Some years ago, we were retained to find a first GC hire for a big crypto exchange, a challenging but fascinating project to work on. A comment from the CEO, has stayed with me. Coming from a stellar background in US finance he was utterly convinced that crypto and digital assets will become an entirely mainstream financial product, even if there are likely to be some bumps in the road to getting there.

We’ve seen some of those bumps over recent years, and heard the choruses of ‘told you so’s’ from the sceptics, but sure enough, it has bounced back time and again. Yes, the short-term is likely to continue to be volatile, but with the long-term trajectory seemingly set, this is a sector that looks primed to grow exponentially. So, we’ve got a fast-developing market, with major investment potential, global reach, and a pressing need for tailored regulation… they’re going to need lawyers, right?

Several of our key markets are playing a pivotal role in the development of crypto and digital assets, capitalising on their agility to position themselves as international hubs. Tailored regulatory regimes such as the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act in Cayman and the Digital Asset Business Act (DABA) in Bermuda are leading the way offshore, whilst in the Middle East, the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority in Dubai and a comprehensive Digital Asset Framework in Abu Dhabi are attracting major players and start-ups alike.

For a lawyer, it’s exciting work, ideal for someone who thrives on the dynamic of doing things that haven’t necessarily been done a thousand times before, and brings several key advantages:

• Get in early and become a market expert. If the sector grows as anticipated, this has the potential to be your career golden ticket.
• Enjoy a varied practice that spans corporate work (from incorporations and joint ventures to mergers and acquisitions), financing, fund formations, regulatory compliance, data protection, and even the odd dispute.
• Build your network of contacts with a mix of clients from cutting edge start-ups to fast-growing names, banks and financial institutions to regulatory authorities.
• Play your part in shaping the future of a sector that could in time redefine the financial services world.

Here at Origin, we don’t claim expertise in crypto and digital assets per se (after all, we’re in an office, not on a yacht), but we do have plenty of knowledge when it comes to helping lawyers to make this move. If you have experience in the sector, or strong corporate and/or FS credentials and a genuine interest in this work, we’d be happy to chat.