Morocco,South Africa,Australia,China,Hong Kong SAR China,Japan,Korea,New Zealand,Singapore,Thailand,Austria,Belgium,Czech Republic,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Hungary,Ireland,Italy,Luxembourg,Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Slovak Republic,Spain,Sweden,United Kingdom,Argentina,Chile,Mexico,Peru,Bahrain,Oman,Qatar,UAE,Canada,Puerto Rico,United States
Your go-to advisor for global blockchain and digital asset matters
Blockchain, digital asset, and tokenization lawyers helping companies, investors, financial institutions, and emerging technology businesses navigate regulatory, transactional, and commercial challenges worldwide. From digital payments and stablecoins to decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenized assets, blockchain infrastructure, and Web3 platforms, we help clients capitalize on innovation while managing legal and regulatory risk.
Blockchain technology and digital assets continue to reshape financial services, payments, capital markets, supply chains, healthcare, consumer products, and emerging technology businesses. At the same time, evolving regulatory frameworks, enforcement activity, and global compliance requirements have created new challenges for organizations operating in this rapidly changing environment.
We advise clients across the blockchain ecosystem, including Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols, technology companies, financial institutions, investment funds, digital asset platforms, exchanges, custodians, token issuers, stablecoin providers, investors, and multinational corporations exploring blockchain-enabled business models. Whether launching new digital asset products, navigating securities, commodities, anti-money laundering (AML), money transmission and financial regulatory requirements, structuring tokenization initiatives, developing Web3 and DeFi applications, or pursuing strategic investments and acquisitions, clients turn to us for practical guidance on the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations shaping the market.
Our multidisciplinary team combines experience in technology, fintech, corporate, regulatory, tax, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, and litigation matters to help clients capitalize on emerging opportunities, manage risk, and achieve their strategic objectives in the digital economy. With experience advising clients on cross-border regulatory developments and global compliance considerations, we help organizations navigate the increasingly complex digital asset landscape.
“Taking advantage of blockchain technology – whether through investment, collaboration, or other partnerships – means skillfully navigating regulatory and transactional issues around the world.”
Taking advantage of blockchain technology – whether through investment, collaboration, or other partnerships – means skilfully navigating regulatory and transactional issues around the world.
Our Blockchain and Digital Assets group offers global strategic advice to address the needs of companies implementing blockchain technology solutions and creating and deploying digital assets. Our global team draws upon the collective experience of attorneys from relevant practices including securities, IP protection and licensing, commodities future trading regulations, privacy, and money transmitter rules, to help companies take advantage of these new opportunities and attain their strategic goals through the use of blockchain.
Advised Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) on the world's first regulatory framework designed specifically for virtual assets.
Advising Bullish Global on US money transmission, securities and commodities considerations for its exchange-related activities, including its application for a New York BitLicense under the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) framework.
Working with digital asset exchange operator Archax Limited to develop an institutional market for digital securities, including establishing the first regulated digital multilateral trading facility (MTF). Archax became the first digital securities exchange and custodian authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Advising Northern Trust on the design and deployment of a first-in-class, cross-border blockchain framework for registering and transferring ownership and security interests in tokenized carbon credits.
Advising Paxos, one of the world's largest stablecoin issuers, on the global issuance of a first-of-its-kind interest-bearing stablecoin.
Advised WSPN on its US market entry and stablecoin launch, including compliance with money transmission, securities and commodities laws.
Advising Western Alliance Bank on integrating stablecoin-backed lending solutions in compliance with applicable regulation.
Advising Figure Technologies on the development, regulatory framework and contracts for a blockchain-based eVault platform that records, holds and transfers digital home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).
Advising Lion Group Holding Ltd. on a PIPE transaction under which it may issue up to US$600 million in convertible debentures, with at least 75% of the proceeds going to buy cryptocurrency. Investors get a perfected security interest in the digital assets through a tri-party control agreement governed by UCC Article 8, with BitGo Trust Company as custodian.
Advised TokenFunder on the first initial token offering approved by the Ontario Securities Commission.
