Topics
Blockchain Resources
Blog Post
Q&A: Blockchain and Digital Assets Pro Bono Work
FTI Consulting supports an active and expansive pro bono program to make the firm’s expertise and services available to in need organizations, individuals and communities. Last year, FTI Consulting professionals contributed pro bono services internally valued at nearly $10.5 million, a 72% increase compared to the prior year. This work included projects led by FTI Technology’s Blockchain & Digital Assets experts. In this Q&A, Emma Spencer, Jimmy Johnson and Jason Trager discuss recent pro bono projects and the team’s approach to finding additional opportunities to make a difference.
Blog Post
Cold Case? Uncovering Truth in Digital Assets Crimes through Data and Insight
It remains a popular belief that cryptocurrency theft is an unstoppable, unsolvable crime. However, in recent years, law enforcement across the U.K. and Europe have recovered billons of euros in laundered or stolen digital assets. In cases involving sophisticated criminal networks and illicit transactions, cryptocurrency recoveries have outweighed the value of recovered fiat currency. This is possible through the work of investigators who understand the complexities and nuances of digital assets and how to leverage data, digital forensics and analytics to piece together details and identities related to fraudulent transactions or theft.
Case Study
When a Fortune 100 company was exploring a partnership with a layer-1 blockchain platform, FTI Technology’s Blockchain & Digital Assets practice was engaged to conduct a reputational, operational and financial diligence of the target.
Blog Post
Bringing Blockchain Due Diligence into Focus Alongside Uptick in Strategic Dealmaking
Renewed momentum surrounding blockchain and digital assets indicates that the space is returning to a more stable trajectory. Following a slowdown in industry deal volume in the second half of 2022 and 2023, signals now point toward growth in joint ventures and M&A activity for the year ahead.
The decentralized nature of crypto-native companies poses specific challenges that require technology-centered due diligence. These challenges extend beyond traditional technology and finance, including custody, layer-1 protocols, smart contracts, dApps, token offerings, DeFi projects, crypto mining operations, and crypto exchanges. FTI Technology’s services are designed to effectively address these unique challenges, offering expertise and insights that surpass and complement traditional document-based due diligence assessments.
Blog Post
Q&A: The Importance of Due Diligence in Digital Assets Investing
Jessica de Brignac is a Managing Director in the Blockchain and Digital Assets practice, with more than 20 years of experience in emerging technology, digital risk management, data governance and e-discovery. Having led teams supporting high-profile crypto industry bankruptcies, due diligence assessments for acquisitions involving crypto companies, landmark NFT IP litigation and investigations of digital assets, Jessica has deep expertise at the intersection of blockchain innovation and legal and regulatory risk. In this Q&A, she shares her perspectives on due diligence in blockchain and digital assets, including lessons learned from previous industry problems and areas organizations need to focus on in the diligence process.
White Paper
Revolutionizing Third-Party Risk Management with Blockchain Technology
In the rapidly evolving digital economy, organizations face heightened challenges in managing risks associated with third-party partnerships across artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital assets. Traditional third-party risk management (TPRM) approaches often fall short in addressing the complexities of today’s digital risks, regulatory compliance demands and need for transparent, real-time monitoring. This paper explores the imperative role blockchain technology can play in transforming TPRM strategies, offering a sophisticated, secure and efficient framework for managing third-party risks in high-tech industries.
White Paper
Understanding Digital Assets in the Middle East
The Middle East is rapidly becoming a region that is friendly towards cryptocurrency and digital assets businesses. Several initiatives focused on infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, goals, and hubs for businesses interested in blockchain and digital assets ecosystem have been established across the region. These initiatives aim to ensure consumer protection, collaborative governance, and alignment with current financial ecosystem guidance and frameworks.
Blog Post
Digital Transformation in the Age of NFTs: Exploration of Innovation in Customer Engagement
The digital epoch has ushered businesses into an innovative realm where technology isn't merely a tool, but an ecosystem. This is especially true in customer service, as tech-savvy consumers have come to expect high standards for the experience and engagement they receive when purchasing products and services. As the algorithmic capabilities of artificial intelligence continue to advance, innovation continues around the use of NFTs and other technological innovations emerge, the path to customer engagement is being rewritten.
