Metagov is a research nonprofit organization cultivating tools, practices, and communities that enable self-governance in the digital age. Founded in 2019 out of a seminar at Harvard Law School called "Governing Virtual Worlds," Metagov operates at the intersection of governance research, technology development, and community practice. The organization addresses a critical gap in digital infrastructure by building standards and governance layers for the internet, particularly within Web3 and decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) ecosystems. Metagov's research and infrastructure projects have come to govern over $19 billion in on-chain value, demonstrating significant real-world impact on digital governance systems.
The organization functions as both a research collective and a practical infrastructure provider. Metagov Gateway serves as a unified API that connects Web3 communities to the social platforms where they interact, with integrations planned for DAOs, blockchains, and tools like Snapshot, Kleros, and Coordinape. Beyond technical infrastructure, Metagov cultivates a robust community of nearly 1,700 members in its Slack workspace who collaborate on governance innovation. The organization develops open standards and protocols that enable interoperable governance systems across different platforms and contexts.
Metagovernance, as practiced within the ecosystem, involves holding one DAO or protocol's token to influence decisions in another—somewhat resembling investment stewardship in traditional finance but applied to decentralized governance. This practice highlights how Metagov helps coordinate governance across multiple independent entities. Through projects including PolicyKit, Govbase, DAOstar, and the Metagov Gateway, the organization advances digital self-governance while maintaining rigorous research standards and practical, implementable solutions.