很多人在討論數字貨幣和區塊鏈的時候，經常會將比特幣、以太坊、或者某個專案稱為DAO，而又聽說有個叫DAO的眾籌專案被黑客攻擊，為什麼有兩個DAO？這兩個DAO是一回事情嗎？那麼到底什麼是DAO，讓我來和大家解釋一下。 

其實，這兩個DAO是不一樣的，前面說的DAO，是“分散式自治組織”（Distributed Autonomous Organization）的縮寫，這是一種基於區塊鏈的組織結構形式。而後面說的DAO僅僅是一個基於以太坊區塊鏈的專案名稱。為了區分這兩個DAO，一般稱第二個DAO為“the DAO”。 

DAO有時候也被稱為DAC（Distributed Autonomous Corporation），意思是“分散式自治公司”，和DAO的含義差不多。無論是DAO還是DAC，都是指通過一系列公開公正的規則，可以在無人干預和管理的情況下自主執行的組織形式。這些規則往往會以開源軟體的形式出現，每個人都可以通過購買該組織的股份權益，或者提供服務的形式來成為該組織的參與者。 

從某種角度來看，DAO就像一個全自動的機器人，當它全部的程式設定完成後，它就會按照既定的規則開始運作。值得一提的是，在運作的過程中，它還可以根據實際情況不斷的自我維護和升級，通過不斷的自我完善來適合它周圍的環境。

事實上，DAO的形態非常廣泛，它可能是某種數字貨幣，也可能是一個系統或者機構，甚至可能是無人駕駛汽車。他們為客戶提供有價值的服務。這種服務可以是貨幣傳輸（如Bitcoin），應用平臺（Ethereum），域名管理系統（Namecoin），或者是任意一種其他商業模式，這些商業模式顯然更像是特定機構的股票而不是單一的貨幣。每個DAO都有其自己的條款和條件。你將永遠有權檢視你擁有的、可支配的、數字貨幣形式的DAO股份，並且有可能從中獲得股息。

比特幣和以太坊就是典型的DAO，絕大多數的規則都是公開透明的，如數量上限，競爭記賬的共識方式和規則等，你從某種程度可以將它看成一個沒有人控制的支付機構，而每個擁有比特幣或以太幣的人都會是該機構的股東，而那些礦工和開發者也通過貢獻自己的服務成為該機構的參與者，當該機構被越多的人需要時，他們持有的股份權益就有可能會增值，增值之後他們就可以分享機構的收益，參與機構的成長。

總結地說，DAO是一種全新的機構形態，可能是未來網際網路上組織形態的雛形，不受任何單個人的控制卻有明確的目標，能夠自己進化和發展。

What is DAO

When it comes to digital currencies and blockchain, it is often referred to a DAO for a certain project like bitcoin or ethereum. And you may have heard of the crowdfunding program called The DAO, which was hacked recently.So, Is it the same with DAO mentioned just now? What exactly DAO is remains a question that has refused so many people. Now I would like to give you an explanation.

Actually, there are differences between these two concepts. The former DAO is short for Distributed Autonomous Organizatio, a blockchain-based structure. The latter DAO is just the name of an ethereum-based blockchain program which is called The DAO generally to differentiate the two DAO. 

Sometimes we also call DAO as DAC, that is a Distributed Autonomous Corporation, similar to DAO. No matter it is a DAO or a DAC, it’s an organization that runs automatically without human intervention and management by a set of fair and open rules. These rules are usually appeared in open-sourced software, where everyone can become the participant in this organization through holding its share equities or providing services.

To some extent, DAO is more like a fully automatic robot. Once the program is set, the robot will start to operate in compliance with the established rules. And during the operation, it can also maintain and upgrade by itself continuously according to real conditions around it, and enhance itself unceasingly to get adjusted to its surrounding. 

In fact, DAO has a broad explanation of its formation. It could be a digital currency, a system, an institute, or even a self-driving car. They offer services with values which could be money transfer like Bitcoin, application like Ethereum, domain name management system like Namecoin, or other business modes except being taken as a kind of digital currency. In a sense, it is more like the equity to those specific institutions. Each DAO has its own terms and conditions. You can always check the DAO shares you hold, which are disposable in the form of digital currency, and earn dividends from it.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are two typical DAOs, with a most rules like the upward bound of quantity, consensus algorithms and other rules are all open and transparent. So that you can see it as payment institution without man control in some way and everyone that holds bitcoins or ethers could be the shareholder of this institution. Those miners and developers can also become participant. When the demand in the institution increases, the value of the shares they hold rises. Besides, they can also share its profits and grow in line with the institution at the same time.

With that saying, DAO is a brandnew pattern for institution and could be an early form of online organization in the future, which has definite goals and can evolve and develop all by itself without being controlled by any individual.