Crypto Lawyer & Digital Asset Legal Support

Navigating the legal landscape of cryptocurrency 

The first cryptocurrency that was created was Bitcoin in 2008 and became the first decentralised digital currency that used blockchain to maintain a secure, public distributed ledger of all transactions.

Since then, hundreds of other cryptocurrencies have been created with varying levels of success such as Ethereum, Binance, and Dogecoin. They are often used as a medium of exchange for goods and services, and are known for their volatility and their potential use in illegal activities. 

As cryptocurrencies have been rapidly evolving, they have generated lots of interest and scrutiny from governments and financial regulators. The market itself is highly volatile and has attracted attention from criminals who seek to take advantage of the anonymity and decentralised nature of crypto.

That is why we are providing crypto lawyer services and digital asset legal support to clients who are operating in the cryptocurrency industry. Areas we specialise in, include:

• Advising on regulatory compliance to ensure that the companys' operation and products are reflective of the applicable laws and regulations
• Creating and managing smart contracts to ensure that they are legally binding and properly encoded into the blockchain
• Negotiating and drafting contracts with partners, vendors, or other stakeholders
• Protecting the companys' intellectual property and brand
• Handling legal disputes and litigation
• Advising and supporting you in any fraudulent attack or transaction

Our Cryptocurrency Legal Services

Litigation

Our crypto lawyers can help clients deal with litigation for personal and commercial clients involved in legal disputes regarding cryptocurrency. We specialise in advanced dispute resolution in addition to dealing with disputes that go to tribunal, arbitration, and in court.

Fraud

Cryptocurrencies are not immune to fraud, with many criminals taking advantage of the system to defraud individuals and businesses of their crypto assets. Our crypto lawyers can help offer legal advice to clients who have been a victim of fraud as a result of scammers.

Corporate & Commercial Agreement

As the use of cryptocurrencies has become more widespread, more companies are using crypto as payment within commercial and corporate agreements. We can provide expert knowledge and check that the contract is legally sound and binding. 

What other technology industries does KaurMaxwell specialise in?

Blockchain & Web3

Blockchain technology and Web3 are what has provided the foundations for the development and growth of cryptocurrencies. Our team of blockchain solicitors are here to help clients receive the correct legal support and advice they need to operate effectively. 

Explore our crypto legal services.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

NFTs have exploded in popularity over the last few years, but their cryptographic nature has raised complex legal questions about copyright and intellectual property. Our team of NFT solicitors work closely with clients in the industry to ensure that their assets are fully protected. 

Explore our NFT legal services.

Smart Contracts

We provide expert legal advice to ensure that our clients are fully protected when using smart contracts. Our goal is to help clients confidently and securely use smart contracts in their business operations. 

Explore our smart contract legal services.

Why choose KaurMaxwell for cryptocurrency and digital asset legal support?

As an independent law firm based in London, our team specialises in helping clients with cryptocurrencies and digital asset legal disputes. Our lawyers have a range of expertise across different industries and platforms and can provide a comprehensive service to give our clients confidence and peace of mind. We take pride in delivering a high-quality and exceptional service to all of our clients, both individuals and businesses

Is there crypto law?

UK Crypto Law

In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK's primary financial regulatory body for financial services and oversees the cryptocurrency landscape in the UK. The FCA is responsible for checking that cryptoasset firms have effective procedures for anti-money laundering and preventing terrorist financing. Overall though, crypto assets are unregulated.

Depending on the amount of earnings you receive, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have stated that cryptocurrencies are taxable. Companies and individuals will need to pay income tax and national insurance if they have earnt over £1,000 in crypto assets or £2,500 from other taxable income within a financial year.

Regulation and laws surrounding cryptocurrency and blockchain are always subject to change in the future.

International crypto law

Outside of the UK, laws and regulations surrounding crypto assets differ from country to country. In some countries, such as China, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq and Morocco, the trading of cryptocurrencies is banned. In general, many countries allow the trading of crypto, but there are increasing changes in regulation as the market becomes more popular.

Who investigates stolen cryptocurrency?

