Governance, Security, and Emerging Applications of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: A Systematic Review

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) employs blockchain and smart contracts to support transparent, community-driven governance. Despite growing adoption of DAOs across finance, healthcare, supply chains, and digital communities, however research in this space remains scattered. This systematic review synthesizes recent DAO research using a PRISMA methodology, drawing from 158 publications (2018–2026) across six databases, with 51 peer-reviewed studies selected for analysis. Four key themes emerge: governance models, voting mechanisms, smart contract security, and interdisciplinary applications. Recurring challenges include voting power concentration, participation inequality, governance fatigue, and regulatory uncertainty. The review identifies emerging research opportunities, including inclusive governance frameworks, adaptive participation models, and automated smart contract auditing. These directions establish a roadmap for future research toward developing secure, transparent, and sustainable DAO ecosystems.