Three U.S. States Now Grant DAOs Full Legal Status as DUNA Act Momentum Accelerates

Three U.S. states now grant DAOs legal status under the DUNA Act after Alabama and West Virginia signed the law within weeks of each other.

Three U.S. States Now Grant DAOs Full Legal Status as DUNA Act Momentum Accelerates Three U.S. states now grant DAOs legal status under the DUNA Act after Alabama and West Virginia signed the law within weeks of each other. Aaron Rafferty April 02, 2026 Key Takeaways: Alabama and West Virginia both signed the DUNA Act into law, joining Wyoming as the three U.S. states granting DAOs legal personhood and limited liability protection. Alabama's House passed its bill 82-7, and West Virginia's governor signed HB 5060 on April 2, making three DUNA states within two years of Wyoming's original law. Over 13,000 DAOs worldwide hold more than $24.5 billion in collective treasury assets, and most have operated without clear legal recognition until now. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 277 into law, and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey signed HB 5060 on April 2, making three U.S. states that now provide decentralized autonomous organizations with legal status under the Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association (DUNA) framework. Alabama's bill was introduced in February by Republican Senator Lance Bell and passed the Alabama House 82-7 with 16 abstentions on March 17. As Tech Buzz reported , what took Wyoming 18 months to accomplish alone just happened twice in two days. Wyoming enacted its own DUNA Act in March 2024 and approved the first legally recognized DAO in the United States in July 2021. Alabama's version follows the same structural logic: DAOs organized as DUNAs can enter contracts, own property, sue and be sued, and provide members with limited liability protection, all without requiring full corporate formation. Why DAOs Need Legal Infrastructure The problem the DUNA Act addresses has been building for years. Over 13,000 DA