Digital Assets Download: Springtime for Digital Assets

Digital Assets Download: Springtime for Digital Assets. In the latest edition of Digital Assets Download, we showcase a truly global perspective on digital assets. In the United States, the GENIUS Act moves closer to implementation regulations, while the European Union and United Kingdom provide important oversight guidelines for critical ICT third‑party providers that underpin digital‑asset and financial‑market infrastructure.

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. We also invite readers to explore our new Stablecoins & Tokenization Resource Center, designed to help navigate the rapidly expanding tokenization landscape.

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

Regulatory/Enforcement

SEC and CFTC Formalize Joint Approach to Digital Asset Oversight

Australian Senate Backs Comprehensive Crypto Regulation Framework

US and UK Regulators Split Over Crypto Collaboration Frameworks

SEC Issues Guidance Allowing 2% Haircut for Payment Stablecoins Under Net Capital Rule

IRS Proposes Streamlined Electronic Delivery Rules for Digital‑Asset 1099‑DA Reporting

US Regulators Relaunch “Project Crypto” to Align SEC–CFTC Oversight

Regulatory Delays Put UK’s Digital‑Asset Hub Strategy at Risk

South Korea Finalizes Draft of Landmark Digital Asset Basic Act

Markets

T. Rowe Price Moves Toward Launch of Multi‑Asset Crypto ETF

BitGo Selected to Power Infrastructure and Distribution for SoFiUSD Stablecoin

Western Union Partners with Crossmint to Launch USDPT Stablecoin on Solana

Kazakhstan’s Central Bank Allocates $350M From Reserves Into Digital‑Asset Investments

Five Regional Banks Unite to Launch Tokenized Deposit Network

Fed’s Hawkish Pause Sets the Tone for Crypto Liquidity in 2026

Morgan Stanley Appoints Digital‑Asset Strategy Chief and Files for Multiple Crypto ETFs

Wall Street Accelerates Crypto Hiring as Major Firms Build Digital‑Asset Teams

Courts

US Court Finalizes $400M Forfeiture in Helix Darknet Crypto Mixer Case

Bybit Wins Landmark Ruling Ordering Return of Mistaken USDT Transfer

Crypto CEO Sentenced to 3 Years for Market Manipulation in Landmark South Korean Case

Dubai Courts Recognize Crypto as Legal Property Under UAE Digital‑Asset Rules

Select Events

Japan Fintech Week 2026: Mayer Brown partner Joe Castelluccio spoke on the panel “Forging the Future of Digital Payments” on February 27 during Japan Fintech Week 2026, an international initiative hosted by Japan’s Financial Services Agency to showcase Japan’s fintech landscape and foster global collaboration. Japan Fintech Week ran from February 24 to March 6, featuring keynote sessions, panels, startup pitches, and expert roundtables across Tokyo and other major cities.

Global Blockchain & Crypto Symposium 2026: Mayer Brown is proud to sponsor the Global Blockchain & Crypto Symposium 2026, taking place in London on June 24. Musonda Kapotwe will speak on the panel “Crypto Fraud — What’s Next?”, which will examine the evolving landscape of crypto-related fraud and the strategies organizations can adopt to mitigate risk. The discussion will cover emerging fraud schemes; regulatory, enforcement, and legal responses; technology driven detection tools; corporate risk management practices; and the importance of industry collaboration. Panelists will also explore practical measures to protect digital assets, enhance governance, and strengthen resilience across the digital asset ecosystem.

AI Summit 2026: Mayer Brown will host its 2026 AI Summit on April 30 in New York, bringing together lawyers, in‑house counsel, and industry leaders for a half‑day, in‑person program focused on the legal, regulatory, and operational considerations shaping AI adoption across industries. Joe Castelluccio will moderate the Financial Services panel, “RO(A)I? Assessing and Framing Return on Investment in AI Deployment in Financial Services,” which will explore how financial institutions are evaluating the value, risks, and governance implications of deploying AI at scale.

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.

SHADOW BANKING

Shadow banking refers to financial activities that perform bank‑like functions—such as payments, lending, settlement, and liquidity transformation—but occur outside the traditional regulated banking system. These activities can introduce systemic risk when critical services rely on third‑party providers or infrastructure not subject to bank‑level supervision. As digital‑asset markets mature, regulators increasingly evaluate whether functions such as stablecoin issuance, tokenized‑asset settlement, or centralized crypto‑service providers resemble shadow‑banking activities. Efforts like the European Union’s DORA framework and the United Kingdom’s Critical Third‑Party (CTP) regime highlight a global push to ensure that essential technology providers supporting financial institutions are subject to appropriate oversight.

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

From Airdrop to Wrapped Token, our illustrated glossary, “Writing 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.