Blockchain

Blockchain, digital assets and cryptocurrencies are disrupting the way the world does business. This makes it critically important for companies across all industries to understand the legal and regulatory considerations that arise during the development and implementation of these complex technologies. Sidley is at the forefront of this technological and legal innovation. Our blockchain group serves both emerging companies and established institutions worldwide, providing sophisticated transactional, regulatory and litigation advice. Such clients include digital asset trading platforms, blockchain technology companies, U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers, financial services companies and asset management firms.

Band 1: FinTech Legal - USA - Nationwide
Band 1: FinTech Legal: Payments & Lending
Band 1: FinTech Legal: Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies
Chambers FinTech Guide USA 2026

Clients rely on us for our industry knowledge and entrust us with navigating their most complex legal issues. Our latest work encompasses:

• Tokenization of real world assets
• Securities and broker-dealer regulatory advice for digital asset trading platforms
• Blockchain technology implementation
• M&A and secured lending transactions, including cryptocurrency as collateral
• Securities offering, DATs, IPOs, of digital native businesses, cryptocurrency miners, AI chipmakers and other marked participants
• Registered and exempt blockchain token offerings, stablecoin issuance, NFTs
• Bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency advice and litigation, including representation of debtors, creditors, committees, fiduciaries, litigation trusts and adversary proceedings
• Virtual currency investment products
• Digital asset fund formation
• Bitcoin mining operation transactions and regulatory matters
• Global regulatory advice concerning HK SFC, UK FCA/PRA and U.S. SEC, CFTC and FINRA regulatory regimes
• Investment adviser and custody rule requirements
• Cross-border blockchain technology transactions
• Tax structuring advice
• Advice regarding anti-money laundering issues
• UCC considerations involving blockchain tokens
• Cybersecurity controls and incident response for sensitive data
• Securities litigation and class actions involving token offerings, token trading, exchanges, broker-dealers, staking, lending and custody arrangements
• Intellectual property, trade secret, patent, trademark, data privacy and cybersecurity disputes involving digital assets, blockchain protocols and Web3 platforms
• Government and regulatory investigations, examinations and enforcement matters brought by the SEC, CFTC, DOJ, FINRA, FinCEN, OFAC, IRS, NYDFS, state attorneys general and other US and non-US regulators
• White collar defense involving allegations of fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, money transmission, money laundering and sanctions violations
• Complex commercial disputes and arbitrations involving trading platforms, founders, investors, counterparties, governance arrangements, smart contracts, and technology or services agreements
• Product- and protocol-specific disputes involving DeFi, DAOs, NFTs, stablecoins, tokenized assets, and other emerging blockchain products and business models
• Consumer, antitrust and other class actions involving token offerings, exchanges, staking, lending, NFTs and DeFi products
• Cross-border investigations, arbitrations, and litigation involving digital asset businesses and market participants