The Arbitrum DAO has opened the floor for a pivotal governance decision: adopting Bonded Liquidity Delay (BoLD) for its Arbitrum One and Nova networks. BoLD, a dispute resolution protocol already tested on Arbitrum’s testnet since April 2024, aims to strengthen security with interactive fraud proofs and a fixed timeline for resolving disputes.

Here’s the crux of BoLD: disputes over the chain’s state must be resolved within a strict two-week window, with an emergency extension of two days available for the Arbitrum Security Council to intervene. This prevents delay attacks while ensuring accountability. Additionally, BoLD breaks down barriers by allowing anyone to participate in state validation, decentralizing a process traditionally reserved for validators.

By minimizing risks and broadening participation, BoLD stands to enhance trust in Arbitrum’s governance and security. If passed, this system will go live on both networks in February 2025, further cementing Arbitrum’s role as a leader in scalable and secure blockchain ecosystems.

This is governance in action, blending technical innovation with procedural structure an evolution worth watching.