> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bitcredit.gitbook.io/bitcredit-protocol/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bitcredit.gitbook.io/bitcredit-protocol/governance/what-is-the-bitcredit-dao.md).

# What is the Bitcredit DAO

The Bitcredit DAO is the governance and treasury system that coordinates the evolution of the protocol, funds contributors, and ensures long-term sustainability.

**It operates through a combination of:**

* On-chain governance via Votico
* Open collaboration and discussion on GitHub
* A rotating, statistically selected group of token holders responsible for decision-making

**Any holder of $e-IOU can:**

* Propose improvements
* Request funding for contributions
* Participate in governance if selected

**The DAO is not just voting. It is a full lifecycle system that includes:**

1. Proposal creation
2. Community review
3. Voting
4. Execution
5. Delivery validation
6. Treasury distribution

This ensures that decisions are not only made collectively, but also executed and verified in a decentralized way.