After a considerable period of trial and refinement, and having operated on the mainnet for some time, the launch of DAO governance is finally underway for both the Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova networks. This marks a significant milestone towards decentralizing both networks, placing the next phase of Arbitrum in the hands of the DAO community.

The initial step in constructing Arbitrum involves securely updating Ethereum. To establish a secure and decentralized Layer 2 (L2) solution, all centralized points of chain control must be eliminated, enabling operation without reliance on trust. Core technologies must be developed to ensure the chain functions without centralized actors, with a primary focus on fraud proofs, essential for both security and decentralization.

Previously, Arbitrum underwent an upgrade to the Nitro stack, which included enhanced compression, reduced costs, and increased throughput. Upgradability is crucial for the software's resilience in the event of vulnerability discovery, managed by the Arbitrum DAO. The $ARB token plays a pivotal role in distributing power to the community, serving as a necessity for safely upgrading Ethereum. The self-implementing feature of the Arbitrum DAO is integral to decentralization, with the final decision resting with the DAO, regardless of the Arbitrum Security Council's actions.

Arbitrum Orbit will empower developers to create their own Layer 3 (L3) blockchains in the Arbitrum ecosystem in a simple and permissionless manner. Developers offering L3s on Arbitrum One and Nova will receive a free, perpetual license to utilize, modify, and customize Arbitrum's cutting-edge technology for their L3 chains.

Regarding the $ARB airdrop, it was determined that tokens would be distributed to actual Arbitrum users, with points awarded for using Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova, including early usage. Users accumulating three or more points qualify for the airdrop, while those who did not meet the threshold are eligible for tokens through the DAO airdrop method.

The DAO airdrop also included the Protocol Guild, comprised of Ethereum's leading developers and contributors. The substantial Arbitrum token allocation is intended for the community, with the imminent airdrop distributing 12.75%. Overall, the launch represents a step towards decentralizing the Arbitrum networks, granting the community control over its ecosystem and technology.