Snapshot

Last updated: October 13, 2025
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Platform Overview

Official Website: snapshot.box
Category: Dao

About Snapshot

Snapshot is an off-chain, gasless governance platform used by DAOs, DeFi protocols, and NFT communities to create proposals and vote with signed messages (EIP-712) stored on IPFS. Voting power is computed by pluggable strategies (ERC-20 balances, NFTs, POAPs, custom logic), and results can optionally trigger on-chain execution via the SafeSnap plugin (Safe + Reality.eth). Privacy-preserving shielded voting is available via Shutter.

Quick Facts

  • Product: Snapshot (governance client) • Storage: IPFS via Snapshot Hub (open-source).

  • Gasless UX: Proposals and votes are signed off-chain—no gas fees.

  • Voting types: Single choice, weighted, approval, quadratic, ranked choice, basic (for/against/abstain).

  • Voting power (“strategies”): Mix up to 8 strategies per space (default: erc20-balance-of; also NFTs/POAPs/custom).

  • Delegation: Built-in delegation flows (per-space or global).

Key Features

  • Gasless proposals & voting with EIP-712 signatures; results are easy to verify and widely indexed.

  • Flexible voting types: single/approval/weighted/quadratic/ranked choice; basic yes/no/abstain.

  • Pluggable strategies: compute voting power from ERC-20s, ERC-721/1155, POAPs, vesting, and custom strategies (dev guide).

  • Shielded voting (Shutter): hide votes during the window; reveal on close to reduce bandwagon effects.

  • Trustless execution (SafeSnap): execute off-chain outcomes on-chain via Safe + Reality.eth.

  • APIs & tooling: GraphQL Hub API (rate-limited, API keys), Subgraphs on The Graph, snapshot.js, webhooks.

How It Works (at a glance)

  1. Create a space and pick your strategies (e.g., erc20-balance-of, plus any custom modules).

  2. Propose: authors sign an off-chain message; content is stored on IPFS (via Snapshot Hub).

  3. Vote: holders sign a message; Snapshot computes results by the chosen voting type and strategies.

  4. (Optional) Execute: with SafeSnap, the passed proposal is resolved through Reality.eth and executed by a Safe—bringing the off-chain vote on-chain.

Chains & Compatibility

  • EVM ecosystems (Ethereum + L2s/sidechains) are supported out-of-the-box, and Snapshot X extends to Starknet with gas-free on-chain voting there. Use SIWE/Starknet signatures for gasless UX.

API & Integrations

  • Hub GraphQL API (hub.snapshot.org/graphql), 60 req/min by default; apply for API keys for higher limits.

  • Subgraphs: standardized endpoints on The Graph for on-chain governance data.

  • SDK & webhooks: snapshot.js for creating spaces/proposals/votes programmatically; webhooks for events.

Pricing & Fees

  • End-users: no gas to propose or vote on Snapshot.

  • On-chain execution: if you enable SafeSnap (or other on-chain actions), those transactions cost gas and follow Safe/Reality.eth rules.