Definition ∞ Decentralized accountability refers to the system where responsibility and transparency are distributed across a network rather than held by a single authority. In blockchain and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), this means that actions and decisions are recorded on an immutable ledger, making them verifiable by all network participants. Participants are held accountable by the protocol’s rules and the collective oversight of the network, without reliance on a central intermediary. This distribution of oversight promotes trust and reduces the potential for unilateral manipulation or censorship.
Context ∞ Decentralized accountability is a core tenet of the Web3 movement and is a frequent topic in discussions about governance models for blockchain protocols and DAOs. News often covers how different decentralized systems implement mechanisms to ensure participant actions are transparent and subject to network consensus. The development of more robust on-chain governance structures aims to strengthen this form of distributed responsibility.