DAO behind DEX aggregator Jupiter suspends governance votes until early 2026 amid community concerns

Jupiter DAO, which oversees Solana-based DEX aggregator Jupiter Exchange, has paused all votes until early 2026 following a “breakdown in trust” from community members in the current governance structure, a core contributor said on X.

Kash Dhanda wrote that the DAO needs time to rework governance tools and focus on building new products in the “Jupiverse” before polling resumes. A fresh framework will arrive no earlier than January 2026, he said. Active staking rewards will persist, distributing 50 million JUP per quarter; however, no new JUP emissions will occur for voting rewards or workgroup budgets.

JUP traded near $0.40 after the freeze, down 50 percent year-to-date amid a broader altcoin slump, according to The Block's price page.

The pause follows weeks of criticism that project insiders dominate decision-making. In a recent DAO proposal, one team's wallet cast over 4.5 percent of all ballots. Jupiter founders and team members reportedly control about 20% of the JUP supply, Jupiter’s native token. Community members called the influence unacceptable and said it undermines decentralisation.

Governance rows have flared before. In March, the DAO approved a $7 million salary package for four new staffers. Another vote granted co-founder Ming Ng a 220 million-JUP bonus after he pledged 280 million vested tokens to fund 65 new hires. Both measures passed despite backlash.