Moonwell is governed by its community, not a central entity. Token holders use a combination of onchain voting and offchain signals to make decisions about the protocol. If you hold WELL, you can help shape its direction.
How Governance Works
The Moonwell protocol is governed by WELL token holders on Ethereum Mainnet, Base, OP Mainnet, and Moonbeam.
The Governance Portal can be found here.
Types of Votes
Governance uses two voting methods:
Onchain voting (MIPs): Moonwell Improvement Proposals are voted on directly onchain. These affect protocol code and smart contracts, and they require gas fees to vote.
Offchain voting (Snapshot): Signal votes happen on Snapshot without gas fees. These cover ideas and non-code changes.
Both methods require delegated voting power.
How Voting Power Works
Your voting power comes from the WELL token. Staked tokens in the Safety Module automatically count toward voting power.
Before you can vote, your tokens must be delegated. Delegation activates your tokens' voting power. You keep full ownership of your tokens when you delegate. You can delegate to yourself or to another address.
What Gets Governed
The community votes on:
Protocol parameter changes
Risk settings for markets
New market listings
Treasury management and fund allocation
Smart contract upgrades
Other proposals affecting the protocol
Where to Participate
To participate in governance discussions and provide feedback, head to the Moonwell Governance Forum.
Anyone can share ideas on these platforms, even without voting power. The forum is where proposals can start as discussions before they become formal votes.
Next Steps
To start participating in governance:
Delegate your voting power.
Join the Moonwell Governance Forum.
Review proposals and discussions.
Vote on proposals that matter to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need tokens to participate?
To vote, yes: you need delegated WELL. To discuss and share ideas on the forum, no tokens are required.
What's the difference between onchain and Snapshot votes?
Onchain MIPs change protocol code and cost gas. Snapshot votes are gasless signals on non-code matters.
Do staked tokens count toward voting?
Yes. Tokens in the Safety Module are automatically self-delegated and count right away.