DAO Hierarchy
The information on this page has been lifted straight from the Economics paper that was published by ATMTA in 2021.
Last updated
The information on this page has been lifted straight from the Economics paper that was published by ATMTA in 2021.
Last updated
Star Atlas is designed to evolve into a fully decentralized, player-owned game, where decisions are made collectively. Governance in the game is structured into a hierarchy of DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), powered by the POLIS governance token, and sustained by the in-game economy (ATLAS).
The long-term vision of Star Atlas is an autonomous, player-owned game, fully controlled and funded by decentralized governance. Therefore, from its early stages, the economy is architected to run through a hierarchy of DAOs, fueled by the governance token (POLIS) and cash flows of ATLAS
- Economics Paper - Governance
The Star Atlas DAO is the highest level of governance, overseeing the entire game and its long-term sustainability. It is responsible for major decisions affecting all players and the broader in-game economy.
While it doesn’t directly control in-game activities, it can influence them through economic incentives. To maintain active participation, passive presence is disincentivized by reducing those players' voting power and rewards. The DAO also manages funds to invest in game development, grants, and other initiatives. Additionally, it may reward DAO members with a portion of its in-game tax revenue.
Key responsibilities of the Star Atlas DAO include:
Setting monetary policy
Managing the Star Atlas treasury, which funds:
Game development
NPC-driven economic activity
Dividends for governance participants
Defining overarching rules for lower-level DAOs
Making major decisions, such as:
Protocol upgrades
Emergency actions
Enabling or disabling game features
Star Atlas is divided into three factions, each controlling a distinct territory and player base. Each faction has its own DAO that coordinates large-scale activities and strategic goals.
Faction DAOs are empowered to enact in-game modifiers for their members and territories, with the goal of providing access to endgame content and items, and to coordinate efforts to acquire these. Players can stake POLIS and vote on faction-wide initiatives, which may include:
Strategic objectives that provide faction-wide bonuses in targeted regions, like:
Occupy
Hold
Build
Patrol
Mega-projects, which unlock new missions and rewards once completed.
Attacking rival faction projects. The destruction of mega-projects of another faction can be set as a faction-wide target.
Tax policies, setting upper limits on taxation within areas controlled by their regional DAOs.
Faction DAOs are planned to arrive as part of Season 3.
The Star Atlas map is further divided into regions, each containing multiple star systems and planets. Regional DAOs govern these areas, focusing on local economic policies and access restrictions (such as adjusting taxation on certain activities). Unlike higher-tier DAOs, voting eligibility in regional DAOs requires property ownership within the region.
Regional DAOs can:
Adjust local taxes, including:
Flat taxes on all activities (e.g., a 5% region-wide tax)
Specific taxes based on activity (e.g., 5% on mining, collected in ore, or 10% on ship missions, collected in ATLAS)
Manage local policies, such as:
Security forces to protect planets from external threats
Internal security for maintaining order
Diplomatic relations, including alliances and trade regulations (e.g., applying custom duties on selected imported goods to protect the internal market)
Allocate regional funds, which cannot be used for direct dividends but can fund incentives for local missions and activities.
Regional DAOs are planned to arrive as part of Season 4
