> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ink-finance.gitbook.io/ink-finance-guide-v2/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ink-finance.gitbook.io/ink-finance-guide-v2/dao-creation/governance-token-vs.-badge.md).

# Governance Token vs. Badge

A DAO can have two governance models:

**1）With governance token**

In this "stake-to-govern" model, everyone in a DAO must "have skin in the game" when they participate in governance - manage or vote. This model also raises the barrier against Sybil attack. In such a use case, the DAO creator must provide the DAO's native token as a governance tool.

However, Ink Finance also provides effective means of resisting whale attack. A sub DAO of a large ecosystem can set up its own **Badge**, and require that only holders of this badge can vote on its affairs. Such badges are usually earned or assigned, instead of bought. 

When both a governance token and a badge are used as governance tools, the effective power in voting can be set by the DAO as a combination of the two. In the simplest scenario, a voter must hold at least one badge to enter voting, then the votes will be counted based on the user's staked governance tokens.

<figure><img src="/files/bCMQa0ymvEgDiJ3PldO7" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example: 'COOL' DAO's badge is COOL, governance token is QUILL</p></figcaption></figure>

**2）Without governance token**

When there is no governance toke, meaning no stake-to-vote, then only Badge is used as governance tool, and the votes will be counted based on the number of badges in user's wallet.

**3) Convert contribution value to Badges**

Badges allow DAOs to put community value ahead of pure economic power. For DAOs that emphasize NFT or other content creation, the **Badge** serves as a ***converter*** of various User Generated Contents (UGC) to a ***uniformed*** measurement in governance. How to convert any kind of contribution into badge numbers can be flexibly determined by the DAO and its members. But once the conversion is done, everyone can agree on the uniformity.

After the badge holders enter the voting, the effectiveness of voting can be measured by either the combination of the pledged governance token and the badge numbers, or just the badge numbers. The specific relationship between the two is customizable.

**Note:**

If a DAO is created with **Badge**, the creator needs to distribute the badges to the community members before they can vote in this DAO. Badges represent the contribution profile of a member, and therefore should not be transferrable, once they are assigned to members.