# Analysis of Vote Buying Services

**URL:** <https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/t/analysis-of-vote-buying-services/29189>\
**Category:** ARDC Research Member\
**Created:** [May 8, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/t/analysis-of-vote-buying-services/29189 "2025-05-08T16:16:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DefiLlama\_Research](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.arbitrum.foundation/defillama_research/32/13236_2.png) [@DefiLlama\_Research](https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/u/DefiLlama_Research)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/t/analysis-of-vote-buying-services/29189/1 "2025-05-08T16:16:34Z")

</div>

As one of the Research Members of the ARDCV2 we were asked to take a deep dive into _vote-buying_ and other incentive-driven governance mechanisms that are beginning to shape decision-making in the Arbitrum ecosystem.

Our research was three-fold:

1. **Map the landscape** – catalogue the leading vote-buying and delegation platforms (e.g., LobbyFi, Event Horizon, MetaDAO, Butter, Hidden Hand) and explain how each one works.
2. **Assess the risks and incentives** – quantify how much influence can be bought, identify manipulation vectors, analyse real-world case studies (OAT election, Rari/Tribe, Aave/CRV), and measure decentralisation using Voting-Bloc Entropy.
3. **Deliver actionable recommendations** – lay out Passive, Active, and Interventionist options the DAO can adopt, from simple transparency nudges to treasury-delegation programmes or emergency response playbooks.

We have documented the full research in a [Google Doc](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K-uENuYJSqJvoIRSEl5fNqNyHS8OW4HiEXJXs3B3QP0/edit?usp=sharing). The breakdown is as follows:

- **Executive Summary** – key findings at a glance
- **Introduction** – overview of vote buying and why it matters
- **Platform Landscape** – LobbyFi, Event Horizon, MetaDAO, Butter, Hidden Hand
- **Risks, Incentives & Governance Impact**
  - Attack & manipulation vectors
  - Altruistic use-cases
  - Pricing analysis & swing-vote scenarios

- **Decentralisation & Decision Quality** – Voting-Bloc Entropy analysis
- **Case Study: OAT Election** – how a 10 % bloc could (or couldn’t) swing results
- **Recommendations**
  - Passive approach
  - Active approach
  - Interventionist approach

- **[Appendix / Sources](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K-uENuYJSqJvoIRSEl5fNqNyHS8OW4HiEXJXs3B3QP0/edit?tab=t.2mq1qkzcjx9r)** – data tables, methodology, conceptual foundations

Whether you’re a delegate, builder, or ARB holder, we hope this report equips you with the context and options needed to keep Arbitrum governance resilient as incentive markets evolve.

---

_[View the full topic](https://forum.arbitrum.foundation/t/analysis-of-vote-buying-services/29189)._