Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets

With deep sector knowledge, our expert banking & finance lawyers support clients through complex finance arrangements in cryptocurrency markets, advising on token-based fundraising, decentralised finance (DeFi) structures, stablecoin issuance, convertible instruments, and the integration of digital assets with traditional banking systems. We help clients navigate novel financing models, while managing counterparty, liquidity, and regulatory risks to ensure secure and compliant digital finance solutions.

• Advised on the development of new cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins.
• Advised on safeguarding funds related to the purchase and sale of cryptoassets.
• Advised on setting up a regulated cryptocurrency bank, cryptocurrency platforms and on new crypto regulations.
• Advised on the development of new cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins.
• Advised various operators in relation to the receipt of crypto assets and integration into the conventional banking system through exchanges.

Combining sector-specific insight with digital asset expertise, our expert lawyers support clients in drafting and negotiating digital contracts, token sale agreements, platform terms, governance protocols, and custody arrangements. Our cryptocurrency and digital assets experts have a thorough understanding of evolving blockchain technologies and contractual risk. Acting for fintechs, crypto businesses, payment service providers, blockchain-based service providers, and auction houses, we help protect clients’ commercial interests in a rapidly shifting regulatory and operational environment.

• Advised start-ups and other businesses launching cryptoasset exchange and custodian wallet services.
• Advised on financial regulatory and e-commerce aspects of Web3, blockchain, NFT technologies.
• Provided specialist financial services advice for a metaverse-based education platform.
• Acted for a major UK cryptocurrency since its ICO on licensing, exchange development, and FCA registration.
• Managed FCA registration and AML/CTF frameworks for crypto-asset providers.
• Developed AML/KYC/CTF frameworks incorporating FATF and JMLSG requirements.

• Advised an online gaming company on its ecommerce terms, privacy policy and NFT as prizes.
• Advised a consumer and fan engagement technology company on collaboration with a global sports clothing brand on the launch of a blockchain-based web portal for digital collectibles.
• Advised on the launch of various NFTs as collectibles and/or utility tokens for access to services or platforms, including regulatory issues, customer contracts and service terms.
• Created a suite of digital contracts and governance protocols for a crypto business.
• Revised terms and conditions of consignment and of sale of a London-based auction house and provided supplemental terms for the auction house’s first NFT sale and for payment by cryptocurrency.
• Advised on safeguarding funds related to the purchase and sale of cryptoassets.

Our expert corporate lawyers provide strategic advice on, share structures for blockchain ventures, and governance for decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs). We support clients with structuring equity and token distributions in a compliant and commercially viable way. Working closely with founders and investors, we ensure each structure is aligned with long-term business objectives and sector-specific risks.

• Advised on setting up a regulated cryptocurrency bank, cryptocurrency platforms and on new crypto regulations.
• Advised a new startup on pegging digital currencies to an alternative asset class.
• Advised an investor in a DAO structure designed to permit investment in digital assets to create a virtual stock market for those assets, dealing with issues arising from the UK Gambling Commission and FCA.

Our team of experts regularly advise on employment matters in the digital assets space, including token-linked remuneration, hybrid working across jurisdictions, and managing contractor models common in crypto startups. We help clients navigate employment law and compliance while protecting business intellectual property (IP) and enforcing confidentiality across decentralised teams. We also advise on incentive schemes using digital assets and token grants.

• Acted for numerous employees involved in LIBOR and FX trading scandals. In addition to the employment law implications, this also involved regulatory (FCA and PRA) and criminal law issues.
• Advised a digital payments platform on employment law matters.

With a clear understanding of digital assets and their intersection with family law, our highly specialised lawyers provide strategic support throughout divorce, financial settlements, and succession planning involving crypto holdings. We help clients with the valuation, tracing, and disclosure of cryptoassets, helping to preserve wealth and resolve disputes over digital assets, and ensure transparency, enforceability, and security throughout often sensitive proceedings.

• Advised on divorce proceedings where the main asset to be divided was Bitcoin.
• Represented a client in financial remedy proceedings where the main assets in the case were cryptocurrency and gold coins.
• Spotted trading platforms in disclosure in financial proceedings on divorce and subsequently traced substantial bitcoin assets by obtaining transaction histories.
• Advised on how to address Bitcoin and cryptoassets as financial assets in mediations and divorce settlements.
• Advising spouses on trading platforms such as Coinbase, Bitfinex, Bittrex and Binance and how to check bank statements for transaction histories of trading accounts.
• Advising spouses how to check for ‘cold paper’ wallets, ‘hot wallets’, and involvement with crypto companies which might lead to further investigation/questioning in divorce financial settlements.
• Instructing specialist crypto search companies to trace historic crypto transactions.

Cryptocurrency-related fraud is complex; our experts are on hand to provide clear, strategic advice, assisting clients in navigating criminal investigations, asset tracing, and fraud claims. Our lawyers work swiftly to assess risk, protect reputations, and recover assets through both civil and criminal channels. We advise on freezing orders, wallet forensics, and responding to regulatory investigations or enforcement.

