On 2 May 2025, the European Union announced the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR), a transformative measure poised to reshape cryptocurrency oversight by 1 July 2027. This regulation, designed to combat financial crime, introduces rigorous controls on digital assets, including a prohibition on anonymous crypto accounts and privacy-focussed cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Zcash, alongside mandatory identity verification for transactions exceeding €1,000. For those engaged in cross-border finance, the AMLR’s implications demand thorough analysis. This article examines the regulation’s core provisions, evaluates its wider consequences, and assesses its reception and challenges.

On 29 April 2025, the UK government unveiled its draft crypto regulations, a landmark step towards positioning the UK as a global hub for digital assets. Led by HM Treasury and enforced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), these rules target stablecoins, cryptocurrency exchanges, and related services, aiming to foster innovation while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability. With 12% of UK adults now owning or having owned crypto, up from 4% in 2021, these regulations address a growing market and rising fraud concerns. Here we take an in-depth look at the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Cryptoassets) Order 2025 and its possible implications.

Pump.fun, a platform for creating Solana memecoins, is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit that accuses it of dealing in “unregistered security memecoins,” which allegedly generated nearly $500 million in revenue for the company. The lawsuit was initiated by Diego Aguilar in a federal court in New York on 30 January 2025.

As the landscape of state privacy regulations continues to develop in the U.S., businesses must be ready for substantial changes set to take effect in January 2025. New laws from Delaware, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, Minnesota and Maryland, will introduce important consumer rights, heightened data protection requirements, and increased transparency obligations. With approximately 150 million Americans — about 43% of the U.S. population — covered by these laws, understanding their implications is vital for organisations to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

In an increasingly digital world, data protection has become a paramount concern for businesses globally. The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and its UK counterpart, the UK GDPR, set stringent standards for how personal data should be handled. One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of GDPR is the scope of its application, specifically regarding who is subject to its provisions and the circumstances under which they can be enforced. It is crucial for businesses to understand that these regulations apply not only within the EU and the UK but also to organisations based outside these territories. If your business serves or collects data from consumers in the EU or the UK, compliance with these regulations is not optional; it is a legal obligation.

Whilst most people are familiar with the idea of copyright, we often encounter inquiries from those who are uncertain about the specifics and the true nature of copyright itself, particularly in the context of their website. 

A shareholders' agreement is a private contract made between the shareholders of a company, governing various matters related to the management of the company and share ownership. Shareholder agreements are not mandatory under English law (unlike articles of association), but are frequently used in private companies to proactively address issues which could lead to potential disputes and costly conflicts later on.

Ofcom, the regulatory authority responsible for online safety in the UK, has unveiled significant updates concerning the UK Online Safety Act (OSA). These updates highlight crucial compliance deadlines for businesses and outline primary areas of enforcement for the upcoming phases.

Whether in the Web3 space or not, in today’s competitive business landscape, protecting sensitive information is paramount, and this is usually done by way of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

US authorities have announced a litany of charges against a series of companies and at least eighteen individuals in relation to market manipulation of cryptocurrencies. Among those accused are crypto companies and their market makers, including market makers specialising in memecoin projects. The charges include fraud, conspiracy to commit market manipulation, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business. Some of these offences can attract sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

The emergence and development of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets have posed a problem for English law. Informally, crypto, NFTs and the like are treated by people as property, as things that are owned, and as (digital) assets, but they don’t fit neatly into either of the two categories of personal property recognised by English law. This means that when digital assets holders face issues surrounding their ownership of those assets, the legal position is insufficiently clear to assure them that their rights will be protected. A new bill proposed by the UK government is seeking to clarify the position and officially recognise digital assets as a legal form of property. 

When an agreement is drafted, you can choose which jurisdiction’s law it will be governed by. Governing law is a standard “boilerplate” clause in contracts which becomes crucially important in the event of a dispute.