Build Your DAO on Avalanche C-Chain: A Step-by-Step Guide
Part 3 of our DAO x Avalanche series. Learn how to choose the right tools, launch your DAO, and run your first vote, all on Avalanche’s fast and affordable C-Chain.
By now, you’ve got a solid understanding of a DAO (Part 1) and the tools needed to run one (Part 2). So, let’s get practical. This is the step-by-step blueprint to help you launch your own DAO on Avalanche C-Chain.
Whether you're building a creative collective, a funding guild, a DeFi governance hub, or something the world’s never seen before, Avalanche gives you the ideal runway: fast, affordable, and fully EVM-compatible.
But before you even touch smart contracts or launch a token, there are a few key decisions to make.
What Kind of DAO Are You Building?
Before anything technical, define your DAO’s identity. A DAO isn’t just a product, it’s a community with a purpose.
Here’s what to decide before launching:
Mission & Vision
Before you launch anything, define your DAO’s purpose.
What problem are you solving?
What future are you trying to build?
A clear mission attracts aligned contributors and helps keep your governance focused. Your mission should be specific, and your vision should be aspirational. For example:
Membership Model
Who gets to join and how?
Is your DAO open to anyone, or invite-only?
Do members need to hold tokens, NFTs, or contribute time?
Decide early how people will enter and participate in your community.
Decision-Making Process
How will the community vote on proposals?
What defines quorum or proposal thresholds?
Will you use on-chain or off-chain governance?
Starting with clarity here avoids messy conflicts later.
Step-by-Step: Launching a DAO on Avalanche C-Chain
Once you’ve locked in your DAO’s mission and vibe, here’s how to bring it to life technically:
Step 1: Choose Your DAO Framework
You don’t need to code from scratch. Choose a framework that fits your goals:
Tally: Tally is an all-in-one tool that helps DAOs govern better.
XDAO: Fully Customizable DAO Builder for All Use Cases
Aragon: Great for grant DAOs, creatives, and general-purpose use.
Note: You can deploy Aragon DAOs to Avalanche, but you’ll need to configure the network manually or use Aragon’s contract framework (OSx) on the C‑Chain since Avalanche isn’t listed by default in the Aragon UI.
Step 2: Set Up Your Wallet + Avalanche Network
To interact with any of these platforms:
Install MetaMask
Add Avalanche C-Chain to your wallet:
RPC URL: https://api.avax.network/ext/bc/C/rpc
Chain ID: 43114
Symbol: AVAX
Fund your wallet with a small amount of $AVAX for gas.
Step 3: Deploy Your DAO
Using your chosen platform (e.g., Aragon):
Set your DAO’s name
Define proposal logic (who can submit, vote, or veto)
Choose your voting method (1 token = 1 vote, 1 person = 1 vote, etc.)
Set quorum and proposal thresholds
(Optional) Deploy a governance token using OpenZeppelin or ThirdWeb
Once deployed, congrats, you’re live!
Step 4: Launch a Governance Token (Optional, But Recommended)
Most DAOs use an ERC-20 token for voting and incentives.
Create one using:
You can check out my previous article on how to launch your own L1 with thirdweb
Custom Solidity + Hardhat (if you’re feeling fancy)
Distribute your token thoughtfully:
Airdrops to early members
Rewards for contributors
LP incentives or DAO treasury sales
Tokens are powerful; use them to grow value, not just hype.
Step 5: Set Up Treasury + Voting Infrastructure
You’ll need two core tools here:
1. Gnosis Safe – Multisig wallet for managing DAO funds
2. Snapshot – For off-chain or on-chain voting
These tools ensure transparency, security, and decentralised control.
Step 6: Enable Collective Decision-Making
This is the heart of any DAO. Here’s how to structure it:
Proposals can be created via Aragon or Snapshot
Votes should be open and trackable (with clear quorum rules)
Use Discord, Notion, or Dework to discuss and plan proposals before they go live
Consider Coordinape to allocate rewards based on peer recognition
Step 7: Run Your First Proposal
Make it something simple and impactful:
Approve a contributor grant
Launch a new bounty program
Add a new community lead
Host a small in-person meetup
Use this first proposal to educate your members on how governance works and get everyone engaged.
DAO Launch Checklist
Mission and vision statement
Chosen DAO framework
Treasury setup (Gnosis Safe)
Governance token (optional)
Voting frontend (Snapshot )
Community coordination tools (Discord, Guild.xyz, Dework)
First proposal + onboarding plan
Final Thoughts
Launching a DAO on Avalanche doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right vision, aligned tools, and an engaged community, you can turn a simple idea into a thriving, self-sustaining movement.
Avalanche’s low fees, fast finality, and deep Ethereum compatibility make it the perfect playground for DAO builders who want to move fast without breaking the chain.
Dive into the Avalanche ecosystem today! Download the Core Wallet and unlock a world of seamless DeFi, NFTs, and more.
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