Blog Post
Tens of billions of dollars in digital assets have been subjected to theft, fraud and other misappropriation over the last several years. Such incidents often trigger lengthy disputes, litigation, regulatory inquiry and/or asset recovery efforts, all of which require complex digital forensics investigations to uncover facts and evidence.
Blog Post
What 2024 Holds for Blockchain and Digital Assets
Since the dawn of blockchain, each year has brought a flurry of excitement, unfulfilled hype, disruption, setback and innovation. The coming year will be no exception. Organizations have an opportunity to engage in emerging opportunities by watching developments closely and implementing risk-conscious strategies for pilot projects and investments in blockchain and digital assets.
Blog Post
Bitcoin ETF Approval Stokes Reinvigorated Institutional Excitement for Cryptocurrency
Today, in a landmark moment for the digital assets ecosystem, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first ever Bitcoin ETF (exchange-traded fund). This highly anticipated decision opens a door for traditional finance (TradFi) institutions to pursue additional revenue streams by offering SEC-approved crypto investments to clients. Many industry watchers and financial analysts expected the approval to come through, in part due to the potential for it to drive billions of dollars into the market.
White Paper
Global Regulatory Trends in Crypto
FTI Consulting together with The Block and top crypto attorneys have developed a report examining the worldwide regulatory frameworks governing digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Our team of blockchain forensics and cryptocurrency experts deliver services specifically for counsel looking to provide their clients with industry expertise. Our testifying experts and dedicated team of blockchain and digital assets investigators are battle-proven and have worked on some of the most prominent cases in the industry.
Blog Post
Q&A: FTI Technology’s Blockchain and Digital Assets Team Expands in the Middle East
Jorge Carrasco, a blockchain and digital assets expert with hands-on experience in emerging technologies, Web3 and advanced technical deployments, recently joined FTI Technology’s growing Blockchain and Digital Assets practice, as a Managing Director in Dubai. In this Q&A, Jorge discusses the opportunities and risks organisations in the Middle East should be thinking about as they explore metaverse, Web3 and other blockchain-based applications.
Case Study
Distressed Cryptocurrency Exchange Selects FTI Consulting for Bankruptcy and Restructuring Services
When the cryptocurrency markets declined suddenly, a cryptocurrency platform providing mobile app-based brokerage, custody and lending services faced serious hardship. The company engaged FTI Consulting’s experts in corporate restructuring and cryptocurrency and digital assets to provide in-depth technical due diligence and strategic recovery advice.
Blog Post
Enterprise Blockchain and the Future of Energy: Q&A with Mark Cole, USD Group
Steve McNew, Senior Managing Director and Global Leader for FTI Technology’s Blockchain & Digital Assets practice, is one of the industry’s foremost experts in enterprise blockchain, cryptocurrency and the future of the digital assets space. He recently spoke with Mark Cole, Co-General Counsel and Secretary at USD Group LLC, an energy infrastructure solutions provider, about a range of topics, including blockchain opportunities in the energy industry, the importance of innovation during disruptive periods and ESG considerations.
Blog Post
How Cryptocurrency Intersects with Fraud Investigations
The post-pandemic workplace has dramatically changed both information governance and the employee/employer relationship. With new remote models and changing philosophies towards work, organizational data is more vulnerable than ever before. Control, understanding and action are the keys to managing data, whether that includes PII or trade secrets. and a combination of technology and policy tools are required to ensure the organization is prepared and protected, and that data can be recovered and secured.
Blog Post
MiCAR: An Overview of Everything Important About the Crypto Regulatory Framework
Agreed upon text for MiCAR, Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, was published by the European Council in October 2022, with expectations that the regulation will be ratified in early 2023. Once approved, the law will come into force within 20 days and regulatated entities will have between 12-18 months to establish compliance. This raises significant questions for how organisations can deal with cryptocurrencies, how NFTs will be regulated and when the new regulatory framework will apply. This article discusses the key points.
