Blockchain and Digital Currency Attorneys Author First of Its Kind Book: "Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology: US Law and Regulation"

Miami Fla. — Carlton Fields Of Counsel Andrew M. Hinkes, and Shutts & Bowen Partners Daniel T. Stabile and Kimberly A. Prior, have produced an important resource that provides a thoughtful examination of the key legal and regulatory issues associated with the transformative field of digital assets and blockchain technology. Through their law practices and scholarship, the authors have accumulated vast knowledge of blockchain and cryptocurrency matters and regularly advise clients in the space.

The textbook, Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology: US Law and Regulation, examines the legal and regulatory approaches taken by the most important US regulatory authorities. As digital assets and other blockchain applications mature, and regulatory authorities work hard to keep pace, Stabile, Prior, and Hinkes guide students, practitioners, and other readers through the legal frameworks and precedents created and adapted to regulate this nascent technology. The authors explore the growth of smart contracts, the application of securities laws to token sales, the regulation of virtual currency businesses, the taxation of digital assets, and the intersection of digital assets and criminal law.

“Blockchain technology has the potential to transform many day-to-day business activities, creating efficiencies within the financial sector and many other industry sectors,” said Stabile. “We are still in the very early days of this technological revolution, and it has been thrilling to watch the blockchain space mature over the past few years, often in coordination with regulators who are working hard to strike the appropriate balance of protecting customers without stifling innovation.”

“We hope that our work in gathering knowledge, curating authorities, and providing commentary will serve as a useful resource for both students and practitioners,” added Prior.

Hinkes stated, “Digital assets and blockchain systems are key components of the emerging digital economy. We are excited to share a comprehensive examination of US legal approaches to these assets."

Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology: U.S. Law and Regulation is published by Edward Elgar Publishing. It is available online for purchase on Elgar’s website (www.e-elgar.com) or on Amazon. 

Stabile and Prior are members of Shutts’ Financial Services Practice Group, which has been recognized by Chambers USA as a Band 1 banking and financial practice area since its first publication. They also teach a course, one of the first of its kind, on blockchain and digital asset regulation at the University of Miami Law School.

Stabile represents financial institutions in internal and governmental/SRO investigations, enforcement proceedings, civil litigations, and arbitrations. Prior handles regulatory, transactional, enforcement and corporate matters for domestic and international financial services firms and businesses, including banks, broker-dealers, investment advisers, private equity funds, and FinTechs.

Hinkes is nationally recognized for his experience in cryptocurrency and blockchain-related legal issues. He advises blockchain, Fintech, and financial services clients in a wide variety of legal matters. In addition to his role at Carlton Fields, Hinkes is an adjunct professor at the New York University Stern School of Business and New York University School of Law where he has taught “Digital Currency, Blockchains, and the Future of Financial Services” since 2018. He is also general counsel, chief legal officer, and co-founder of Athena Blockchain Inc., a financial services company focused on tokenized investments.