Maybe completely crazy, but you could use a cryptocurrency like ethereum or counterparty to issue tokens to users based on contributions, and their tokens act as voting shares in a cooperative.
This has a ton of legal implication. Google the fine Ripple just received for creating and issuing their own currency/monetary instrument. Bitcoin works because it's decentralized. I am a huge crypto supporter, my brother is the founder of the exchanges, and I have been involved since 2012 but this is a really bad idea for reasons I could go further into detail on.
I am a huge crypto supporter, my brother is the founder of the exchanges
can I ask which exchange(s)?
The issue is that I am anonymous w/ this company (albeit people can look me up if they try hard enough). If you email me I'd let you know. If you've been in bitcoin for the past couple years you'd probably know of it. "Of the exchanges" = of an exchange. Whoops..
I'm aware of the general concept behind ethereum but I would be really interested in learning how you see it working in this specific circumstance. Really, really interested. Can you elaborate?