7 ♦ · Consensus · Draft
Random Jury Arbitration
A small group of members, drawn at random, hears a dispute and decides it on behalf of everyone.
How it works
Members who want to serve as jurors stake tokens into a pool. When a dispute arises, the system picks a small jury at random, with the odds of selection tied to each juror's stake. Both sides submit evidence. Jurors review it and vote in secret, without talking to each other, and the majority verdict decides the case. Jurors who vote with the majority often earn a fee, while those who vote against it may lose part of their stake. Either party can appeal to a larger jury.
Use it when
- Resolve disputes between members without a central judge or a full DAO vote.
- You need a decision from people who have no personal stake in the outcome.
- Handle many small cases that would exhaust the whole membership.
Watch out for
- Jurors may vote for what they expect others to choose, not for what is right.
- A rich party can bribe jurors or appeal repeatedly until they get a favorable jury.
Example
Kleros. Kleros has run randomly drawn, stake-weighted juries on Ethereum since 2018, resolving disputes over escrow payments, curated lists, and insurance claims.