Advised Injective Foundation, a Layer 1 blockchain platform focused on Web3 financial infrastructure, on establishing a US$100 million digital asset treasury through a private investment in public equity (PIPE) transaction with Pineapple Financial Inc. The work covered securities law compliance, transaction structuring and cross-border regulatory issues.
Represented Michael Egorov, founder of the Curve Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), against three crypto venture capital firms alleging trade secret misappropriation and securities fraud and seeking more than US$150 million in equity and CRV tokens.
Won a published appeal for Coinbase in Archer v. Coinbase, affirming summary judgment dismissing claims over Coinbase's decision not to support Bitcoin forks.
Defeated a motion for a preliminary injunction in Zamfir v. CasperLabs that sought to block the launch of the Casper blockchain and the sale of more than US$100 million in CSPR tokens.
Represented HBTPower in a Bitcoin mining dispute with Mohawk Energy, securing a US$51.5 million arbitration award for breach of contract and related claims.
Representing Maps Vault in the FTX Chapter 11 proceedings on claims exceeding US$520 million for tokens deposited on the exchange. After expert discovery and a multi-day evidentiary hearing, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court rejected FTX's valuation methodology in its entirety.
Representing Pulsar Trading, a member of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the FTX Chapter 11 proceedings, on reconstructing crypto asset records, claims relating to digital token holdings, and litigation against FTX insiders.
Representing a creditor serving on the Official Committee of Creditors in the Chapter 11 proceedings of BlockFills, the first newly filed cryptocurrency-related Chapter 11 case in more than three years.
Represented HBIT Limited, a Hong Kong-based digital asset platform, in an FTX adversary proceeding in which the estate sought to recover more than US$60 million tied to crypto transactions involving HBIT, Huobi Global and Justin Sun.
Get a clear view on how economic and policy decisions are reshaping financial services strategy the industry today.
Watch our video featuring DLA Piper’s Global Financial Services leaders alongside former United States Ambassador Marc Grossman, Vice Chair of The Cohen Group, as they unpack the forces redefining financial services today – from geopolitical shifts to regulatory changes and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
Blockchain is a digital ledger technology that allows participants to record, verify, and transfer information or assets across a network. Businesses use blockchain for applications such as digital payments, tokenization, supply chain management, smart contracts, digital identity solutions, and the creation of digital assets. As adoption grows, organizations must address the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations associated with these technologies.
A blockchain and digital assets lawyer helps businesses navigate the legal and regulatory issues associated with blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, digital assets, stablecoins, tokenization, and Web3 platforms. This may include regulatory compliance, transaction structuring, commercial agreements, intellectual property protection, privacy, cybersecurity, financing transactions, and cross-border expansion.
Whether a cryptocurrency or digital token is a security depends on its structure, the rights it provides, and how it is offered or sold. Digital assets may be subject to securities, commodities, financial services, or other regulatory frameworks depending on the jurisdiction and specific facts involved. Companies should carefully evaluate legal and regulatory requirements before issuing, marketing, trading, or investing in digital assets.
Tokenization is the process of using a digital token to represent an interest in an underlying asset, such as real estate, securities, intellectual property, or other forms of property. While tokenization may create new efficiencies and liquidity opportunities, it can also raise issues involving securities regulation, ownership rights, custody arrangements, tax treatment, disclosure obligations, and cross-border compliance.
Organizations considering stablecoin products should evaluate applicable requirements relating to issuance, reserves, redemption rights, disclosures, anti-money laundering obligations, and financial services regulation. Businesses using stablecoins for payments or settlements should also understand the legal, operational, and commercial risks associated with issuers, intermediaries, and the jurisdictions in which they operate.
Blockchain and digital asset regulations vary significantly across jurisdictions. Requirements relating to token issuance, custody, trading, payments, licensing, privacy, tax, and consumer protection often differ from country to country. Companies operating internationally should assess local legal and regulatory requirements before launching products or entering new markets.
DLA Piper's Blockchain and Digital Assets team advises technology companies, financial institutions, investors, digital asset platforms, and multinational organizations operating in rapidly evolving markets. Our multidisciplinary team brings together experience in technology, financial regulation, corporate transactions, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, tax, and dispute resolution to help clients navigate complex digital asset and blockchain-related matters across jurisdiction.
