Many Web3 projects and individuals earn fees for introductions, referrals, and deal sourcing. In the European Union, the legal question is when an “introducer” crosses into regulated intermediation under MiFID II or MiCA. MiFID II: when an introduction becomes an investment service MiFID II Article 5 requires authorisation for investment services. “Investment advice” is a personal recommendation on transactions in financial instruments (Article 4(1)(4)). Annex I lists the key

This case study documents the legal-structural implementation we executed for a protocol development client preparing a public token sale contemporaneous with mainnet launch. The engagement objective was to construct a governance-credible and operationally separable architecture in which ecosystem stewardship, sale execution, and commercial development operations were isolated into distinct legal entities, with defined authority boundaries, traceable funds flows, and publicat

Blockchain (a type of distributed ledger) is designed as a distributed, tamper-resistant, and transparent  data structure with no centralized control. Transactions are grouped into blocks cryptographically chained together, and a consensus mechanism  (e.g. proof of work or proof of stake) ensures all nodes agree on the valid state. These properties— decentralization  (many participants replicate data), immutability  (once recorded, data cannot be altered without detection), a

Scope and Objectives of PSD2 vs. MiCA PSD2 – Payment Services Directive (2015) : PSD2 provides the core legal framework for retail payment services in the EU, aiming to foster an integrated EU payments market and enhance innovation, competition, and security in electronic payments. Building on the first Payment Services Directive (2007), PSD2 addressed barriers to new types of payment services (e.g. fintech payment initiation and account aggregation) while improving consumer

Introduction and Official Source The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025 , commonly known as the GENIUS Act , is a proposed U.S. federal law to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for payment stablecoins . The bill’s official text (S.1582 in the 119th Congress) is available on Congress.gov . It defines “payment stablecoin” as a digital asset used for payments or settlement that is redeemable for a fixed monetary value  (for ex

ESMA’s new guidelines stem directly from Article 92(3) of MiCA, which obliges the authority to harmonise how national competent authorities (NCAs) combat market abuse in crypto-asset markets by 30 June 2025. The final report, published on 29 April 2025, therefore fills a regulatory gap that MiCA itself created: the regulation outlawed insider dealing, unlawful disclosure and manipulation involving crypto-assets, yet supervisory cultures and data capabilities still vary widely

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) promises financial services without traditional intermediaries – but this very decentralization creates...

The European Union's AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) introduces a legal framework to regulate artificial intelligence systems across...

The European Union has enacted a regulation on artificial intelligence (AI) designed to stimulate innovation, ensure the trustworthiness...

The EDPS has issued Orientations on generative AI and personal data protection to provide guidance to EU institutions, bodies, offices,...

A web3 venture involves following a complex set of crypto-marketing rules globally. Founders are often not fully prepared for the...

The European Union (EU) has enacted the AI Act, a comprehensive regulation governing artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The Council of...

Introduction to SAFT The Simple Agreement for Future Tokens (SAFT) is a contractual mechanism designed for the issuance of digital tokens...

In March 2024, the UK's financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a press release, which is giving out new...

Introduction The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a finance-focused free zone within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, administers a distinct and...

Token listings on centralized exchanges represent a significant milestone for blockchain projects, offering them enhanced visibility,...

Blockchain technology has introduced a revolutionary asset management and investment approach, notably through tokenizing real-world...

Web3 is characterized by decentralization, blockchain technologies, AI, and a new paradigm of user interaction and data management. It...

In our extensive Knowledge Base, we have frequently discussed various aspects of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). This...

In the context of the ratification and adoption of the Markets in Crypto-Asset (MiCA) Regulation by the European Union in April 2023, an...