The first elections for the members of the Oversight and Transparency Committee (OAT) took place at the beginning of April 2025, and the two additional members were appointed in May and June, respectively. The original proposal outlined that the re-election process should begin when there are still 3 months left in OAT’s term, to allow for ample time for the election process as well as for the transition, should there be a cohort change, of the board.
As the OAT is mandated to assist in OpCo’s setup process, the first OAT term will be slightly longer than subsequent ones since it will include the period from when the initial OAT members are selected to the establishment of the entity, plus 12 months from the entity’s official start date.
With a previous update on March 13, we established that the official end date for the OAT’s first term is August 31, 2026. Therefore, the elections should begin in May 2026, which is 3 months before the end of the term.
Below you’ll find the timeline for the elections, the role description, and the prerequisite qualifications, along with the application form. Note that applications must be posted in a separate thread found here.
2026 OAT Elections Outline
The OAT’s primary mandate is to oversee OpCo’s operations, ensuring the DAO maintains adequate transparency into the DAO-adjacent entity, functioning as the coordinator between delegates and OpCo, and establishing clear communication channels with other key stakeholders and contributors. The committee also recruits essential staff to the entity, approves any notable operational decisions, and ensures that OpCo executes according to its approved mandate.
The OAT’s term is 12 months, with a re-election process initiated when the OAT’s term has around 3 months left. The DAO will again choose 3 members who then appoint 2 additional OAT members. There are no consecutive term limits for OAT members.
Timeline
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Application & Nomination Period
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Friday, May 15th, 2026 - Friday, June 5th, 2026
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Please note that this period can be extended further in the case that the number of applications and nominations is limited
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Candidate Eligibility Evaluation Period
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Monday, June 8th, 2026 - Friday, June 12th, 2026
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During the period, the OpCo will confirm that all candidates meet the prerequisites for joining the OAT
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Candidate Introductions Call
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A call for eligible applicants and nominees to introduce themselves and advocate for their selection
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The exact date will be announced closer to that step in the process.
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Snapshot to Elect the Three Initial Members
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Thursday, June 25th, 2026 - Thursday, July 2nd , 2026
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Candidates who fulfill the criteria for becoming an OAT member are moved to the election stage
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A shutterized, weighted voting system will be utilized on Snapshot, and the 3 candidates with the most votes will be chosen as members of the OAT
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After the Snapshot election concludes, the OpCo will conduct background checks for the elected individuals. In case an elected member doesn’t pass the check or fails to provide information in a timely manner, the seat will be offered to the next elected person (by number of votes received).
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The above background check will not be carried out for any employees of AAEs since they have already gone through extensive background checks.
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Please review the OAT member role description and application form below. If you think you are a perfect fit for the role or know someone who is, we request that you submit a completed application form as a comment underneath the OAT Applications & Nominations (2026) forum post. If anything is unclear regarding the application process, kindly leave a comment underneath this forum post, and we will answer the question(s) as soon as possible. You can also reach out to Sinkas on Telegram.
Relevant Links
Role Description
The Arbitrum DAO is seeking individuals with extensive experience in organizational strategy, stakeholder engagement and advisory, risk management, and navigating the DAO and governance landscape to join OpCo’s Oversight and Transparency Committee. As an OAT member, your main tasks will comprise functioning as the primary governance mechanism for OpCo, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently, operations remain within the DAO’s mandate, and strategic objectives are met.
Finding the right balance between participating in high-level decision-making based on the DAO’s guidance and allowing OpCo’s employees to implement strategies will be of high importance. As an applicant, your main priority should be Arbitrum’s long-term success by guiding OpCo to thrive.
Prerequisites to Joining the OAT
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Any individual will be entitled to run as a candidate for the election. No single organization should be overly represented in the OAT. There should be at most 1 candidate associated with a single entity. No candidate with conflicts of interest that would prevent them from acting in the best interests of the ArbitrumDAO, which include, but are not limited to: affiliates with direct Arbitrum competitors, proven histories of exploiting projects, and others. If a candidate is elected on behalf of an organization, then the OAT membership is tied to them and cannot be rotated to someone else in the organization. It will be up to the current OAT to enforce the above policy, and if a candidate is excluded from the election, then the rationale must be publicly disclosed to the ArbitrumDAO. If the DAO disagrees, they can initiate a vote with a non-constitutional quorum to overturn the OAT’s decision to exclude a candidate.
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Required to publicly disclose actual conflicts of interest (e.g., employed by a competitor) at the time of proposing themselves as a candidate for the OAT election. Potential conflicts of interest should be privately declared when required and if elected as an OAT member, to the OAT council.
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May not be a direct representative or full-time employee at network competitors (e.g., Solana, Polygon, Optimism)
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Bound to be aligned with the community values listed in The Amended Constitution of the Arbitrum DAO, follow the Code of Conduct for delegates, be committed to prioritizing the Arbitrum DAO’s needs, and act in absolute good faith and utmost honesty to fulfill their duties to the best of their abilities.
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Required to pass a KYC process and enter into an Agreement with the OpCo legal entity. The Agreement will cover, including but not limited to, appointment, conflict of interest, mandate, confidentiality, record-keeping, duty of impartiality, recusal, self-dealing prohibition, and ethical trading standards.
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Must sign any relevant non-disclosure agreements with respect to confidential information that an OAT member might gain access to as part of their duties.
Key Responsibilities
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Operational Support
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Advice on OpCo’s operational development.
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Review proposals for the DAO, by the OpCo team, related to the continuation of the OpCo & its operations.
