/

Aragon (ANT) is a decentralized platform designed to simplify the creation and management of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) on the Ethereum blockchain. Founded in 2016 by Luis Cuende and Jorge Izquierdo, Aragon aims to empower communities and developers with the tools needed to build, govern, and operate digital organizations without relying on traditional, centralized structures.

The platform offers a modular, open-source framework known as Aragon OSx, which consists of smart contracts that allow users to set up DAOs with various functionalities. This includes managing digital assets, voting systems, and governance rules, making it easier for communities to collaborate transparently and efficiently. Aragon also introduced the Aragon App, a no-code solution for users without technical expertise to deploy and manage DAOs, thus lowering the barrier to entry.

A key element of the platform is the Aragon Network Token (ANT), which grants holders governance rights over the platform. ANT holders can vote on proposals that shape the future development of the Aragon ecosystem, such as updates to the protocol and allocation of funds from the Aragon treasury. This decentralized governance model underscores Aragon's mission to create a digital jurisdiction, where smart contracts facilitate trustless and permissionless interactions between organizations.

Over the years, Aragon has become a foundational tool for several high-profile projects, including Lido, Decentraland, and API3, which use its infrastructure to manage their decentralized operations. Despite facing challenges and structural changes, such as the dissolution of the Aragon Association in 2023, the project continues to evolve and adapt, introducing features like gas-free voting and expanding its ecosystem to support new blockchain networks like Polygon​.