Digital Assets Download

One of the world’s oldest holidays, the solstice has always been symbolically important as a turning point in the year. Whether it is called Saturnalia, Toji, Dong Zhi or Soyal, in the Northern Hemisphere the winter solstice signals a return to longer days and positive energy—just like the Digital Assets Download! In our final edition of 2023, we look into the year ahead with some fearless predictions (without the benefit of a time machine) and an important legal update for blockchain in financial transactions. We wrap up this Digital Assets Download with a “Lingo” term that expands on one of our predictions.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s Digital Assets Downloads and we look forward to hearing from you in 2024. Best wishes, everyone!

For the Uninitiated: Digital Assets Download is 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 & Cryptocurrency group. (Check out all of our previous editions of the Digital Assets Download.)

The Lead Block

Perspectives and insights from Mayer Brown lawyers and other thought leaders that touch on digital assets, decentralized finance, cryptocurrencies and related fields.

News Node

US Lawmakers Launch Bill to Counter Terrorism and Threats Involving Digital Assets

US Senator Elizabeth Warren Introduces Bill To "Crack Down" on Bitcoin And Crypto

Bipartisan Anti-Crypto Terror Financing Bill Heads to US Senate

US Crypto Industry Lobby Spending on Track for New Record in 2023

New York Regulator: Crypto ‘Lends Itself to Illicit Finance;’ ‘Socializing’ Regulation

Abu Dhabi Becomes More Attractive to Crypto Industry Roiled By Crackdown

ECB Gets New Powers from EU over Climate, Crypto Bank Risks

Saudi Aramco, SBI Explore Digital Asset Investment Collaboration

Judge Scolds SEC for Apparent Deception in Crypto Case, Threatens to Sanction Agency

Financial Services Company Issues €10 Million Digital Green Bond on a Public Blockchain

Coinbase Looks Toward Diamond-handed Institutions with New Digital-asset Project Launch

Financial Services Company to Become First Big Bank to List a Stablecoin

Two Banking Companies in Electronic Bill of Lading Interoperability Trial with Swift

China to Verify Citizens' Identities with New Blockchain-Based Platform

Technology Company Quietly Revising Crypto Ad Rules Ahead of Expected Bitcoin ETF Launch

Financial Services Company Launches Crypto Trading in European Union

US Bitcoin ETF Issuer Talks with SEC have Advanced to Key Details —Sources

Select Events

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

Crypto Crime in Context: Breaking Down the Illicit Activity in Digital Assets
In the US House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion of the Financial Services Committee held a hearing on crypto crime on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Commissioner Goldsmith Romero Participated in a Fireside Chat at TRM Labs’ Crypto Law Enforcement Summit
On November 8, 2023, US CFTC Commissioner Goldsmith Romero participated in a fireside chat at TRM Labs’ Crypto Law Enforcement Summit.

Commissioner Pham Speaks at the Blockchain Week in Busan 2023
On November 10, 2023, US CFTC Commissioner Caroline D. Pham participated in a fireside chat titled “Proposals for Innovation of Digital Asset Regulation” at the Blockchain Week in Busan.

Commissioner Johnson to Deliver a Keynote Address and Participate in a Fireside Chat at the Financial Times Crypto and Digital Assets Summit: Winter Edition
On December 5, 2023, US CFTC Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson delivered a keynote address and participated in a fireside chat at the Financial Times Crypto and Digital Assets Summit: Winter Edition in London, England.

Hearing on Fostering Financial Innovation
Michael S. Gibson, Director, Division of Supervision and Regulation on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, testified before the US House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion in Washington DC.

Learn the Lingo

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

Token Standard

A token standard is a template and set of rules that provides the outlines and requirements for a particular type of smart contract. These rules describe the type of data that the token/smart contract should contain, the actions the token can perform, and the type of operations a token holder can take with respect to that token. A token standard can also provide guidelines for the creation, issuance, deployment, transfer, destruction, and other attributes of tokens on their underlying blockchain.

Some common token standards used on the Ethereum blockchain (the most widely used blockchain protocol for smart contracts) are known as ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-777, and ERC-1155. Newer token standards still in development include ERC-3643.

Writings on the Wall, Translating ‘Crypto’ Terms with Mayer Brown

From Airdrop to Wrapped Token, our illustrated glossary, “Writings on the Wall, Translating Securities with Mayer Brown,” has been updated with additional digital assets and cryptocurrency terms. Check out our “featured” list for the crypto terms and the full list of terms.