On-chain governance for the Aptos network. Your stake is your voice — cast votes, delegate power, and shape protocol decisions.
The short version, for anyone new to voting on-chain
Aptos governance is the on-chain process for changing the protocol. Proposals to upgrade the framework, adjust parameters or enable new features are published as AIPs, voted on by stakers, and — if they pass — executed directly by the network. No central party approves the outcome; the chain enforces it.
From staked APT. Tokens sitting unstaked in a wallet carry no voting power at all — you have to have stake in a delegation pool for your vote to count, and the amount you have staked is the weight your vote carries.
Each proposal opens for a fixed voting window. Stakers vote yes, no or abstain, weighted by their stake. To pass, a proposal must attract enough yes votes to clear its threshold before the window closes. Proposals that pass move to execution and are applied on-chain; proposals that fall short expire.
Staking is putting APT to work with a validator to earn rewards. Delegating voting power is handing your vote — and only your vote — to another address.
They are independent. You can stake and vote yourself, or stake and let a delegate vote on your behalf. Delegating never moves your APT and never transfers your rewards.
Governance proposals are frequently technical, and voting on every one takes attention most holders cannot spare. Delegating lets you back someone who follows the proposals closely, while your stake keeps earning.
Yes, but not instantly. Staked APT follows an unlock schedule: you request an unstake, then wait for the next scheduled unlock before the tokens can be withdrawn. Plan around that delay rather than expecting immediate access.