Cayman Foundation Company
Cayman Islands hybrid legal entity (Foundation Companies Act 2017) with limited liability, separate personality and no shareholders. Used for DAOs, token treasuries, family-wealth succession and orphan SPVs.
Introduced under the Foundation Companies Act 2017, the Cayman Foundation Company combines features of a company (limited liability, separate legal personality, ability to contract) with the ownerlessness of a trust. The Foundation has no shareholders; it is overseen by a Supervisor whose role is to ensure adherence to the Foundation's stated purposes, with day-to-day management performed by Directors.
The Foundation has become the standard wrapper for token-issuing protocols (Cayman Foundation + BVI Issuer architecture), DAO governance vehicles, GCC family-wealth succession structures, and orphan SPVs in structured-finance transactions.
Key features
- No shareholders — Foundation belongs to no one.
- Limited liability for Founders, Supervisors, Directors and Beneficiaries.
- Separate legal personality — can sign contracts, sue and be sued.
- Cayman tax neutrality — no corporate income tax, capital gains tax or withholding tax.
- Beneficial-owner reporting required (non-public register).