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Advisory support for Web3 projects

Advisory support for Web3 projects

  • VASP licensing in the UAE, Switzerland, and the Cayman Islands
  • Legal structuring of management companies for DAOs
  • Analysis of the legal status of tokens and their possible classification as securities

Apply now to get expert advice

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About the service

Many Web3 projects enter the market without a well-developed legal structure. This can lead to account freezes, exchange delistings, regulatory claims, and personal liability for founders.

iWorld helps build a long-term legal architecture for DAOs, DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and other Web3 projects. We support jurisdiction selection, licensing for virtual asset service providers, token structuring, and the implementation of compliance procedures in target jurisdictions — from initial analysis to the launch of operations.
About the service

Why legal structuring is important for Web3 projects

  • Access to banking infrastructure and processing

    A regulated structure and the necessary licensing status create more opportunities to work with corporate accounts, acquiring, fiat operations, and payment infrastructure.

  • Reduced regulatory risks

    A legal architecture helps minimize the risk of asset freezes, exchange delistings, restrictions from payment partners, and regulatory claims in key jurisdictions.

  • Attracting institutional capital

    Funds, family offices, and professional investors pay close attention to the project’s legal structure, compliance, token classification, and transparency of the corporate model. Proper structuring increases the project’s readiness to attract capital.

  • Legal protection for founders and management

    Corporate structures and legal wrappers for DAOs help separate the liability of project participants, management, and operating companies, reducing the risk of personal claims.

  • Expertise in Web3 and blockchain projects

    The iWorld team works not only with the legal side, but also with the specifics of the Web3 ecosystem: smart contracts, DeFi protocols, tokenomics, NFT platforms, and DAO models.

  • Work in key jurisdictions

    We support project structuring and licensing in the UAE, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Wyoming, and other jurisdictions. We help select a legal model based on regulation, tax burden, banking infrastructure, and the jurisdiction’s reputation.

  • Proactive risk management

    We identify legal and regulatory threats at the planning stage, before product launch, fundraising, or exchange listing. This allows the project structure to be adapted in advance to market and regulatory requirements.

  • Scalable legal architecture

    We create a structure that takes into account project growth, new funding rounds, team expansion, entry into international markets, and further product development.

Common mistakes made by Web3 projects and their consequences

Mistake 1 Assuming that a DAO does not need a legal structure
Common misconception

A decentralized model is often seen as a way to avoid regulatory requirements and liability.

Reality

In practice, regulators may impose requirements on participants, developers, managers, and other parties that effectively influence the project’s activities. The absence of a legal structure increases the risk of claims, platform restrictions, and personal liability for participants.

Solution

Creating a legal wrapper for the DAO, such as a foundation, company, association, or another structure that helps separate participant roles, formalize project governance, and reduce personal risks.

Mistake 2 Assuming that offshore registration solves everything
Common misconception

Registering a company in an offshore jurisdiction is often viewed as universal protection against regulatory, banking, and tax requirements.

Reality

Company registration alone does not guarantee access to bank accounts, exchanges, payment infrastructure, or investors. Without a well-designed structure, the project may face bank refusals, licensing requirements, and restrictions from counterparties.

Solution

Building a multi-level structure tailored to the specific business model. The operating company, token issuer, intellectual property owner, and management structure may be located in different jurisdictions, taking into account regulation, taxes, banking infrastructure, and reputation.

Mistake 3 Postponing legal matters until after launch
Common misconception

A project can first launch the product, attract users and capital, and formalize the legal structure later.

Reality

At later stages, correcting legal mistakes may be significantly more difficult and costly. Certain decisions related to token issuance, rights allocation, investor onboarding, and governance structure can be difficult to change after launch.

Solution

Legal design should be built into the project at an early stage: before token issuance, fundraising, listing, or scaling. This includes jurisdiction selection, token structure, corporate model, compliance procedures, and rules for interacting with users.

Mistake 4 Assuming that a utility token is automatically not a security
Common misconception

If a token is called a utility token and does not include a direct promise of returns, it does not fall under securities regulation.

Reality

Regulators assess not only the token’s name, but also its economic model, distribution process, participant expectations, the role of the team, and actual use. In some cases, a token may be classified as a security or another regulated instrument.

Solution

Conducting a legal status analysis of the token in the target jurisdictions. This allows the project to assess risks in advance, adapt the tokenomics, choose the correct issuance model, and reduce the likelihood of claims from regulators, exchanges, and investors.

Guide to legal structuring for Web3 projects

  • Comparison of jurisdictions for DAOs and DeFi: capital, timelines, taxes, and regulatory burden
  • Algorithm for obtaining VASP licenses in the UAE, Switzerland, and offshore jurisdictions
  • Project launch checklist: from legal structure to compliance
Guide to legal structuring for Web3 projects

Fill out the form and get a detailed guide about the service from iWorld specialists

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Which projects need legal structuring

  • DeFi protocols and decentralized exchanges Exchange, lending, and asset management protocols, including DEXs, lending platforms, and yield aggregators. A legal structure is necessary for exchange listings, attracting institutional capital, working with banks, and reducing regulatory risks.
  • DAOs and governance protocols Decentralized autonomous organizations created to manage protocols, investments, treasuries, or communities. A legal wrapper helps separate participant liability, legitimize governance decisions, and reduce the risk of personal claims.
  • Blockchain infrastructure and cross-chain solutions Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchains, bridges, oracles, and non-custodial wallets. For such projects, legal architecture is important when raising venture funding, working with institutional partners, and entering international markets.

