Towards Secure and Trustworthy DAOs for Cross-Chain Governance
Cryptography and Security
Summary
The authors explore special security problems faced by decentralized organizations that operate across multiple blockchains. They identify four main ways these organizations can be attacked, such as bribery and technical weaknesses. To protect against these, the authors propose a layered security system that uses advanced cryptography and rules checked directly on the blockchain. Their approach also includes ways to fix decisions if problems arise. Overall, their work helps make governing across different blockchains safer and more reliable.
Authors
Faisal Haque Bappy, Tahrim Hossain, Tarannum Shaila Zaman, Tariqul Islam
Abstract
Cross-chain DAOs face unique security challenges that go beyond traditional single-chain vulnerabilities. This paper identifies and categorizes four critical attack vectors in cross-chain DAO governance: bribery attacks, token control exploits, human-computer interaction deceptions, and protocol vulnerabilities. We propose a comprehensive security framework with a multi-layered architecture that integrates cryptographic trust anchors, fraud-resistant consensus mechanisms, and decentralized validation techniques to address these threats. Our framework introduces novel components, including a Governance Kernel with on-chain rule verification, a Cross-Chain Trust Layer using threshold cryptography, and a Resilience Layer offering time-locked decision reversals and progressive dispute resolution. By establishing a structured set of countermeasures, this work lays the foundation for secure, transparent, and attack-resistant governance across diverse blockchain environments.