Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

CybersecurityFeaturesGeneral Counsel and In House CounselTechnology Media and TelecomLJN NewslettersCybersecurity Law & Strategy

Regulators Are Catching Up to Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology within the Financial Services Industry

By Craig Nazzaro, Brad Rustin and John Jennings
December 01, 2017

As we head into 2018, cryptocurrency and blockchain will continue to be a top initiative for pioneers in the financial services industry. Within financial services, this space includes everyone from those looking to issue a new cryptocurrency, FinTech firms looking to disrupt the financial services industry though creative uses and implementation of the technology, and banks and non-bank lenders of all sizes looking to see how they can best utilize the technology to cut costs and drive advancements in service. As with any innovation within the financial services industry, the regulators are never far behind and are doing their best to keep up. Those that enter this space will find that they also have to pioneer the controls to manage the regulatory risks this technology presents.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, cryptocurrencies, also known as “virtual currency,” such as the well-known “BitCoin” and “Ethereum,” are the results of just one application of blockchain technology. One should not visualize cryptocurrencies as actual currency or legal tender (we discuss why below). Instead, think of cryptocurrency as a means of utilizing the underlying blockchain technology to create a “store of value.” Anything that can function as a vehicle to save, house, move and maintain value and/or wealth can be utilized as a “store of value.” For example, gold, silver, real estate, diamonds, fine art and stocks are all “stores of value.” Viewing cryptocurrency in this manner will enable you to understand its regulation within the financial services industry.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.

Protecting Innovation in the Cyber World from Patent Trolls Image

With trillions of dollars to keep watch over, the last thing we need is the distraction of costly litigation brought on by patent assertion entities (PAEs or "patent trolls"), companies that don't make any products but instead seek royalties by asserting their patents against those who do make products.