6.1 veAOV: Vote-Escrowed Governance

Avao’s governance model is built on the principle of long-term alignment over short-term speculation. At its core is veAOV — vote-escrowed AOV — a non-transferable governance score that reflects a user’s commitment to the ecosystem.

How veAOV Works

veAOV is not a tradable token. It is a governance weight derived from locking AOV tokens in time-bound Vaults. The longer and larger the commitment, the more veAOV a user receives.

● Locking Mechanism: Users commit AOV tokens to Vaults for a fixed duration — 30, 90, 180, or 365 days.

● veAOV Generation: Upon locking, users receive veAOV, calculated based on both the amount of AOV locked and the duration of the lock.

● Linear Decay: veAOV decreases gradually as the lock approaches its expiration date, ensuring that only active commitments retain full voting power.

● Non-transferability: veAOV cannot be traded or transferred, preventing vote buying and reinforcing the principle of skin in the game.

This model ensures that governance participation is aligned with long-term network engagement and sustained ecosystem involvement.

Why veAOV Matters

● Prevents Governance Exploits: Because veAOV is earned through time-locked commitment, it cannot be instantly acquired or dumped to manipulate votes.

● Aligns Power with Participation: Users who contribute to the ecosystem’s stability — through vaults, compute, or governance — gain proportionate influence.

● Encourages Stewardship: Governance becomes a long-term responsibility, not a speculative tool or short-term arbitrage opportunity.

● Supports Emission Fairness: veAOV also determines access to protocol emissions, ensuring that rewards flow to those who actively support the network.