Uniswap Foundation leads coalition urging Treasury Secretary Bessent to clarify legal framework for DAOs
The Uniswap Foundation spearheaded a coalition of 18 main cryptocurrency organizations in petitioning Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for federal steerage on decentralized autonomous group (DAO) compliance.
In a Sept. 2 letter, Uniswap Foundation cites persistent legal uncertainty that has pushed innovation offshore.
The doc advocates for federal recognition of Wyoming’s Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association (DUNA) framework, signed into legislation in 2024, as a mannequin for offering DAOs with legal readability whereas preserving their decentralized governance buildings.
The DUNA framework allows DAOs to engage in contractual relationships, handle treasury funds, and adjust to tax obligations whereas shielding token holders from private legal responsibility.
The letter acknowledged:
“DAOs within the US have traditionally confronted persistent legal uncertainty. Many DAOs do not need readability on whether or not fundamental undertakings, comparable to the power to signal contracts, handle property, or meet tax obligations, will expose individuals to private legal responsibility.”
Bipartisan congressional help
The initiative has garnered political backing, with Senator Cynthia Lummis endorsing the framework and championing efforts to “construct the legal basis American innovators want to succeed.”
The letter references the President’s Working Group Report on Digital Assets, which mandates Treasury and IRS collaboration with blockchain nonprofits to facilitate US domiciliation.
Uniswap Governance, described as “one of many largest and most energetic DAOs on this planet,” has proposed adopting the DUNA construction as a take a look at case for the broader ecosystem. The coalition argues this represents a milestone demonstrating that compliance and decentralization can coexist inside US legal frameworks.
Eighteen organizations co-signed the letter, together with established entities comparable to Polygon, Tally, and the Blockchain Association, alongside newer gamers like ZKsync, Morpho, and the Solana Policy Institute.
The various coalition spans infrastructure suppliers, DeFi protocols, enterprise funds, and coverage advocacy teams.
Competitive risk
The signatories emphasised the aggressive risk posed by different jurisdictions actively courting blockchain organizations.
The letter warns that continued regulatory ambiguity dangers pushing innovation away from US markets as world rivals set up clearer frameworks for decentralized entities.
The coalition requests three particular federal actions: recognition of good-faith DAO compliance efforts, engagement with communities piloting frameworks like DUNA, and provision of federal pathways, together with secure harbors, interpretive steerage, or tailor-made rulemaking.
The letter concluded:
“With considerate collaboration, we will make sure that the U.S. stays a house for internet-native innovation rooted in transparency, compliance, and open participation.”
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