Blockchain and Digital Currencies

Venable's Blockchain and Digital Currencies Group counsels advisors, entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies in a diverse array of industries on legal and policy issues surrounding the use of blockchain technology. Our lawyers have comprehensive, firsthand experience with implementing blockchain initiatives and advising organizations in the emerging field of cryptocurrency assets.

Clients look to us for counsel on all types of blockchain and digital currency matters, including:

  • Company formation
  • Securities
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual property and brand protection
  • Litigation
  • Tax and accounting treatment of digital assets
  • Policy and regulatory guidance for cryptocurrency entities related to legislative monitoring, government inquiries, and enforcement actions
  • Regulatory compliance, including securities, AML, KYC, and money transmitter laws
  • Transactions involving digital assets

Experience
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  • Represented a leading payment-processing company in connection with developing a compliance program for the onboarding of cryptocurrency and related merchants
  • Advised one of the largest financial services institutions on issues related to Stripe’s provision of processing services to NFT marketplaces
  • Advised a leading trade association for the payments industry on providing policy and background information on cryptocurrency and stablecoins
  • Helped a leading social media company in connection with the creation and launch of a permissioned blockchain-based payment system
  • Represented a financial services and cryptocurrency solutions company on various matters related to their activities in the cannabis space
  • Advised a blockchain-based payment platform on an exchange that offers crypto to fiat and compliance solutions via API and dashboard
  • Counseled a Hollywood actor in connection with a cryptocurrency promotion
  • Represented a cable television network in connection with new promotional NFTs for its network programs to drive viewership
  • Advised a well-known actress in connection with becoming an advisory board member of a major NFT platform
  • Represented a global fine art NFT platform in connection with commercial and intellectual property considerations ahead of its launch
  • Represented a company in the launch of combined consumer product and NFT offering of celebrity-themed products
  • Represented a major recording artist in connection with the auction of several fine art NFTs on a premier NFT bidding site, including negotiating terms and conditions for the artist’s engagement
  • Representing a blockchain-focused trade association in its efforts to shape U.S. laws and regulations for the common good of the industry
  • Representing a major cryptocurrency advisor in a first-of-its-kind combined D&O and E&O policy for an advisor in this space
  • Helping a logistics company to add a blockchain-based program to its logistics management operations
  • Advising clients in the financial services, healthcare, retail, pharmaceutical, real estate, and technology sectors about the opportunities, challenges, and legal issues of leveraging distributed ledger technology for digital identity development, health records use and control, inventory management, product quality control, property and records management, and the establishment and protection of intellectual property
  • Helped to form and advised an early stage venture company focused on blockchain in the advertising industry
  • Advised the issuer of a proposed asset-backed digital currency including in connection with discussions with a federal regulator
  • Filed more than 20 blockchain patents for a national retailer with physical stores and an eCommerce platform
  • Acted as outside counsel to several prominent cryptocurrency advisors