Recognition of DAOs as legal entities?

[jonathancross]

I am curious if there has been discussion on recognition of something like a DAO as a legal entity?
AFAIK, under current international law, a (truly decentralized) DAO cannot legally own anything, open a bank account, pay taxes, etc.

It would be interesting if Liberland became the first country to offer DAOs official legal status in clear language.

There are some hacks and workarounds in a few jurisdictions.

[sergiofspedro]

Hello Jonathan,
that is an ongoing issue for countries and regional blocks. E.g. Marshall Islands already recognized DAOs, as well as Vermont, Wyoming and Tennessee, and the EU is starting that discussion now.

In my perspective, I see potential gains and pitfalls with the recognition as it will create relative easiness of DAOs with the bureaucracies of existing public institutions, but it can also be a tool to create a framework of control and rigidity to DAOs and their work.

I would risk saying that a legal framework can possibly exist in the future, but it would depend on the will of the DAO in concrete to adhere to that statute or not.

FYI:
Aragon´s take on this topic
DAOcolective collection of articles on the topic
Harvard legal scholar opinion