Polkadot.law – Academic Research to Strengthen Polkadot DAO Legitimacy and Global Reach.
Beneficiary:Executing entity and beneficiary:
A legaltech company dedicated on the evolution of law.
Problem Statement
Polkadot is rapidly growing and expanding. Like any global company, it requires formal legal representation in key jurisdictions around the world.
However, it currently lacks 1) a DAO wrapper or legal entity in the United States- a country that is increasingly embracing blockchain - and 2) a clear legal framework that recognizes treasury proposals as enforceable contracts.
These gaps limit the ecosystem’s ability to scale by restricting access to U.S. investment and fundraising opportunities, and by preventing formal, enforceable relationships with banks, corporations, companies, institutions, and governments around the world, many of which are hesitant to engage with OpenGov mechanisms without legal clarity.
Proposal Summary
This proposal seeks funding to conduct academic research on the Polkadot DAO governance system.
The research will focus on two key areas:
1. Legal Analysis and Research of Open Gov under DAO Structures. Examination of legal entities or representative structure under U.S. law that could be suitable for incorporating (Wrapping) the Polkadot DAO.
2. Research for the Recognition of Treasury Proposals as Formal Agreements. A legal assessment of whether treasury proposals can be considered enforceable contracts under international private law, with specific recommendations for incorporating alternative dispute resolution clauses.
Deliverables
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A comprehensive academic research focused in the two key areas mentioned in the previous section.
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A digital portal at Polkadot.law to publish the research and serve as a public legal resource hub for the DAO. This will be a neutral, public good.
Budget
Research part. 1 -> $24,500
Research part. 2 -> $24,500
Polkadot.law Digital Portal ->. $1,000
Total: $50,000 USDC
Timeline
The project will be completed over six months.
Publication and Licensing
The final report will be published under an open license and made available through:
a) The domain: www.polkadot.law
b) as a public comment in the present referendum.
Who Else Can Benefit
This research will also benefit other DAOs implementing OpenGov mechanisms, such as Kusama, parachains and decentralized protocols both within and outside the Polkadot ecosystem.
Alignment with Web3 values
This proposal aligns with Polkadot’s core values of decentralized governance, public goods funding, and neutrality.
Difference with PCF and Legal Bounty.
SoftLaw’s proposal is focused on academic research related to the Polkadot DAO. Its goal is to generate legal clarity and expand the ecosystem’s understanding of the DAO’s legal status. The research will contribute to a legal bibliography exploring the potential enforceability and recognition of treasury referenda as binding contracts. All findings will be open-sourced and made publicly available for the benefit of the entire ecosystem.
Engagement with the Polkadot Ecosystem
If this proposal is approved, we will engage with ecosystem teams, including the Polkadot Community Foundation (PCF), which has expressed openness to collaboration in a public forum post.
Alignment with W3F
According to the W3F Annual Report, the foundation is highly supportive of Polkadot’s expansion into the U.S. This proposal reaffirms the community’s support; while Polkadot.law is a community-driven initiative, it is important to remain aligned with all key stakeholders, including W3F.
Team
Researcher – Gabriel A. Velázquez.
Gabriel A. Velázquez is a legal and policy expert with extensive experience in international regulatory analysis, public sector consultancy, and academic research. He currently serves as Researcher for this proposal and is the Founder and Director of V&R International, a consultancy dedicated to advancing development through legal and regulatory analysis, research, and evidence-based policy.
Gabriel holds an MPhil in Public Policy from the University of Cambridge, where he also served as Co-Coordinator at the Centre for Governance and Human Rights, leading research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human rights, and ethics. He is a World Bank Youth Delegate for 2025, contributing to global dialogues on innovation and governance.
Previously, as a policy analyst for the UK Parliament (MP Dan Carden), he authored a detailed regulatory and market analysis of the Mexican business environment, focusing on the fintech and digital sectors. His legal background includes work in Mexico’s federal judiciary, high-profile litigation in tax and constitutional law, and international consultancy across the U.S. and Latin America. He also serves as the Country Executive for Mexico at the Harvard Policy and Institutional Research Project, where he leads policy analysis and manages research teams focused on development strategies.
