Contents
1. Governance Overview
The Axiom PMA Trust operates through a hybrid governance model that combines traditional trust structure with on-chain DAO mechanisms. This ensures both legal compliance and community-driven decision making.
Governance Principles
Fiduciary Duty
Trustees owe a legal duty to act in the best interest of all Members at all times.
Democratic Participation
Members vote on operational decisions through on-chain governance mechanisms.
Transparency
All governance actions are recorded on-chain for permanent, auditable record.
Checks & Balances
Multiple layers of oversight prevent abuse and ensure accountability.
2. Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees serves as the fiduciary managers of the Trust, responsible for all legal and operational matters.
Board Composition
Total Trustees
Elected by Members
Appointed by Founders
Term Length (Staggered)
Trustee Powers & Duties
Manage all Trust assets in the best interest of Members
Execute contracts and agreements on behalf of the Trust
Oversee smart contract deployment and protocol upgrades
Review and approve new membership applications
Authorize distributions and benefits to Members
3. Protector Council
The Protector Council provides independent oversight of Trustee actions, ensuring compliance with Trust terms and Member interests.
Founder Appointee
Appointed by founding trustees for continuity
Member Elected
Elected by general membership
Independent Professional
Legal/financial professional for expertise
Protector Powers
Remove Trustees
By majority vote for cause
Veto Actions
Block extraordinary transactions
Call Meetings
Convene emergency Member assemblies
Approve Amendments
Ratify changes to Trust documents
4. DAO Operations
On-Chain Governance Layer
The DAO provides a decentralized governance mechanism for operational decisions. While Trustees retain ultimate legal authority, day-to-day operations are driven by Member proposals and votes recorded immutably on the blockchain.
DAO Scope of Authority
DAO CAN Decide:
- ✓ Community fund allocations
- ✓ Protocol parameter changes
- ✓ Feature development priorities
- ✓ Partnership approvals
- ✓ Grant applications
- ✓ Committee formations
DAO CANNOT Decide:
- ✗ Matters requiring legal authority
- ✗ Actions violating fiduciary duty
- ✗ Trust dissolution or merger
- ✗ Declaration amendments
- ✗ Emergency security matters
- ✗ Member admission/removal
5. Proposal Process
Proposal Submission
Member submits proposal with minimum 1,000 AXM voting power. Proposals include title, description, implementation details, and requested resources.
Discussion Period
Community reviews and discusses the proposal. Proposer may amend based on feedback. Delegates form preliminary positions.
Voting Period
On-chain voting opens. Members vote directly or through delegates. Vote weight based on AXM balance at snapshot block.
Timelock & Execution
Approved proposals enter 48-hour timelock for security review. After timelock, execution occurs automatically or by authorized party.
6. Voting Mechanics
Vote Weight
Voting power is proportional to token holdings at the snapshot block taken when voting begins.
Founding Member Bonus
Founding Members receive double voting weight as recognition for early support.
Approval Thresholds
Feature requests, minor parameter changes, community initiatives
Grant funding, significant expenditures, budget allocations
Bylaws changes, governance structure modifications
Delegation
Members may delegate their voting power to other Members. Delegation is revocable at any time and delegates vote on behalf of their delegators. Delegators retain the right to override delegate votes on specific proposals.
7. Treasury Management
Multi-Signature Treasury
3 of 5 Trustee signatures required for transactions
Spending Limits
Officer Approval
Two Trustee Approval
Full Board Approval
Reserve Requirements
The Association maintains reserves equal to at least 6 months of operating expenses to ensure operational continuity and Member protection. Quarterly financial reports are provided to all Members.
8. Amendments
Trust documents may be amended through a multi-step process ensuring broad consensus:
Amendment Requirements
Amendment Limitations
- ✗ No amendment may eliminate the private nature of the Association
- ✗ No amendment may remove constitutional protections
- ✗ No amendment may retroactively affect vested Member rights without consent
Participate in Governance
Join the Axiom PMA Trust and help shape the future of our ecosystem