header-logo header-logo

24 January 2020
Issue: 7871 / Categories: Features
printer mail-detail

Prized assets in a brave new (blockchain) world

14754
Cryptocurrencies under common law: are we there yet, asks Valya Georgieva
  • Cryptoassets can be regarded as a form of property and can be subject to long established legal principles.
  • Legislation and further fact-specific interpretation will be required as the use of cryptoassets continues developing.

Over the past few years, blockchain technology has become increasingly important to the global economy, with virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple slowly infiltrating our lives. As these disruptive technologies have evolved, so has the litigation they generate.

Many questions arise in the context of cryptocurrency litigation: how does legal title to a cryptocurrency pass; can cryptocurrencies be held on trust; what legal recourse or remedies exist if cryptocurrencies are exploited for unlawful purposes, what happens in the event of insolvency? All of these questions revolve primarily around establishing the legal status of cryptocurrencies in order to ascertain whether they could be subject to well-established legal principles.

In November 2019, the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT), a government commissioned body comprising members of the legal

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Ogier—Martin Livingston

Ogier—Martin Livingston

Martin Livingston joins Ogier in Cayman to strengthen regulatory support

Blake Morgan—47 promotions

Blake Morgan—47 promotions

Blake Morgan announces 47 summer promotions across UK offices

NEWS
Consultant-led law firms should prepare for closer regulatory attention as oversight evolves
Artificial intelligence may draft workplace grievances, but employers cannot treat them any differently from conventional complaints
From dishonest claimants to judicial promotions and procedural skirmishes, the latest legal developments offer plenty for litigators to digest
Fresh guidance is set to influence how courts decide whether hearings take place online or in person
County Court judges remain divided over whether landlords can lawfully force entry to carry out essential safety inspections after tenants ignore access injunctions
back-to-top-scroll