A governance token is a type of crypto token that gives its holders a say in how a project or protocol is run. Rather than a central team making every decision, holders can vote on proposals, such as changes to the rules, how funds are used, or new features.
The amount of voting power usually depends on how many tokens someone holds. This is meant to spread decision-making across a community, a key idea behind decentralized organisations. Proposals are typically submitted, discussed, and then voted on directly on-chain.
It is worth being clear about what a governance token is and is not. It represents voting rights, not a promise of profit or income. Its value and influence depend on the project, and holding one is about participation in decisions, not a guaranteed financial return.