The Web3 community has long expressed frustration at the lack of clarity emanating from the SEC regarding the treatment of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets under current securities laws, with many characterizing the...more
As the digital asset sector has exploded in recent years, there has been growing frustration in the U.S. at the lack of clarity on the application of existing laws to this new ecosystem and a perceived lack of coordination...more
This is the fourth in a series of articles in which we discuss recent efforts by regulators and other governmental bodies to set expectations and standards, or pursue governmental initiatives, with respect to cryptocurrencies...more
Takeaways -
Most existing agreements covering the exploitation of intellectual property rights did not contemplate how NFTs should be treated.
Drafting and negotiating agreements involving NFTs requires an...more
1/25/2022
/ Blockchain ,
Copyright ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Derivative Works ,
Digital Assets ,
FinTech ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Name and Likeness ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Smart Contracts
In recent months, the increased focus on cryptocurrency regulation and enforcement at both the federal and state levels demonstrates the digital currency’s place as an established component of the financial landscape. At the...more
10/1/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BitMEX ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Currency ,
FinCEN ,
Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ,
IRS ,
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) ,
Ransomware ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
This issue discusses a variety of legal, regulatory and enforcement developments in the digital asset space in the U.S. and Europe, including expanded reporting requirements for broadly defined cryptocurrency “brokers,” a...more
8/27/2021
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
BitMEX ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinCEN ,
Popular ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Smart Contracts
The first 100 days of the Biden administration has coincided with a watershed period in the evolution of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The price of Bitcoin has risen dramatically during that period, triggering...more
This issue discusses a variety of legal, regulatory and enforcement developments in the digital asset space in the U.S. and Europe....more
4/19/2021
/ Bitcoin ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Ethereum ,
FinCEN ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investment Adviser ,
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Smart Contracts ,
Virtual Currency
Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) have, in recent weeks, gone from a relatively obscure form of digital collectible stored on a blockchain to a virtual “gold rush” for artists, labels and other music rights owners looking for ways to...more
Recent and significant regulatory and legislative events in the digital asset space demonstrate the evolving and expanding approach by U.S. and international regulators to the burgeoning digital asset markets. These...more
10/31/2020
/ Banks ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Consent Order ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Derivatives ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FinCEN ,
Global Market ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
OCC ,
OECD ,
Offshore Listings ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Restricted Transactions ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Tokens ,
Smart Contracts ,
Stablecoins ,
Summary Judgment ,
Taxation ,
UK ,
Virtual Currency
In this issue, we discuss the new initiatives under New York's BitLicense regime that clarify and streamline the regulatory landscape for virtual currency entities doing business within the state. We also examine the...more
8/4/2020
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Bitcoin ,
BitLicense ,
Blockchain ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Ledger Technology ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Federal Savings Associations ,
Fourth Amendment ,
Governor Beshear ,
Listing Rules ,
National Bank Act ,
NYDFS ,
OCC ,
Popular ,
Reasonable Expectation of Privacy ,
Right to Privacy ,
Search & Seizure ,
Smart Contracts ,
State and Local Government ,
Virtual Currency ,
Working Groups
In this issue of The Distributed Ledger, we discuss the IRS' warning letters for over 10,000 cryptocurrency holders, the SEC's settlement with a blockchain company regarding unregistered ICO transactions, and a European...more
9/23/2019
/ Blockchain ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Data Controller ,
Data Processors ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Ethereum ,
FinHub ,
Gaming ,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
IRS ,
No-Action Letters ,
Personal Information ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFT) ,
Smart Contracts ,
Startups ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Warning Letters
In this issue, we examine the release of the much-anticipated Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology (FinHub) guidance for analyzing how U.S. federal securities laws apply to initial coin offerings, the...more
4/16/2019
/ Advertising ,
Blockchain ,
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) ,
CNIL ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Default ,
Digital Assets ,
Discovery ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Division of Corporate Finance ,
Ethereum ,
EU ,
FinHub ,
France ,
Frozen Assets ,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ,
Guilty Pleas ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Investment Contract ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
No-Action Letters ,
NYDFS ,
Offerings ,
Payment Tokens ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Plea Agreements ,
Popular ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Profits ,
Public Comment ,
Putative Class Actions ,
Safe Harbors ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Exchange Act ,
Securities Fraud ,
Securities Tokens ,
Securities Violations ,
Settlement ,
Smart Contracts ,
Unregistered Securities ,
Virtual Currency
This is the second edition of The Distributed Ledger, a periodic publication covering the latest trends and developments in blockchain technology, digital assets and smart contracts. In this issue, we examine the SEC’s new...more
11/8/2018
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
CNIL ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Data Controller ,
Data Processors ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
FATF ,
FinHub ,
FinTech ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
International Data Transfers ,
Personally Identifiable Information ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Smart Contracts ,
Startups ,
Terrorist Financing Regulations ,
Virtual Currency
This is the inaugural issue of The Distributed Ledger, a periodic publication covering the latest trends and developments in blockchain technology, digital assets and smart contracts. In this edition, we examine a federal...more
10/16/2018
/ Anti-Fraud Provisions ,
Blockchain ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) ,
Exclusive Jurisdiction ,
Fraud ,
Misappropriation ,
NYDFS ,
Popular ,
Research and Development ,
Smart Contracts ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Legislatures ,
Trade Market Abuse ,
Trading Platforms ,
Virtual Currency ,
Young Lawyers
In This Issue:
- October: National Cyber Security Awareness Month
- New California Data Protection Law
- Obama Signs Cybersecurity Executive Order
- FTC Cautions Executives About Personal Liability for False...more