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Writer's pictureShraddha Khattri

DAOs and Legal Wrapper: The Perfect Match for Decentralized Governance

DAOs and legal wrapper structures are the key to unlocking the full potential of decentralized governance, offering a new model for decision making and resource allocation that is transparent, accountable and community-driven.

Image Credit: legalnodes.com

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) have emerged as a powerful new model for decentralized governance. These organizations are run by a decentralized community of token holders, who use smart contracts to make decisions and allocate resources. However, as DAOs become more prevalent, legal and regulatory challenges have emerged. Legal wrapper structures are one solution to these challenges, and they are becoming an increasingly popular way for DAOs to navigate the legal landscape.


A legal wrapper is a legal structure that is used to give a decentralized organization a legal identity. This allows the organization to enter into contracts, own assets, and conduct business in a way that is recognized by the law. Legal wrappers can take many forms, such as a non-profit organization, a limited liability company, or a foundation. The choice of legal wrapper will depend on the specific needs of the DAO, and the jurisdiction in which it operates.


Legal wrappers are important for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) for several reasons:

  • Compliance: DAOs often operate in a decentralized and autonomous manner, which can make it difficult to ensure compliance with legal regulations and industry standards. Legal wrappers can be used to automate compliance checks and reporting, and can also be used to manage and track regulatory requirements.

  • Transparency and accountability: Legal wrappers can help to improve transparency and accountability in DAOs by providing a clear, unified framework for legal agreements. This can help to ensure that all parties involved in a transaction understand their rights and responsibilities, and can help to reduce the risk of disputes and misunderstandings.

  • Liability protection: DAOs are decentralized and autonomous organizations, which means that there is no central authority that is responsible for their actions. Legal wrappers can provide liability protection for the parties involved in the agreement, by creating a legal structure that separates the assets and liabilities of the organization from the individuals that are involved in it.

  • Smart Contract Automation: DAOs use smart contracts to govern and operate, legal wrappers can be used to automate the execution of legal agreements, and the transparency and immutability of the blockchain can ensure compliance with legal regulations and industry standards.

  • Better management of assets: Legal wrappers can be used to manage tokenized assets, such as real estate or art, and to facilitate the transfer of ownership and enforce compliance with regulations.

Additionally, legal wrapper structures can also provide DAOs with greater flexibility in terms of fundraising, as well as protect the members of the community from personal legal liabilities.


However, it is important to note that legal wrapper structures are still new and evolving, and it is important to consult with legal experts to ensure that the chosen structure is suitable for the specific needs of the DAO. Additionally, legal wrapper structures may also need to comply with different regulations in different jurisdictions, so it is important to choose a jurisdiction that is friendly to decentralized organizations.

Overall, legal wrapper structures are an important tool for DAOs to navigate the legal landscape and build trust with regulators and potential partners. By using a legal wrapper, DAOs can ensure that they are operating in a lawful and transparent manner, while also enjoying the benefits of decentralized governance.

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