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ARTICLE · 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

The Token Issuance Trust: A Trust-based Framework For Decentralised Token Ecosystems

Walkers
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The Token Issuance Trust offers a trust-based alternative to traditional corporate structures for Web3 protocols and DAOs, combining founder control with independent fiduciary oversight. This innovative framework enables protocols to hold assets, manage contracts, and support on-chain operations while preserving decentralisation principles. How can established trust law principles be adapted to meet the operational and governance requirements of decentralised token ecosystems?

GuernseyFinance and Banking
Rupert Morris
Rupert Morris
Marcel Treurnicht
Marcel Treurnicht
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Key takeaways

  • A Token Issuance Trust provides a trust-based alternative to a traditional token-issuing company while supporting decentralised governance.

  • The structure combines founder or DAO control with independent fiduciary oversight from a professional trustee and enforcer.

  • It can hold assets, manage contracts and support on-chain operations, helping protocols achieve legal certainty without compromising decentralisation.

The trust structure has long been valued for its inherent flexibility, which makes it a natural fit for the rapidly evolving world of decentralised finance (DeFi) and Web3 protocols. The Token Issuance Trust harnesses this flexibility to provide a robust legal framework not only for the development, issuance and governance of utility tokens, but also for broader ecosystem functions such as treasury management on behalf of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) and protocol communities. 

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