Digital Assets Download

Launching today: A curated mix of insights and headlines that provide a Layer 3 Legal Perspective™ on the digital assets multiverse – created by Mayer Brown’s global Digital Assets, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Group. Enjoy the first edition of the Digital Assets Download below.

The Lead Block

Original Mayer Brown content, perspectives and insights from across our global platform that touch on digital assets, decentralized finance, cryptocurrencies and related fields.

Much-Anticipated Federal Reserve Report Signals That a CBDC Is a Long Way Off
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors released its long-awaited report on the benefits and risks presented by a potential US central bank digital currency (“CBDC”). In short, the Report revealed that the Federal Reserve is far from launching a CBDC.
US GAO Urges New Virtual Currency Regulations to Counter Human Trafficking and Drug Cartels
In its own report on virtual currencies, the US Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) recently warned about the role that virtual currencies play in human and drug trafficking and urged tighter regulation of certain kinds of virtual currency transactions.
When Code Meets Law: Key Takeaways from the Largest DAO Merger to Date
In this piece, members of Mayer Brown’s Digital Assets Initiative break down a digital-native form of business – the Decentralized Autonomous Organization or DAO – through the lens of a DAO merger and take a look ahead at ways that DAOs may become increasingly relevant to established technology and financial services businesses.

News Node

A curated selection of headlines and news from around this multiverse—including deals, developments and other disruptions in DeFi.

Digital Assets Regulation and National Security: White House Directive Expected Soon.

A Different Take on Regulation: Congressman argues that legislation on cryptocurrency may be needed for regulators to act.

Wall Street banks are expanding crypto sell-side research.

Bitmain-Backed Crypto Mining Company Reaches $1.5 Billion SPAC Merger To Go Public.

Crypto exchange Gemini pushes into wealth management with acquisition of BITRIA.

Select Events

Selected events for deeper dives into different parts of the digital assets and DeFi world.

Virtual Assets: Addressing Evolving Regulatory & Compliance Dynamics

Led by Kharon and Mayer Brown professionals with frontline OFAC, Treasury, and DOJ experience, this session will provide an overview of virtual asset regulatory and compliance developments, and use real-world case studies to highlight challenges and best practices in identifying risk. Members of the panel will also provide their expectations for 2022 and beyond.

Learn the Lingo

For those new to the digital assets and DeFi world, each edition of the Digital Assets Download highlights a different term to help you be a part of the conversation.

Token

A digital asset that is managed through a distributed ledger. Tokens can, among other things, be used as virtual currency for payments, as stores of value, as voting power over the governance of a network, or as a representation of a unique, non-replicable item. Tokens can be either non-fungible or fungible.

Non-Fungible Token (NFT)

A token that is non-divisible and unique and, therefore, cannot be interchanged. Cryptokitties and Cryptopunks are examples of non-fungible tokens. Much of the current market for NFTs is centered around collectibles, such as sports cards or artwork, but NFTs can also be used to prove digital ownership of physical assets, such as real estate deeds or event tickets.

Fungible Token

A token that is divisible and non-unique and, therefore, can be interchanged. Bitcoin and Ether are examples of fungible tokens. Fungible tokens are used as mediums of exchange or stores of value.