Domain: Decentralized dApp.
Problem identification:
Aragon is an open source software project that allows for the creation and management of decentralized organizations, where its founders promise to empower to freely organize and collaborate without borders or intermediaries, creating global and bureaucracy-free organizations and communities. This vision has though been criticized where growing number of critics argue against the project that it is taking a more centralized path when trying to create a cultural of autonomous decentralization.
Why Blockchain:
Aragon project tries to modernize the way organizations exist by removing unnecessary intermediaries and third parties that impose artificial restrictions and unnecessarily complex regulations.
Functional Description
Aragon is a decentralized app (dApp) on the Ethereum blockchain that allows anyone to create and manage a decentralized organization. The project is open source and led by the Aragon Foundation. It also includes a token, ANT, that grants voting rights to make decisions about the direction of future development. Eventually, the team behind Aragon hopes the project to be a fully decentralized autonomous organization and dApp that’s a neutral jurisdiction for anyone to create an organization on the blockchain.
Technology used
- The blockchain-native organizations created on Aragon utilize Ethereum smart contracts and IPFS for a decentralized, peer-to-peer operating system. Aragon is however also capable of creating other non-decentralized digital organizations. Aragon offers several core features. It has a module for identity management and closely related modules for ownership and access control. Other modules include shareholder voting, fundraising through token generation, HR onboarding and payroll, and accounts payable/receivable. Taken together, the core functionality of Aragon covers the critical aspects of accounting, governance, and identity that make modern companies work. The modular nature of Aragon, combined with its open source ethos, means it provides a whole ecosystem of free to use modules that extend capacity for organizations on the platform.
Current status
- Operational.
Focus point commentary indicating the value of the case study in relation with learning modules
Learning Modules Focus Points
Peer-to-Peer database design IPFS for a decentralized peer-to-peer operating system
Consensus Proof of work -> Proof of stake
Digital Signatures Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA)
Smart Contracts ERC20 smart contract environment
Blockchain-based Decentralized Applications Ethereum public blockchain network
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations DAOs Delegated autonomy
Limitations:
- One DAO, unstoppable organization approach might become too risky for its governance.
Alternatives Approaches:
- Similarities with MakerDAO and MolochDAO
References:
- Website: https://aragon.org/
- Project: https://github.com/aragon