If you have been defrauded of your cryptocurrency or have had your cryptocurrency stolen, it is possible to report it to Action Fraud or to the Police. However, due to cryptocurrencies' anonymous nature, it makes it very difficult to track where that money has gone or who has stolen it. It may be potentially useful to contact the exchange to see if you can identify the scammer.

Crypto scandals keeping lawyers busy in 2022

In 2022, there were several high profile scandals which shook the crypto scene. Below we explore some of the high profile legal scandals in the crypto industry:

The collapse of Luna

The collapse of Luna in 2022, saw $60 billion wiped off the cryptocurrency market, severely damaging any stability in the market. The crash of Luna is argued to have caused an estimated loss of $300 billion across the entire market. Consequently, the founder of Luna, is facing an arrest charge by South Korea for breaking local market laws.

The collapse of FTX

FTX was one of the largest crypto exchanges and in its prime was valued at $32 billion with many celebrities endorsing the company. However, in November 2022, the FTX filed for bankruptcy following a liquidity crunch which saw crypto giant, Binance, pull out of buying FTX and customers demanding withdrawals. 

As a result, FTX has received a number of lawsuits from investors and is under investigation by the US Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US. Consequently, the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested on charges related to FTX.

Celsius accused of Ponzi scheme

A renown cryptocurrency lender, Celsius, was accused of inflating the price of its own crypto coin and engaged in activities that were considered fraudulent by its previous investment manager. Consequently, a lawsuit has been filed against the company for multiple incidents of wrongdoing.

What are the most common types of crypto scams?

There are several common types of cryptocurrency scams, including investment schemes, Ponzi schemes, fake celebrity endorsements, fake initial coin offerings, rug pull scams, phishing attacks, and social media scams.

• Crypto investment schemes: scammers contact investors claiming to be seasoned "investment managers." As part of the scheme, the so-called investment managers claim to have made millions investing in cryptocurrency and promise their victims that they will make money with investments. To get started, the scammers request an upfront fee. Then, instead of making money, the thieves simply steal the upfront fees. The scammers may also request personal identification information, claiming it's for transferring or depositing funds thus gaining access to a person's cryptocurrency.
• A Ponzi scheme is a type of investment scam in which returns are paid to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors, rather than from profit earned. This type of scam relies on the continual recruitment of new investors to generate returns for older investors, and it eventually collapses when the supply of new investors dries up.
• Fake celebrity endorsements: scammers take real photos and impose them on fake accounts, ads or articles to make it appear as though the celebrity is promoting a large financial gain from the investment. The sources for these claims appear to be legitimate, using reputable company names such as ABC or CBS with a professional-looking website and logos. However, the endorsement is fake.
• Fake initial coin offerings (ICOs) are another common scam in the cryptocurrency world. In ICO, a company offers investors the chance to purchase tokens that can be used on the company's platform or traded on cryptocurrency exchanges. However, some ICOs are scams that promise unrealistic returns and use funds raised from investors for personal gain, rather than for the development of the company's platform.
• Rug pull scams involve investment scammers "pumping up" a new project, NFT or coin to get funding. After the scammers get the money, they disappear with it. The coding for these investments prevents people from selling the bitcoin after purchase, so investors are left with a valueless investment.
• Phishing attacks are a common way for scammers to trick individuals into giving them sensitive information, such as their private keys or login credentials. These attacks typically involve sending an email or text message that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is actually from a scammer who is trying to steal the victim's information.
• Social media scams are a common way for scammers to reach a large number of potential victims. In these scams, the scammer will often create a fake profile on a social media platform and use it to promote a fake investment opportunity or to solicit funds for a nonexistent cause.

FAQs

What does a crypto lawyer do?

A crypto lawyer helps individual and commercial clients with any legal issues that they may have regarding cryptocurrencies. They are often able to provide legal advice and support on areas such as litigation, crypto laws and regulations, and intellectual property. Overall, they help ensure that clients can protect their interests.

How can KaurMaxwell help me with crypto law?

Our team of crypto lawyers are dedicated to helping clients in the crypto industry navigate the complex and constantly evolving legal landscape. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including assistance with litigation, fraud, and commercial agreements. Our experienced solicitors are committed to providing efficient, effective legal support to help our clients succeed in the cryptocurrency industry.