Blog Post
Is Blockchain Technology the Answer to the Supply Chain Act?
The past decade has seen an increase, globally, in the scrutinization of corporate supply chains, specifically those involving material sourcing and labour practices. The passing of the German Supply Chain Act in June 2021 is one milestone step in response to public outcry for companies to better monitor and remediate human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains. At a practical level, however, providing such transparency, maintaining efficiency and operationalising new regulatory requirements will be challenging for many organisations. As new supply chain reporting practices and obligations scale up, blockchain technology offers a promising solution to facilitate and automate transparency, security and enhanced communication with regulatory bodies and partners.
Blog Post
Myth Busting: 5 Common Misconceptions in Blockchain and Digital Assets
In a recent survey of decision makers at fintechs and financial services organizations, 95% said blockchain and/or cryptocurrencies will be a high or significant priority for their business in the coming year. This finding is just one of many signals that indicate massive and ongoing growth in adoption and investment among blockchain, cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. As interest in the space continues to expand from early adopters to the mainstream, there will be an increased need for education across these markets. For organizations to make strategic decisions about how their business will invest in or engage with blockchain and digital assets, they’ll need to clarify common misconceptions.
Blog Post
Understanding the Functionality and Benefits of Smart Contracts for Corporations
Until recently, the term “smart contracts” was little more than a buzzword. As part of the rising hype within the blockchain and digital assets arena, smart contracts have been of interest to many but understood by few. That’s beginning to change as a wide range of real-world, practical smart contracts use cases are gaining momentum and proving results for business operations within a growing number of enterprises. Many organizations have started to digitally map workflows, improve processes and achieve faster, more transparent and reliable transactions with the help of smart contracts. This article discusses the key features of smart contracts, leading use cases, functionality and benefits.
Case Study
Assess & Advise: Pre-Acquisition Cryptocurrency Assessment
FTI Technology’s cryptocurrency experts provide in-depth audit of digital assets, business model and infrastructure in support of due diligence activities.
Blog Post
Survey Finds Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Spending is on the Rise in Financial Sector
In the financial services sector, organizations are now spending an average of $176.4 million per year on their blockchain and cryptocurrency projects. According to a recent survey of industry decision makers that our team commissioned, investments are largely fueled by an overwhelming confidence in the success of blockchain and cryptocurrency projects and belief in the positive benefits they will bring to businesses, governments and consumers.
White Paper
Blockchain technology and the digital asset class, including cryptocurrencies, have experienced a rapid and accelerating evolution. Overall, the number of companies bringing services to market to support real-world blockchain and cryptocurrency applications through payments, loans, custody, investment and clearance and settlement is on a steady uptick, illustrating the technology’s momentum among financial institutions looking to establish an early position in the industry while awaiting regulatory clarity.
Video
The Block's Director of News Frank Chaparro and FTI Technology's Senior Managing Director, Head of the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Practice, Steve McNew, take a look at the latest updates across M&A within the crypto space.
Blog Post
Cryptocurrency and the Rise of SPACs: A Match Made in Investor Heaven?
Investors are continuing to watch two of the market’s hottest trends today: special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and cryptocurrency. On the heels of Coinbase’s IPO in April, financial analysts have suggested a potential “watershed” for the crypto industry. At the same time, there have been more than 300 SPAC IPOs so far in 2021, far surpassing the 2020 record number of 248 for the entire year. Linking these two trends together makes for an interesting opportunity for investors to quickly buy into a hot, emerging market.
Blog Post
Technical Considerations Amid the Explosion of Crypto Acquisitions and Public Listings
In addition to IPO and M&A moves, digital asset research firm The Block reported that 2021 will see the most private funding in cryptocurrency to date.
Video
Demystifying Blockchain – A conversation with FTI’s Blockchain Leader Steve McNew
Achieving transparency in today’s B2B operational environment requires a new set of rules. From tighter budgets and timelines to the need for near real-time visibility into the supply chain all while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements - today’s technology and operations leaders are being asked to do more with less. To rise to the challenge, they need to be provided with the necessary tools and processes to mitigate risks, protect profitability, streamline processes and to work more effectively.
