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An Immensely Active Space In The Crypto Ecosystem

With Wide-Ranging Regulatory Implications


Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a dynamic, innovative, and immensely active space in the broader blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem that holds some of the most extensive opportunities with the potential for the dispersion of legacy banking and financial stalwarts. To illustrate, decentralized exchanges (DEXes) or peer-to-peer exchanges see record trading volumes, with March 2024 being the recent month with record activity.

While there is strong potential for capitalization on the opportunities present in the space, DeFi is arguably the most regulatory-heavy sector of blockchain and crypto. Ensuring compliance with the patchwork-style regulatory framework on the state, federal, and international levels is essential, and more players in the space, particularly centralized crypto exchanges (CEXs), are seeking to comply with emerging regulatory frameworks. In the United States, depending on the specifics of the offering at hand, the relevant federal regulators include the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Financial Criminal Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as well as the patchwork regulatory landscape applicable to money services businesses and money transmitter licenses, and the consequences that come along with non-compliance as well as the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) considerations. Internationally, there are a range of legal frameworks, including in the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and laws in the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and beyond.

At RICHT, we are blockchain and crypto-natives with a dedicated practice, LexoCryptoto, assisting clients operating in varying parts of the DeFi, DLT, and cryptocurrency ecosystems. We strive to allow clients to capitalize on their immense potential while accounting for and minimizing legal risk.


 


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Resources


SEC Commissioner Statement on DeFi Risks, Regulations, and Opportunities

Decentralized Finance: New Challenges for the CFTC

SEC Enforcement Tracker

CFTC Enforcement Tracker


Decentralized Finance (DeFI) refers to the use of platforms such as Ethereum to offer an
alternative financial system that is open for anyone to use, and which allows centralized
intermediaries to be replaced by decentralized applications (DApps). – Elliptic DeFi Regulatory Report


Find Out About How We Can Help With DeFi & DLT Law



    DeFi & DLT Law News


     

    XReg

    Regulation of DeFi Roundtable Report

    Key outcomes of a discussion between policymakers, regulators, and private sector participants on the future regulation of truly decentralised finance (tDeFi).

    DeFi
    Blockworks

    DeFi Has Not Followed Through On Its Privacy Promises — Yet

    The DeFi industry is not living up to the expectations of Web3 builders or regulators.

    DeFi
    Eric Hess

    Bridging Policy and Practice: A Pragmatic Approach to Decentralized Finance, Risk, and Regulation

    Confronted with a Hobson’s choice of either implementing stringent enforcement of uncertain regulation or geo-fencing the United States, it’s become paramount for regulators and stakeholders to consider collaborative alternatives for shaping the future of decentralized finance (DeFi). Championing collaboration, this paper emphasizes the need for all DeFi stakeholders, from intermediaries to builders, to proactively enhance transparency and risk management, irrespective of regulatory dictates.

    DeFi
    Crypto
    Blockchain
    Blockworks

    What the SEC’s Proposed ‘Exchange’ Definition Could Mean for DeFi

    Legal challenges are likely imminent, as one lawyer argues the US securities regulator is “exceeding its statutory authorization”

    DeFi
    Crypto
    Blockchain
    TRM Labs

    Unpacking Treasury’s DeFi Risk Assessment

    The United States Treasury Department released its Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Decentralized Finance (the “assessment”). The assessment comes as a response to the September 2022 White House framework for digital assets, which specifically asked Treasury to provide a risk assessment for DeFi. The assessment attempts to define DeFi — a term that, according to Treasury, is “often used loosely in the virtual asset industry” — and enumerates a number of illicit finance risks.

    DeFi
    Crypto
    Blockchain
    WSJ

    Regulators Investigate Crypto-Exchange Developer Uniswap Labs

    The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the startup behind one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, as regulators probe further into parts of the digital-asset market that have resisted oversight, according to people familiar with the matter.

    DeFi
    Crypto
    Blockchain
    Reuters

    Cannabis, Crypto & Crowdfunding In First Of Its Kind Litigation Finance Offering

    An agricultural research and commercial hemp operation called Apothio LLC is officially the first plaintiff to attempt to fund a civil case by asking individual investors to buy crypto tokens in a crowdfunded “initial litigation offering.”

    DeFi
    Crypto
    Finance

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