Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are reshaping how companies, communities, and financial initiatives are structured across the globe.
Key takeaways
- DAOs are emerging as a trusted alternative in Latin America, offering decentralized solutions where traditional systems fall short.
- Their real-world impact is growing, with countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia using DAOs in finance, fundraising, and governance.
- The future of DAOs in the region depends on clear regulations and responsible adoption to ensure sustainable growth.
Built on blockchain technology and governed by smart contracts, DAOs allow groups of people to make decisions collectively without relying on traditional hierarchies or centralized authorities.
As of 2024, more than 20,000 DAOs manage treasuries exceeding $30 billion, a figure that speaks to their growing influence and adoption worldwide.
In Latin America, where institutional trust is often fragile and economic volatility is commonplace, DAOs are emerging as a compelling alternative for governance and collaboration.
By enabling transparency, community participation, and direct control over resources, they offer a framework well-suited to the region’s needs.
DAOs aren’t just about decentralization; they signify a broader shift in how value is created and shared.
According to Pablo Rutigliano, CEO of Atómico 3, “DAOs aren’t just a disruptive organizational model; they’re a bridge to a new era of transparency and collective participation.”
He sees them as a turning point where technology and the economy begin to align more closely.
A major driver of this shift is tokenization the digital representation of physical assets which redefines how ownership is recorded and transferred.
In doing so, DAOs create more secure and open environments for distributing resources.
What are DAO’s main uses in Latin America?
This is especially meaningful in Latin American countries where access to traditional financial systems is limited, and inflation or currency instability threatens personal wealth.
Across the region, DAOs are being used in several key ways. In the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi), they offer financial services without the need for intermediaries a lifeline for those excluded from conventional banking systems.
Crowdfunding and fundraising efforts also benefit, as DAOs enable collective financing with greater transparency and traceability in how funds are used.
Digital governance is another area of impact, with communities adopting DAOs to ensure members have a meaningful voice in decision-making processes.
Certain countries stand out for their pace of adoption. Brazil, for example, ranks seventh globally in crypto usage, with transactions topping $91.1 billion a sign of fertile ground for DAO innovation.
Argentina follows closely, with nearly $85.4 billion in crypto activity, much of it driven by citizens seeking protection from economic instability.
Colombia, too, is gaining ground, ranking 15th worldwide in crypto adoption and showing increasing openness to decentralized models.
Despite this momentum, challenges remain. Regulatory clarity is still evolving, and governance models within DAOs are often experimental or inconsistent.
As María Fernanda Juppet, CEO of CryptoMKT, explains, “Just as cryptocurrencies reinvented money, DAOs are revolutionizing governance and global collaboration.”
But to fully realize their potential, especially in Latin America, these structures will need supportive legal frameworks that protect innovation while ensuring accountability.
What’s clear is that DAOs are no longer a fringe concept they’re quickly becoming a preferred structure for organizing everything from businesses to communities.
Their continued evolution will hinge on finding the right balance between decentralization, security, and compliance.
In doing so, they may well help shape the future of the global and particularly Latin American economy.
