Gauge Wars

Protocols competing for veCRV (and analogous ve-token) gauge weight votes to direct emissions to their pools. Higher gauge weight = more rewards for LPs = more capital. Convex (CVX) accumulated dominant veCRV, gaining meta-governance. Bribery markets (Votium, Hidden Hand) formalised vote-buying. Pattern spread to Balancer (Aura/veBAL), Velodrome (Optimism), Aerodrome (Base). Among DeFi's most-developed bribery economies.