✅ Master DAO Permission Systems

🎯 Core Concepts

• 🔐
  RBAC = Security Architecture: Role-based access control isn't just permission management—it's the foundation of DAO security. Roles limit blast radius of compromised wallets. Admin with treasury access gets hacked? If they also have contract upgrade powers, attacker can do more damage. Separate roles = defense in depth.
• 📊
  Permission Hierarchies Match Risk: Critical operations (treasury transfers, contract upgrades) require multi-sig + time-locks + governance votes. High-risk (role changes, emergency pause) needs admin + oversight. Medium (moderation) uses dedicated role. Low (voting) is permissionless. More risk = more layers.
• 👤
  Role Assignment is Governance: Unlike Web2 (HR clicks button), DAO role changes go through on-chain processes: proposal → discussion → vote → execution → on-chain record. High-privilege roles require community approval. Immutable by default—can't quietly revoke access like database edit.
• 🛡️
  Security Models Evolve: Start simple (single admin for speed), add layers as value grows (3/5 multi-sig at $100K+, 5/9 + time-locks at $1M+, governance + guardian at $10M+). Match security overhead to treasury size and operational tempo. Progressive decentralization is the norm.
• 🔄
  Hybrid Systems are Pragmatic: Pure models rarely work in production. Real DAOs combine: multi-sig for routine ops (fast), time-locked governance for upgrades (transparent), guardian for emergencies (reactive), and on-chain votes for major decisions (democratic). Layer mechanisms, don't choose one.
• 💡
  Least Privilege Principle: Grant minimum necessary permissions. New contributors start as Member, not Admin. Prove competence before elevation. If compromised, damage is limited. Can always upgrade permissions later—revoking is harder (requires governance vote).