Get a consultation on Web3 project licensing and structuring

  • Business model review
  • Regulatory requirements assessment
  • Selection of suitable jurisdictions
  • Estimated launch budget calculation

Apply now to get expert advice

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iWorld services for comprehensive Web3 project support

Legal analysis and jurisdiction selection

We analyze the business model, protocol functionality, and planned operations. We determine the suitable jurisdiction based on the regulatory regime, tax burden, capital requirements, and the project’s long-term objectives. We review the documentation and identify potential regulatory risks.

Corporate structuring

We design a multi-layered legal structure, including the operating company, token issuer, intellectual property holder, and legal wrapper for the DAO. This architecture helps separate participant liability, protect assets, and prepare the project for scaling.

Licensing

We advise on obtaining licenses for virtual asset service providers, payment institutions, and management companies in the UAE, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, and Wyoming, USA. We support the process from preparation of the licensing dossier to communication with the regulator.

Token qualification and securities law

We analyze the legal status of the token and determine whether it may fall under securities regulation in the target jurisdictions. We develop a compliance strategy or propose an issuance structure that helps reduce regulatory risks.

AML/KYC implementation

We develop AML/KYC policies and user identification procedures in line with FATF recommendations and the requirements of the target jurisdictions. We help select providers, set up transaction monitoring, and implement internal reporting.

Legal structuring for DAOs

We create legal wrappers for DAOs, including foundations, LLCs, associations, UNAs, and other formats depending on the jurisdiction and governance model. We structure decision-making, role allocation, and participant liability.

Intellectual property protection

We support trademark registration and the protection of the project’s code, documentation, domains, and digital assets. We advise on open-source licensing, rights to software code, and brand protection in key jurisdictions.

Operational legal support

We provide legal support after project launch, including advice on regulatory matters, updates to internal policies, expansion into new markets, fundraising, and dispute resolution.

Step-by-step process of working with iWorld

Consultation

We review the project: business model, protocol functionality, tokenomics, target markets, and audience. We define the stage of development, key legal issues, and the founders’ priorities.

Analysis

We conduct a legal review of the technical documentation, business model, and planned operations. We identify regulatory risks in each jurisdiction of presence and prepare a risk map with an assessment of their likelihood and potential impact on the project.

Strategy

We determine the optimal jurisdictions based on the type of activity, tax burden, regulatory requirements, and reputational factors. We select the corporate structure, required licenses and permits, and develop a legal structuring roadmap with a timeline and estimated budget.

Architecture

We design a multi-layered legal structure, including operating companies, token issuers, intellectual property holders, and legal wrappers for DAOs. We allocate functions across jurisdictions, taking into account tax efficiency, asset protection, and the project’s operational logic. We also document the interaction between the structures.

Documentation

We prepare constitutional documents, business plans for regulators, AML/KYC policies, and internal control procedures. We develop user agreements, privacy policies, token documentation, and licensing dossiers for submission to the selected regulatory authorities.

Licensing

We advise on applications to the regulatory authorities of the selected jurisdictions and support the review process. We help prepare responses to regulator requests, collect additional documents, and adjust the dossier until a regulatory decision is obtained.

Launch

We support the start of operations, including finalizing the technical infrastructure, hiring key personnel, opening corporate accounts, and setting up internal processes. We help ensure that operations comply with the requirements of the obtained licenses and prepare the team for regulatory obligations and reporting.

Scaling

We support the project during its growth stage, including expansion into new markets, fundraising, token listings on exchanges, and changes to the operating model. We update the legal structure in line with the project’s development and regulatory changes, and advise on regulator interactions and dispute resolution.

Get a consultation on legal structuring for your Web3 project

  • Assessment of risks related to your business model, tokenomics, and target markets
  • Selection of suitable jurisdictions, structure, and potential licenses
  • Step-by-step plan for legal structuring and project launch

Apply now to get expert advice

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FAQ

Why does a Web3 project need a legal structure?

A legal structure helps determine the jurisdiction, allocate liability between participants, and prepare the project for licensing, banking, fundraising, and entry into international markets.

At what stage should a project start legal structuring?

Ideally, legal structuring should begin before token launch, fundraising, listing, or user onboarding. At an early stage, it is easier to select the right jurisdiction, token issuance model, corporate structure, and compliance procedures.

Does a DAO need a separate legal wrapper?

Yes, in many cases, a DAO needs a legal wrapper, such as a foundation, company, association, or another structure. This helps formalize project governance, enter into contracts, hold assets, and reduce the risk of personal liability for participants.

When may a Web3 project need a VASP license?

A virtual asset service provider license or registration may be required if the project provides exchange, custody, asset management, payment processing, or other virtual asset-related services in a regulated jurisdiction.

Why is it important to analyze a token from a securities law perspective?

Regulators assess not the token’s name, but its economic model, distribution process, the role of the team, and participants’ expectations. The analysis helps determine whether the token may be classified as a security and reduce regulatory risks in advance.

What is included in Web3 project support?

Support may include legal analysis of the business model, jurisdiction selection, corporate structuring, DAO legal structuring, token qualification, document preparation, AML/KYC implementation, licensing, and ongoing legal support after launch.

Get expert advice — contact us today

You can schedule a consultation with a company specialist either in person at our office or online. During the consultation, you’ll receive a detailed case analysis, a service cost estimate, and personalized recommendations tailored to your goals.

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Get expert advice — contact us today
Andris Kaushelis Head of iWorld’s UAE Office

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