The LEad Block
News Node
A curated selection of headlines and news from around this multiverse—including deals, developments and other disruptions in DeFi.
Fintech and Crypto Are Making the IMF Nervous.
Top US Lawmaker Proposes Sweeping Stablecoin Regulation Framework.
US FDIC Signals Increased Scrutiny for Digital Asset Companies.
Britain Announces Plans to Mint Its Own NFT As It Looks to ”Lead the Way” in Crypto.
New York Senate Authorizes NYDFS to “Assess” Crypto Companies.
Remarks from US Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on Digital Assets.
Virginia Adopted a Law That Authorizes Its Banks to Offer Crypto Custody Services.
Select Events
Selected upcoming events for deeper dives into different parts of the digital assets and DeFi world.
March-June 2022
Surge Protection: Preparing for the Coming Wave of Enforcement Webinar Series. With the change in administration, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in 2021 that a significant increase in corporate enforcement is coming. This policy shift is expected to add substantially to the burdens companies and executives under investigation may face, especially when coupled with additional announcements that the DOJ will surge resources dedicated to corporate enforcement. Mayer Brown has prepared a series of webinars which will include leading practitioners, in-house counsel and former government officials across practices to provide practical guidance and insight into how companies can prepare for these changes. The series will cover a wide range of topics including cryptocurrency; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; securities; anti-money laundering; sanctions and export control; cybersecurity; and antitrust issues.
March 30: Investigating Misuse of Cryptocurrency: DOJ and FTC Enforcement Panel
April 13: SEC and CFTC Enforcement Update: Increasing SPAC Enforcement and Litigation Risk and Increased Authority to Seek Disgorgement
Fintech and Antitrust: What You Need to Know. April 26 (Register Here). The past year has seen significant developments in antitrust regulation, enforcement and litigation in both the US and the UK. Please join Mayer Brown Antitrust partners Tom Panoff and Gail Levine as they discuss how the fintech sector could be impacted by the increased US regulatory focus on and litigation related to data privacy and the use of consumer data, open access and exclusivity issues, restrictive labor agreements, nascent competition and bank merger approval. Airlie Goodman will contribute a UK perspective—particularly, on developments in the UK’s burgeoning collective proceedings regime and, more broadly, on private antitrust litigation.
Incident Response: Cryptocurrency, NFT, DeFi and Other Digital Asset Trading Platforms. April 21 (Register Here). Cybersecurity Docket presents a virtual masterclass session, and the panel will include Mayer Brown Cybersecurity partner Dominique Shelton Leipzig.
Learn the Lingo
Smart Contracts:
