Uniswap Proposes Wyoming DUNA Entity for Legal Clarity and Fee Distribution UNI Rises 2%

The Uniswap Foundation has proposed the creation of a legal entity named DUNI under Wyoming’s Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association (DUNA) framework, as announced on the Uniswap Governance Forum on August 11, 2025. This initiative aims to provide legal recognition and liability protections for participants in the Uniswap Governance Protocol without altering the underlying protocol mechanics [1]. The structure, referred to as DUNI, is intended to facilitate the execution of on-chain governance decisions in the real world while maintaining community control [2].

According to the proposal, DUNI would be governed by the Uniswap Foundation as the Ministerial Agent, with David Kerr of Cowrie nominated as the Administrator. The entity is expected to handle compliance, tax, and administrative functions for the decentralized governance model [3]. The proposal also outlines a mechanism to potentially redirect swap fees to the DAO treasury, creating new economic incentives for the community [4].

The Uniswap Foundation plans to transfer $16.5 million worth of UNI tokens to a DUNI-owned wallet for legal and tax compliance purposes [5]. This move is part of broader efforts to address legal and tax uncertainties surrounding decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Wyoming’s DUNA framework is seen as a pioneering legal structure that allows DAOs to operate with greater clarity and protection [6].

In response to the proposal, the UNI token price increased by approximately 2%, reflecting market optimism about the potential for more structured governance and revenue generation [7]. The price movement, however, does not indicate any immediate changes to the token’s protocol mechanics. Instead, it highlights the market's anticipation of future governance developments that could benefit the DeFi ecosystem [8].

The proposal aligns with broader trends in blockchain regulation, particularly in states like Wyoming, which have been proactive in creating legal frameworks to accommodate decentralized innovation. If adopted, DUNI could set a precedent for DAOs seeking legal personality while preserving the decentralized nature of governance [9].

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Source: [1] Establish Uniswap Governance as “DUNI,” a Wyoming DUNA (https://gov.uniswap.org/t/rfc-establish-uniswap-governance-as-duni-a-wyoming-duna/25770)

[2] Uniswap inches to fee switch vote as Foundation proposes (https://www.dlnews.com/articles/defi/uniswap-inches-to-fee-switch-as-foundation-pushes-duna/)

[3] Uniswap's DUNA Proposal and the Fee Switch: A New Era (https://www.ainvest.com/news/uniswap-duna-proposal-fee-switch-era-dao-governed-defi-earnings-2508/)

[4] Uniswap Foundation Proposes Wyoming Entity Dubbed (https://coinpedia.org/news/uniswap-foundation-proposes-wyoming-based-legal-entity-dubbed-duni-uni-price-up-2-today/)

[5] Uniswap Foundation Proposes Wyoming DUNA for Legal (https://holder.io/news/uniswap-foundation-wyoming-duna-legal-fees/)

[6] Wyoming Legalizes DAOs with DUNA Framework for (https://www.ainvest.com/news/wyoming-legalizes-daos-duna-framework-decentralized-governance-2508/)

[7] UNI rises as Uniswap Foundation's DUNI proposal hints at (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/uni-rises-as-uniswap-foundations-duni-proposal-hints-at-fee-switch-unlock-202508112345)

[8] Uniswap Foundation Proposes Wyoming DUNA Structure (https://www.coinspeaker.com/uniswap-foundation-proposes-wyoming-duna-structure-to-enable-fee-distribution/)

[9] Uniswap Foundation Proposes DUNI in Wyoming (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689a9eeb1f3a5b4dc5e17fc1/)