Governance & Neutrality Policy

No voting or control. The Foundation does not participate in Panther DAO governance decisions. We do not vote on proposals and we do not control any on-chain decisions of Panther Protocol. All decisions about upgrades, protocol/DAO treasury allocations, and governance matters rest entirely with Panther token holders.

Proposals. Panther Improvement Proposals (PIPs) should ideally originate from the community or independent contributors. The Foundation may occasionally contribute to drafting or presenting proposals where it constructively supports the ecosystem, but we seek to avoid a dominant role in DAO agenda-setting.

Neutral voice — no lobbying. The Foundation does not campaign for vote outcomes. Our public communications are factual and educational only. We may explain a proposal’s details if we have relevant expertise, but we do not endorse or oppose.

Independence of domains. On-chain governance of the protocol rests with the DAO; off-chain ecosystem support rests with the Foundation.

The Foundation does not receive direction from the community in its operations. We are an independent entity with a mission substantially aligned with the community’s long-term interests. Alignment does not mean identical views: the Foundation may adopt positions that differ from those preferred by the DAO, particularly where financial constraints, risk management or regulatory considerations are concerned.

DAO approval for grants. All Foundation grants are subject to DAO approval. Grantees act independently and are not agents of the Foundation.

Non-operational scope. The Foundation and grant recipients will not:

• deploy or upgrade Panther smart contracts;
• host or maintain live user interfaces;
• operate relayers or routing nodes; or
• facilitate custody, exchange, or transmission of assets.

For the avoidance of doubt: the Foundation does not own or control any upgradeable smart contracts. Our remit is limited to open-source research, development, and ecosystem support.

Protocol fees. Decisions regarding the allocation of protocol fees rest entirely with the DAO. The Foundation does not control, and cannot direct, how such revenues are used.

The Foundation recognises the importance of transparency. We will share information about our activities from time to time, but given limited resources, stakeholders should not expect routine or highly detailed reporting. Where updates are provided, they will reaffirm our non-involvement in governance decisions and clarify the boundaries of our role.

Emergency powers. The Foundation does not hold or exercise emergency powers over Panther Protocol. Responsibility for emergency actions (e.g., temporarily pausing the protocol in the event of a critical threat) lies with an independent Emergency Stop Committee. The Foundation has no role in these decisions and no authority to intervene.

We abstain from governance because decentralisation is at the heart of Panther Protocol. If the Foundation were to vote or direct decisions, it could undermine the sovereignty of token holders.

Example: If a proposal to adjust staking rewards is introduced, Foundation members may share factual analysis if asked, but neither the Foundation nor Council members will vote or campaign.

Example: If the DAO considers funding a Foundation initiative from its treasury, the Foundation may present the request and rationale, but will recuse itself from the decision.

The Foundation’s mission is to support the Panther ecosystem in ways that align with decentralisation and resilience. While we are broadly aligned with the DAO’s objectives, we remain independent, and there may be occasions when our positions differ.

Our focus is on strengthening Panther Protocol through off-chain contributions—such as research, open-source development, education, and partnerships—while leaving on-chain governance entirely in the hands of the community.

For further information on the responsibilities and risks of DAO participation, please see the Panther Protocol DAO Governance Participation Disclaimer.