Digital Assets Download: Don’t Stop Believin’… As summer transitions into autumn, the “Journey” of the Digital Asset Download continues “Faithfully.” While many eyes in the crypto world will be watching the US Congress to see if it will deliver a market structure bill to overhaul the US crypto regulatory framework, our Lead Block delivers commentary on US state and federal developments, as well as the Hong Kong Stablecoin Bill. As always, we are “Happy to Give” you another “Lingo” term from our library – in this edition, “staking.”
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.
The Lead Block
News Node
Regulatory/Enforcement
SEC and CFTC Clear Path for US Exchanges to Trade Spot Crypto
The GENIUS Act and Law of Unintended Consequences: Are Stablecoin Issuers Going to be Boxed Out of Bankruptcy?
US Federal Reserve to Hold Conference with Focus on Stablecoins, Tokenization
Markets
Nasdaq Tightens Scrutiny of Companies Raising Cash to Buy Crypto: Report
US Bancorp Revives Institutional Bitcoin Custody Service
Trump-Backed World Liberty Ethereum Token Debut: Here's How It Played Out
Gemini's IPO and the Future of Institutional Crypto Adoption: Strategic Market Validation and Capital Access for Digital Assets
Jamie Dimon says JPMorgan Chase Will Get Involved in Stablecoins as Fintech Threat Looms
Citigroup Considers Issuing its Own Stablecoin, CEO Says
BofA is Looking for ‘Legal Clarity’ as It Explores Stablecoin Initiatives, CEO Says
Crypto Infrastructure Giant Talos Acquires Coin Metrics for More Than $100 Million
Courts
9th Circ. Finding that NFTs are Goods Will Change TM Law
Select Events
Impact of the AML Provisions in the GENIUS Act
The passage of the GENIUS Act has opened the floodgates for stablecoins. Dozens of new issuers (if not more) are expected to enter the market in the coming months, and the total volume outstanding continues to increase at a rapid pace. On Thursday, September 11, Mayer Brown partners Matthew Bisanz and Brad Resnikoff will be presenting on the impact of AML provisions in the GENIUS Act.
On September 9, 2025, Mayer Brown partner Joe Castelluccio will participate in the “From Wild West to Wall Street: The Rise of Regulated Crypto” panel. This session will provide a Crypto business model primer, regulatory updates and compliance and legal considerations for digital asset programs.
11th Annual Alternative Finance Summit: Fintech, Blockchain, and Crowdfunding
On September 3, Mayer Brown partner Anna Pinedo participated in a “Securities Offering and Private Placement Developments: A Prolific, Controversial Year of Rulemaking” session at PLI’s 11th Annual Alternative Finance Summit: Fintech, Blockchain, and Crowdfunding.
Digital (Tokenized) Bonds: What to Know About a Growing Asset Class
On August 11, Mayer Brown partners Steffen Hemmerich and Matthew Bisanz presented a PLI webinar on tokenized bonds. Attendees gained an understanding of the legal, operational, and technological issues that must be overcome to structure a successful tokenized bond issuance, including ownership recordation, custodial arrangements, and servicing mechanisms.
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.
STAKING
Staking cryptocurrencies is a process that involves committing crypto assets to support a blockchain network and confirm transactions. Crypto assets are “staked” by depositing them with a protocol in exchange for rewards. The purpose for the staking varies by protocol, but the most common form of staking is within the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism (an alternative to proof-of-work) used by certain blockchains to verify new blocks of data that are added to the network. In a proof-of-stake protocol, stakers perform the exercise of validating new blocks of transactions to be added to the network. The staked assets are at risk and will be lost if the staker processes fraudulent transactions; as a result, each validator’s stake acts as an incentive to ensure the security of the network. In exchange for the committed tokens, validators receive rewards denominated in the native cryptocurrency..
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.
