Long recognized for its work guiding clients in various industries through their most significant regulatory and enforcement challenges, Paul, Weiss is at the forefront in helping financial institutions, fintech companies, investors, media and entertainment clients and technology companies navigate the new world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Our multi-disciplinary team helps clients capitalize on the business opportunities, identify the challenges and mitigate the emerging legal risks of digital assets.
Our Practice
The exponential growth of Bitcoin and other digital assets and the application of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies across many industries is transforming the digital economy—and prompting new global legal and regulatory scrutiny and potential liability.
Our Cryptocurrency & Blockchain group represents a diverse range of clients in this space, including cryptocurrency exchanges, developers of digital wallets and payment platforms, media studios and content producers, cryptocurrency investors and traders, and crypto-focused investment funds among others, giving us a comprehensive understanding of the sector. We help clients maximize business opportunities in the new technologies, while understanding evolving regulatory and compliance guardrails. We can assess risk associated with cryptocurrency transactions; evaluate emerging data privacy and cybersecurity obligations relating to client data; counsel on anti-money laundering, sanctions and other financial crimes risks; advise on crypto-related derivatives trading agreements; analyze cryptocurrency exchanges and trading; structure and negotiate technology and media licensing, including via non-fungible token arrangements; and advise clients on evolving tax reporting obligations, regulatory licensing requirements and many other areas.
Our highly regarded, multi-disciplinary team includes lawyers with backgrounds in securities, broker-dealer regulation, commodities regulation, transactional intellectual property and technology, tax, company and fund formation, financing, token fundraising and alternative securities offering options (i.e., Reg A+, Reg D/506(c), Reg S, Equity Crowdfunding). It also includes members of our preeminent securities litigation, regulatory enforcement, economic sanctions and anti-money laundering, and cybersecurity-focused practices. The team leverages a deep familiarity with the key enforcement and regulatory agencies in this space, including DOJ, SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OFAC, IRS, FINRA, DHS, NY DFS and other state regulators. We have assisted U.S. and non-U.S. clients in responding to numerous crypto-related subpoenas, information requests, seizure orders and other investigative activity by these agencies, giving us a broad understanding of current and emerging enforcement trends.
The team has produced numerous white papers and frequent client alerts on cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies, providing concrete, practical insights on how cryptocurrencies operate and the evolving policy, regulatory and enforcement landscape.