# Decentralized Governance of Autonomous AI Agents

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.17114 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.17114/

## Key facts

- Cited by 12 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 0 of its 2 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 22 Dec 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 12 of 12)

- [Trustless Autonomy: Understanding Motivations, Benefits, and Governance Dilemmas in Self-Sovereign Decentralized AI Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.09757/) (2025)
- [Build Agent Advocates, Not Platform Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.04345/) (2025)
- [BetaWeb: Towards a Blockchain-enabled Trustworthy Agentic Web](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.13787/) (2025)
- [AI Agents Push Humans Out of the Loop](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.23642/) (2026)
- [From Logic Monopoly to Social Contract: Separation of Power and the Institutional Foundations for Autonomous Agent Economies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.25100/) (2026)
- [Web3 x AI Agents: Landscape, Integrations, and Foundational Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.02773/) (2025)
- [DAO-enabled decentralized physical AI: A new paradigm for human-machine collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.04522/) (2026)
- [Agentic AI Governance and Lifecycle Management in Healthcare](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.15630/) (2026)
- [Distributed Legal Infrastructure for a Trustworthy Agentic Web](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.06884/) (2026)
- [AI of the People, by the People, for the People: A Social Choice Approach to Collective Control of Artificial Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.16291/) (2026)
- [Beyond Component Testing: Validating Agentic AI Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.29405/) (2026)
- [Blockchain-Enabled Artificial Intelligence and AI Agents for Secure Data Sharing and Cybersecurity Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.28843/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Autonomous AI agents present transformative opportunities and significant governance challenges. Existing frameworks, such as the EU AI Act and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, fall short of addressing the complexities of these agents, which are capable of independent decision-making, learning, and adaptation. To bridge these gaps, we propose the ETHOS (Ethical Technology and Holistic Oversight System) framework, a decentralized governance (DeGov) model leveraging Web3 technologies, including blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). ETHOS establishes a global registry for AI agents, enabling dynamic risk classification, proportional oversight, and automated compliance monitoring through tools like soulbound tokens and zero-knowledge proofs. Furthermore, the framework incorporates decentralized justice systems for transparent dispute resolution and introduces AI specific legal entities to manage limited liability, supported by mandatory insurance to ensure financial accountability and incentivize ethical design. By integrating philosophical principles of rationality, ethical grounding, and goal alignment, ETHOS aims to create a robust research agenda for promoting trust, transparency, and participatory governance. This innovative framework offers a scalable and inclusive strategy for regulating AI agents, balancing innovation with ethical responsibility to meet the demands of an AI-driven future.