• Acting in cases for victims of crypto frauds in direct claims against banks, and/or the exchanges concerning issues of deceit, theft and dishonest assistance.
• Acted for a number of UK-based, European and global clients who have lost funds as part of the FTX collapse and is the go-to English solicitor for guidance on all aspects of crypto currency fraud. Advised investors on their legal action, reviewing which legal FTX entity their claim is against, and whether they need to file in the US bankruptcy, or whether they have a claim in fraud against the corporate entity and/or directors of the business. This case is thought to be the globe’s biggest fraud; it has been said to be more serious, and a bigger, far wider fraud than the Maddoff Ponzi Scheme case. It is the biggest financial scandal of all time and unprecedented.
• Advised payment providers in relation to a freezing order in “persons unknown” litigation linked to the dissipation of funds following crypto investment fraud.
• Advised on the recovery of a significant cryptocurrency fraud.
• Advised on a cryptocurrency push payment fraud.
• Acted for a shareholder in a cryptocurrency business dealing with cross-border disputes and allegations of large-scale fraud.
• Advised private individuals on a claim against a cryptocurrency company for fraudulent cryptocurrency trading.

Our highly specialist lawyers advise on all aspects of intellectual property (IP) related to blockchain platforms, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart contract code, and token brands. We assist clients in protecting codebases, asserting ownership over creative digital assets, and licensing intellectual property for commercialisation. With deep knowledge of blockchain-specific intellectual property (IP) issues, we offer strategic solutions that balance innovation with protection and enforceability.

• Advised a gaming company on the structure and compliance requirements of its proposed NFT / applied blockchain intergalactic virtual football game and token offering, to include IP issues around image and other rights.
• Advised the board of a leading global commercial art gallery on a range of art-tech issues including acceptance of cryptocurrency as payment and the use of blockchain, blockchain-based certificates of authenticity, NFTs, smart contracts and IP matters relating to digital assets and art.
• Advised the board of a prominent art-tech business on a complex IP matter focused on a potential patent infringement in the USA, EU and other jurisdictions to negotiate a commercial licence and settlement agreement, saving the client multiple millions of dollars.
• Advised an UHNW digital art collector on the purchase of NFTs and the associated digital artworks.
• Advised Sorare in relation to the production of NFT football tokens and their use as collectibles, including regulatory issues arising.

Our team’s extensive experience helps clients mitigate risks and resolve disputes in digital asset litigation, including wallet disputes, contractual breakdowns, and token misrepresentation claims. Whether acting for investors, founders, or platforms, we provide rapid, commercially focused advice to protect interests and recover losses. We are regularly called upon to advise on injunctions, misappropriation, and crypto enforcement challenges.

• Acted for a shareholder in a cryptocurrency business dealing with cross-border disputes and allegations of large-scale fraud.
• Advised a private individual on a non-fungible token (NFT) dispute.
• Advised a HNW individual on a cryptocurrency dispute.
• Acted for a shareholder in a cryptocurrency business dealing with cross-border disputes and allegations of large-scale fraud.
• Advised on a dispute surrounding NFT in game purchases.
• Advised on a multimillion-pound dispute between the founders of a blockchain healthcare startup.

Regulation in the crypto sector requires specialist knowledge of both financial services law and emerging blockchain models. Our experts provide specialist advice on how current and upcoming regulatory regimes affect cryptoassets, decentralised platforms, and token sales. We advise on all aspects of cryptoasset regulation, including compliance with the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Act, FCA registration, and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. We support clients with navigating regulatory sandboxes, applying for appropriate authorisation or registration, and understanding the classification of tokens, MiCA, stablecoin frameworks, and consumer protection obligations. Our guidance enables organisations to remain agile while avoiding non-compliance in this fast-evolving regulatory space.

• Advised on the regulation of crypto token offerings.
• Advised on setting up a regulated cryptocurrency bank, cryptocurrency platforms and on new crypto regulations.
• Advised on the potential application of Money Laundering Regulations to the issuance of utility tokens and payment arrangements.
• Acted for a major UK cryptocurrency since its ICO on licensing, exchange development, and FCA registration.
• Managed FCA registration and AML/CTF frameworks for crypto-asset providers.
• Advised on regulation of ICO/ITOs terms of issue, and liability for wallets and cold storage.
• Advised a new crypto business on the sale of its token and whether they are exposing themselves to a litigation risk, through whether the company needs to be FCA regulated and what this means, whether the business model and tokens fall within the regulatory regime, whether the tokens offered constitute unregulated tokens or e-money tokens, and whether the offering and issuing of coins/tokens falls within the recent White Paper review.
• Advised a cryptoasset insurance business on regulatory perimeter issues concerning the provision of crypto wallet/custodian services in accordance with the FCA registration scheme.
• Advised an investor in a DAO structure designed to permit investment in digital assets to create a virtual stock market for those assets, dealing with issues arising from the UK Gambling Commission and FCA.
• Developed AML/KYC/CTF frameworks incorporating FATF and JMLSG requirements.
• Participated in government consultation on whether to recognise crypto tokens as a new class of property (digital objects).
• Advised on UK regulations relating to digital currencies.
• Advised the Law Commission and UK Government on cyber and data security laws and proposed a revised regulatory framework.
• Advised on the development of new cryptocurrencies, particularly stablecoins.
• Advised on safeguarding funds related to the purchase and sale of cryptoassets.
• Advised various operators in relation to the receipt of crypto assets and integration into the conventional banking system through exchanges.
• Advised start-ups and other businesses launching cryptoasset exchange and custodian wallet services.
• Advised on financial regulatory and e-commerce aspects of Web3, blockchain, NFT technologies.
• Provided specialist financial services advice for a metaverse-based education platform.