Wired claimed this week that decentralized autonomous organizations are gathering grounds for “dangerous groups.” But the article misunderstands what DAOs actually do and what they are useful for, says Preston Byrne.
The Many Layers of the SEC’s First NFT Enforcement Action
Ripple Labs Ruling Throws U.S. Crypto-Token Regulation into Disarray
The only thing this ruling guarantees is continued uncertainty in the cryptocurrency markets – uncertainty only Congress can correct, says Preston Byrne.
U.K. Blazes Trail With New Cryptocurrency Rules
The FCA’s regulations provide greater legal clarity for developers but place additional compliance burdens on companies marketing cryptocurrencies, says Preston Byrne, a partner at Brown Rudnick.
How to Build a Compliant Crypto Exchange Post-Coinbase
Crypto isn’t going anywhere — though Coinbase might — so what the market needs is a fresh start: new exchanges that can avoid the ever-present threat of SEC enforcement by being structured correctly in the first place, writes Preston Byrne.
Economic Unreality: What SEC ICO Precedents Mean for Ripple
How to Build Decentralized Twitter
Crypto-based social media will be shaped by existing statutes, regulations and norms – and may be limited by its tech.
‘The Squeezening’: How the Gamestop Backlash will Curtail Freedom
Gamestop’s “squeezening” is likely to increase calls for curbs on “memetic disturbances.” That could be dangerous for free speech.
Would the STABLE Act Make Running an Ethereum Node Illegal?
The STABLE Act regulating the burgeoning stablecoin industry is misplaced and overly broad, says our columnist.
Stop F***ing Around With Public Token Airdrops in the United States
The SEC’s slowness in ruling on DeFI’s legality “is not a waiver of its enforcement power,” says our columnist.
Twitter Doesn’t Need Web 3.0 to Solve Its Identity Problem
The great Twitter hack does not herald the end of the centralized web. But we need stronger cryptography for social media.
Bitcoin Doesn’t Take Sides: Why Apolitical Solutions Are the Internet’s Future
Companies that take political stances are in a never-ending war with public opinion. Bitcoin doesn’t take sides and that’s why it wins, says our columnist.
Telegram’s TON Was Built on Sand. Its Failure Isn’t All Bad For Crypto
Telegram’s Pavel Durov rails against the SEC’s “ossification.” But his TON project was always on shaky ground legally-speaking, says Preston Byrne.
With Kik and Telegram Cases, the SEC Tries to Kill the SAFT
The SEC is gunning for startups funded through Simple Agreement for Future Tokens, a legal maneuver that was supposed to keep them safe.
Post COVID-19, Companies Must Be Resilient, Not Just Efficient
Companies need better emergency planning. They can’t always rely on government in a crisis, says our columnist.
How to Escape Contracts That Are Killing Your Company During Coronavirus
Our “Not Legal Advice” columnist reviews options for changing or terminating business contracts during this crisis.
How to Survive the Coronavirus and Keep Your Startup Alive
From protecting your staff to planning a succession, here’s a six-point plan to staying out of legal trouble during the pandemic.
The States Can’t Blockchain
If states want to promote the use of blockchain tech, they need advisors with solid technical understanding of what they’re trying to legislate.
Preston Byrne: Peirce’s Safe Harbor Proposal Would Be Hilarious If It Weren’t So Serious
In his first column for CoinDesk, Preston Byrne responds to Hester Peirce’s proposal for a token sale safe harbor.