Researcher – Antonio O.
Antonio is a specialist in international arbitration and dispute resolution, with substantial experience handling high-stakes transnational disputes across Latin America and the United States. His expertise spans sectors such as infrastructure, energy, transport, pharmaceuticals, construction, and mining.
He has acted as counsel and administrative secretary in arbitrations conducted under major arbitral rules, including ICC, ICDR, and UNCITRAL, and has participated in proceedings seated throughout the Americas. Antonio has worked with top-tier arbitration firms and tribunals, managing disputes ranging from USD $2 million to $250 million.
In addition to his professional practice, Antonio has contributed as a research assistant to leading Oxford University Press publications on global sales and international commercial contracts. He was also part of the Editorial Committee of the legal journal published by a prominent international arbitral institution. His academic interests include the intersection of technology and dispute resolution, and he has published on the use of blockchain in international arbitration. He regularly speaks at conferences and serves as an arbitrator or instructor in training programs. Antonio is an active member of numerous international arbitration networks, including ICC YAAF, ICDR Y&I, Young ICCA, LCIA YIAG, and Young ITA.
Project Management – Wario
A Legaltech Wizard, Wario serves as the Project Manager for this proposal. He is the Founder of SoftLaw, Co-Founder of Tom-Yum DAO, and an active Polkadot Ecosystem Agent. With a background in commercial litigation legal procedures, Wario also brings technical expertise, having participated in various initiatives across the ecosystem, including hackathons, PBA HK, and PBA X. His interdisciplinary skill set bridges law, governance, and blockchain, making him well-suited to lead the coordination and execution of this research project.
Links
(Provided as references and antecedents — not part of the deliverables or formal proposal)
The(El) Kus Discussion Presentation.
Optional Follow-Up (Not Included in This Proposal)
Potential future efforts include:
- A DAO incorporation and internal governance design.
- A full legal framework for handling contract breaches or implementing the ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) process itself.
- A legal documentation toolkit and interactive legal resource hub (Docusign).
- Contract templates.
- Tax analysis
- A legaltech app.
These initiatives can be considered only after community consultation and evaluation of these research outcomes.
Contact
Comments (3)
PolkaWorld votes NAY
Two-thirds of our members voted against, while one-third abstained.
Polkadot has long lacked a strong presence in the U.S., and this research could help define what kind of DAO structures are most suitable for Polkadot. It could also provide legal positioning and contract-based analysis for treasury proposals.
However, our members believe that legal frameworks for DAOs are generally chain-agnostic—many principles and regulatory standards remain consistent regardless of the underlying blockchain. While providing more legal clarity for Polkadot is a meaningful direction, we don’t believe it is urgent enough at this stage to justify a $50,000 spend. We think the Polkadot Community Foundation (PCF) should first assess whether this research is needed. Since we are not deeply involved in legal compliance ourselves, it’s difficult to determine its necessity.
Additionally, we believe there needs to be clarity on whether this kind of work already falls within the responsibilities of PCF or could be conducted by Parity’s legal team. There’s a risk of overlap or unclear division of duties that should be addressed.
See full feedback here.
Hi Wario,
With the ongoing discussion around the real-world legal viability on https://forum.polkadot.network/t/community-oversight-of-pcf-subsidiaries/13962. We’ve taken the time to give this proposal a second, more careful read. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Polkadot would benefit from research and legal frameworks of this nature, especially as institutional and regulatory interactions become more relevant.
That said, we’re currently trying to conduct a basic background check on the proposed researchers. Unfortunately, we've been unable to find any verifiable information online about Gabriel A. Velázquez or Antonio O. Could you kindly point us in the right direction or share any links, credentials, or academic affiliations that would help us cross-reference their expertise?
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