits accountability • Budget usage lacks standardized operational ownership • Prior structures optimized decentralization before execution readiness

Feedback during the Co Creation Sprint highlighted a strong desire to prioritize impact, execution, and accountability, even if this requires a more centralized starting point. “Organization is necessary to unlock effective decentralization over time.”

This proposal focuses on building a strong operational prototype first, while preserving the DAO’s authority to evolve, decentralize, and formalize elections once the system is proven.

Execution Operational Delegate Architecture • Staked SCR is approved as the foundational element of future delegation • A re delegation event will occur after SCR Staking is live

Verified Delegates • The Verified Delegate role is strengthened and clarified • The initial cohort will be selected by the Scroll Foundation • The DAO will define the future selection and election process • The initial cohort is expected to be capped at approximately thirty participants based on demonstrated participation

Evaluation signals include • Consistent participation over the past six months • Approximately eighty percent or higher voting participation • Delegation from at least ten unique delegators • Recognized and trackable onchain ecosystem contribution

These criteria are guidelines rather than rigid requirements and primarily define expectations for maintaining the role.

Inactive Delegation • The Auto Abstain wallet remains active until the re delegation event • Front end inactive delegation signaling will be introduced after SCR Staking is live

Governance Principles and Decision-Making The DAO adopts updated governing principles focused on performance, native builder support, and impact and accountability.

SCR token performance Governance will actively support the long term value, sustainability, and market confidence of SCR. Incentives, emissions, and treasury actions will prioritize durable value creation, increased utility, and sustained demand rather than short term extraction.

Support native builders Governance will prioritize Scroll native teams and contributors by reducing friction to launch, scale, and retain users on Scroll. Capital, operational support, and ecosystem visibility will favor ecosystem first development.

Maximum impact and accountability All DAO initiatives must aim to create positive sum impact for Scroll. Outcomes will be measurable, comparable, and reviewable, with funding and mandates tied to demonstrated performance rather than intent.

This proposal introduces explicit clarifications regarding the DAO’s voting mechanisms and governance roles. Referendum voting will continue to serve as the default decision making mechanism for the DAO, ensuring broad participation on decisions of general importance. Optimistic and simple voting mechanisms will be introduced once they are fully implemented and supported within the governance infrastructure, enabling more efficient decision making for operational or lower risk actions. In parallel, new proposal types with differentiated voting cycles will be introduced progressively, allowing the DAO to better align voting requirements with the complexity, urgency, and impact of each decision.

In addition, this proposal formalizes changes to governance facilitation and administrative authority. The Operations Committee will assume the Governance Facilitator role, transitioning day to day governance coordination and proposal facilitation away from the Scroll Foundation. The Scroll Foundation will retain veto authority across the governance process and will also serve as a second Governor Admin for the DAO, ensuring the ability to intervene in exceptional circumstances. In limited cases where changes are deemed critical to the DAO’s success, certain social ratifications may be executed at the discretion of the Scroll Foundation without requiring a formal DAO vote, with the intent of preserving agility while maintaining overall accountability.

Budget and Treasury Framework • Scroll DAO will operate under a defined budget, denominated the Treasury Allocation • The Treasury Allocation will be provisioned quarterly by the Scroll Foundation treasury team • Distribution of the allocation will be approved through a bi annual DAO vote • Requests exceeding the approved allocation will require coordination with the Foundation

Treasury funds will be managed through a multisig wallet jointly controlled by • Operations Committee • Accountability Committee • Scroll Foundation

2026 H1 Budget Distribution: image image 545×668 18.5 KB DAO Organizational Structure Operations Committee • Responsible for execution, coordination, and stewardship • Oversees program management and governance facilitation • Initial roles include operations, program execution, and marketing • Designed as the minimum viable structure required for impact

Accountability Committee • Responsible for oversight, reporting, and accountability • Includes a lead and operational role • Works directly with the Scroll Foundation to measure outcomes

Initial committee members will be selected by the Scroll Foundation only after this proposal passes. The DAO will design and approve future election and rotation processes during 2026.

This structure intentionally introduces a managerial layer to ensure responsibility and execution ownership, reflecting lessons learned from prior governance experiments.

Delegate Incentives and Contribution Programs Two incentive layers are formalized. Administered by the Operations and Accountability Committees with input from relevant Foundation teams

Governance Contribution Recognition • Continues as the retroactive mechanism for compensating governance participation

Delegate Contribution Program • Introduced as a proactive contribution layer • Supports non governance work such as content, research, and program execution • Operates as a structured contribution or bounty system

The DAO should prioritize evolving these incentive mechanisms toward a proactive model that sets clear expectations and deliverables upfront, rather than relying primarily on retroactive incentives, which can be subjective and inefficient in terms of budget allocation and impact measurement.

DAO Operated Programs Community Allocation

Community Support Grants Program Local Nodes with an updated framework expected in the first quarter of 2026 Ecosystem Allocation

Founder Enablement for teams exiting OpenEconomy and BD pipelines – Security Subsidy Program through existing audit partnerships (Areta and ImmuneFi) – Future infrastructure subsidies such as gas, tooling, or RPC Creator Fund to support native project content The operational execution and accountability of all DAO operated programs will remain the responsibility of the Operations Committee and the Accountability Committee. Decision making for each program category will be conducted jointly by the operational committees and the relevant Scroll Foundation domain expert teams. The role of delegates is to support this process by proposing, shaping, and continuously improving programs to ensure they remain efficient, impactful, and aligned with the DAO’s objectives.

Personnel and Resources • Initial Operations and Accountability Committee members selected by the Foundation • DAO responsible for defining standardized selection processes in the first quarter of 2026 • Contributor roles prioritize demonstrated capacity and skill rather than popularity

Financial • DAO operates within a fixed annual allocation of $1.52m • Budget includes operations, accountability, delegate incentives, and community and ecosystem programs • Additional funding requests require coordination with the Scroll Foundation

Evaluation Success will be measured through • Increased active delegation participation • Reduction of inactive voting power • Faster execution cycles • Clear reporting and accountability • Tangible ecosystem outcomes tied to budget usage

Quarterly reporting from the Operations and Accountability Committee will be required.

Conclusion This proposal approves a new operating direction for Scroll DAO governance that prioritizes execution, accountability, and measurable impact while preserving DAO authority over future decentralization and elections.

It establishes the minimum viable structure required to move forward effectively in 2026, with explicit intent to evolve as infrastructure, participation, and capacity mature.