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Strategic Coordination
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Actively engage with DAO-approved entities such as the Arbitrum Foundation, the Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, Entropy Advisors, and other initiatives that may emerge in the future.
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Actively engage with key stakeholders and facilitators in the Arbitrum ecosystem, including Offchain, and others that have a significant stake in the success of Arbitrum.
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Actively liaise with contributors and proposers; ensure the DAO stays informed regarding operations.
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Accountability
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Hold OpCo accountable to its stated mandate and ensure all activities it undertakes are in the best interest of the DAO.
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Assist in the preparation, review, and approval of reports and updates to stakeholders.
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Design relevant key performance indicators to set OpCo’s north star in terms of what it means to be successful.
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Hiring, Termination, & Authorization
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Collaborate with the OpCo team and the Arbitrum Foundation to recruit essential staff to the entity.
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Review deals proposed by OpCo with third parties (such as service providers) and indicate approval or disapproval.
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Greenlight salaries, larger spends, budgets, and other operational finances.
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Recommend the hiring and termination of personnel and service providers during the course of normal business for OpCo.
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Desired Qualifications
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Proficiency in at least one of the following domains (relevant experience with respect to DAOs, Foundations, and the wider blockchain industry is highly prioritized):
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Business Development, Venture Building, and Strategy & Operations - Extensive expertise in optimizing operations and guiding strategic initiatives across cross-functional teams; adept at identifying market opportunities, forging key partnerships, and helping implement high-impact strategies to scale organizations effectively.
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Corporate Finance, Capital Allocation, and Financial & Risk Management - In-depth experience in financial strategy, capital allocation, budgeting, and risk management; skilled in optimizing financial performance, ensuring compliance, and implementing robust fiscal controls and policies to drive long-term sustainability.
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Human Resources & Talent Management - Deep proficiency in workforce planning, organizational development, and talent acquisition; having built high-performing teams, fostered inclusive workplace cultures, and implemented HR strategies that achieve business objectives.
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Possess a strong network and reputation within the blockchain industry, with extensive experience representing a brand and navigating DAO governance (general-purpose blockchain DAO experience a plus).
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Track record in advisory, governance, and/or oversight roles; demonstrated ability to uphold governance best practices, foster accountability, align stakeholders, and ensure organizational resilience.
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Robust understanding of Arbitrum DAO’s current structure, contributors, and programs strongly favored.
Compensation
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Monthly base payment: $7.5K
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Bonus payment per term: 100K ARB
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Contingent on the member having been appointed as part of the dedicated election process and having been active throughout the whole term.
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The bonus payment is vested over 24 months, with funds released after a 12-month cliff since each respective member’s election or appointment.
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Application Form
Applicant / Nominee Information
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Full Name:
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Contact Information:
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Current Occupation:
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Country of Residence / Time Zone:
Nominator Information (Only complete this section if you are nominating someone else for the role)
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Nominator Full Name:
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Your Relationship to the Nominee:
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Why Are You Nominating This Person:
Applicant / Nominee Qualifications and Experience
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Identify one of the domains described within the Desired Qualifications section in the OpCo - Oversight and Transparency Committee (OAT) Application Process Overview forum post in which you have the most experience and describe that experience:
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Describe your network and reputation within the blockchain/technology industry. Have you previously represented a crypto brand and/or navigated DAO governance:
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Detail your experience in advisory, governance, and/or oversight roles:
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Have you previously contributed to the Arbitrum DAO? Describe any relevant experiences through which you’ve gained an understanding of the DAO’s current structure, contributors, and programs:
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Given the scope of OpCo is relatively broad in its current form, describe how you view OpCo’s role within the DAO and what it should accomplish to deem the entity a success over the next 3-5 years:
Additional Information (Only complete if relevant)
- Please share any other relevant information that supports the applicant/nominee:
References (Only complete if relevant)
- Please provide the name, position, and contact information of individuals who can attest to the applicant’s/nominee’s qualifications and character:
Disclosures
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Please disclose all of the applicant’s/nominee’s actual and potential conflicts of interest, including but not limited to financial, personal, DAO governance, and professional:
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Please disclose all active contributor roles and payment streams related to the Arbitrum DAO that the applicant/nominee, and entities that they have a professional or financial relationship with, have and are receiving:
Declarations
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The applicant/nominee understands that any offer to join and hold a position in the OAT is contingent on:
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Successfully completing as well as maintaining updated all relevant non-disclosure agreements, KYC requirements, and other necessary documents
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Not being a direct representative or full-time employee at network competitors (e.g., Solana, Polygon, Optimism, etc)
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An individual will be entitled to run as a candidate for the election. No single organisation should be overly represented in the OAT. There should be at most 1 candidate associated with a single entity.
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If a candidate is elected on behalf of an organization, then the OAT membership is tied to them and cannot be rotated to someone else in the organization. It will be up to the current OAT to enforce the above policy, and if a candidate is excluded from the election, then the rationale must be publicly disclosed to the ArbitrumDAO
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Being aligned with the community values listed in The Amended Constitution of the Arbitrum DAO, following the Code of Conduct for delegates, being committed to prioritizing the Arbitrum DAO’s needs, and acting in absolute good faith and utmost honesty to fulfill their duties to the best of their abilities.
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If nominating someone else, the nominator confirms that the nominee is aware of their nomination and the essential details related to it
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The applicant/nominator confirms that they have read and understood all the content within this form and that the information submitted is accurate and complete: Yes/No
If you want to submit your application or nomination for the OAT, please refer to this post.
If you have any questions, please contact Sinkas on Telegram.