The Republic of the Marshall Islands Allows Registration of DAOs as Legal Entities

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has announced it will allow decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to become legal entities. At the time of writing, only one DAO has successfully incorporated in the country.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has said it will allow decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to register as legal entities. The move, which has been made by the recent passage of the Non-Profit Entities (Amendment) Act 2021, makes it possible for DAOs to be “recognized by the international legal system.”

According to a recent media release, the island nation has already established a domestic organization, MIDAO Directory Services Inc., to help DAOs register as legal entities within the Marshall Islands. The media release adds that MIDAO was involved in the successful incorporation of Shipyard Software’s Admiralty LLC, an entity that builds “decentralized exchanges for specific types of trades, traders, and instruments.”

In justifying the country’s decision to recognize DAOs, the media release points to the RMI’s track record in the sphere of regulatory compliance.

“The RMI’s track record of regulatory compliance and fair legal adjudication is recognized worldwide, and the country is well-positioned to become the leading domicile for DAOs in the world,” explained the media statement.

Similar to the U.S. state of Delaware, which “has become synonymous with incorporation” within that country, the Marshall Islands said in the statement that it is attempting to become “the de facto choice for DAOs interested in legally registering their organization.”

Meanwhile, the media release also quotes Bobby Muller, president and co-founder of MIDAO, who acknowledges that DAOs “present an enormous opportunity for people to organize in a more efficient and less hierarchical manner.” According to Muller, the island nation sees its decision to formally recognize DAOs as a “unique moment to lead in this critical space.”

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