Uniswap is the first DeFi protocol to have pioneered Automated Market Makers (AMMs) which led it to become the most popular decentralized exchange (DEX). The network has its own governance token UNI, which is used for voting on improvements and funding liquidity pools. As such, Uniswap is a full-blown DAO but one has to own 1% of UNI’s total supply in order to propose new governance rules or tweak existing ones, effectively barring over 90% of users from participating in directing the network’s development.
MakerDAO A DeFi protocol similar to Uniswap but for lending. MakerDAO has two tokens, stablecoin DAI and governance token MKR. The MakerDAO Foundation has been distributing MKR to incentivize contributors, spur voter participation, and decentralize the governance process. Effectively, the foundation’s goal is to abolish itself by giving away all the tokens to the network’s stakeholders.