As 2024 wrapped up, the Internet Computer community reflected on a year of notable advancements in governance, highlighting improvements to the Network Nervous System (NNS), the decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) steering the protocol’s evolution. Governed by proposals and the votes of its participants, the NNS plays a central role in ensuring the stability, security, and adaptability of the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP).
The past year saw a strong emphasis on encouraging participation in NNS governance, addressing challenges of decentralisation, and enhancing the voting process. From incentivising experts to scrutinise technical proposals to introducing user-friendly updates in the NNS dapp, the efforts aimed to foster a more engaged and informed community.
One of the cornerstone initiatives of 2024 was the introduction of grants to promote active voting. These grants, funded by the DFINITY Foundation, provided resources for participants to conduct detailed reviews of proposals. This process not only ensured a thorough examination of technical changes but also helped establish trusted experts within the ecosystem. As the programme transitions in 2025 to an automated rewards system, the hope is to sustain and expand this culture of diligent participation.
Another significant development was the addition of actionable proposals in the NNS dapp interface. By clearly marking pending proposals for direct voters, this feature aimed to reduce missed voting opportunities and encourage consistent engagement. Complementing this was the periodic confirmation requirement, designed to keep delegation choices active and relevant. Participants now need to interact with the system every six months, ensuring their votes and delegations reflect current priorities.
2024 also introduced improvements to proposal topic organisation, making it easier for participants to navigate governance and choose experts to follow for specific areas. This structural refinement benefits both direct voters, such as grant recipients, and those delegating their votes, streamlining the process of aligning with specialised expertise.
Educational outreach was another key focus area. The NNS Explained series debuted to simplify the governance onboarding process, offering tutorials for newcomers and detailed guides for experienced participants. By demystifying the intricacies of ICP governance, this initiative aimed to lower barriers to entry and broaden the base of informed contributors.
A notable administrative update was the consolidation of the DFINITY Foundation and Internet Computer Association neurons, which reduced complexity in delegation processes and streamlined governance. This clean-up exemplifies the ongoing commitment to making governance more accessible and intuitive for all participants.
Beyond participation, 2024 brought enhancements to balance transparency and privacy. Voting neurons can now choose whether to make their voting behaviour public or private, addressing diverse user needs. This change also lays the groundwork for an index of neurons, a feature that has been widely requested by the community.
As the NNS evolves, the roadmap for 2025 includes continued efforts to refine governance tools and processes, driven by community collaboration. With automated rewards for diligent voters and further integration of feedback mechanisms, the future looks promising for a more robust and inclusive governance model.