Blog Post
News Roundup: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Activity and COVID-19 Pandemic
We are living in unprecedented times. Every industry, every profession, every nation has now felt the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Even though many of us have more time on our hands due to mandated or self-imposed isolation, there still aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up on all of the news. Our Blockchain Advisory and Cryptocurrency Disputes, Investigations and Litigation (CDI&L) team has been watching the news closely as it relates to cryptocurrency and blockchain opportunities and deployments. While not all encompassing, the round-up below highlights some of the most interesting industry news we’re seeing to date.
Blog Post
Like with all other disruptive technologies, in blockchain and cryptocurrency, the leapfrog game of new challenges, new advancements and new laws, will continue as the space matures.
Blog Post
The Most Interesting Cryptocurrency Stories to Close out 2019
Cryptocurrency news heated up at the end of 2019. The second half of the year also brought a wave of new litigations around cryptocurrency misuse, fraud and theft. I expect we’ll see even more of this in 2020, along with a surge of interesting news. Industry watchers can expect a range of cases, from the state level, all the way up to far-reaching cross-border matters, as criminals find new ways to leverage crypto markets to further their malicious interests.
Blog Post
Federal Cryptocurrency Regulation Introduced for 2020
As 2019 came to a close, and pundits looked back on the tumult of regulatory changes that shaped the last decade, lawmakers slipped in a few final bills. One, introduced in late December by U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar from Arizona, has the potential to make waves in the financial world. The Crypto-Currency Act of 2020 was drafted to add clarity to the cryptocurrency industry and provide a clear framework for crypto regulations in the U.S.
Blog Post
2020 Forecast: Expect Landmark Changes in E-Discovery, Data Privacy and Investigations
Across our practice areas, we asked our experts to share their predictions for what will shape legal, compliance and information governance in the coming year. Below is a roundup—across new laws, emerging technology and key industries—of what they expect will make the biggest impact to businesses worldwide.
Blog Post
Cryptocurrency Trends to Watch
Today, there are more than 2,200 types of cryptocurrency in the global markets. An estimated 34.6 million digital wallets are in use. Between new client matters and a gripping news cycle relating to cryptocurrency regulations, scams and investigations, our team has identified several key trends impacting the industry.
Blog Post
Hacking, Extortion and Stolen Coins: Unraveling a Major Cryptocurrency Breach
When one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges was breached in May of this year, few in the industry were surprised. Cryptocurrency exchanges have long been appealing targets of malicious actors looking to steal currency and personal information. But this recent breach, which will potentially impact tens of thousands of cryptocurrency investors around the world, is particularly unique. The series of events that has unfolded in its aftermath serves as a stark reminder that the criminals looking to profit from this industry are both sophisticated and highly motivated.
Blog Post
Questions Arise Amid IRS Crackdown on Cryptocurrency Investors
In July, more than 10,000 cryptocurrency investors received warning from the IRS that they may owe taxes on improperly reported income. Weeks later, another round of letters were sent to some, outlining the amount of taxes owed for cryptocurrency gains and demands for payment. These letters are likely the tip of the iceberg in a long-anticipated IRS crackdown on crypto income—the latest in a series of government activity in this arena.
Blog Post
Cryptocurrency Regulation Round Up
The regulation of digital currency markets in the U.S. and abroad remains foggy. Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have been vague regarding how tokens and crypto-based assets map to traditional securities. Clear guidance has not emerged. However, even in the absence of guidance, regulators are bringing forth enforcement actions against companies believed to have engaged in improper cryptocurrency operations.
Blog Post
SEC Weighs in on Crypto Project, Offers Limited Guidance
In early April, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued its first "no-action" letter regarding business use of blockchain-based digital assets. The letter was in response to a proposal from an air charter provider looking to launch a blockchain-based token platform to facilitate sales for air charter services. While the SEC’s response does offer some guidance, it outlines very restrictive conditions for the proposed program and is not particularly actionable for the broader business community.
Blog Post
Cryptocurrency Pyramid Scheme Investigations Continue Worldwide
In March, news broke of fraud and money laundering charges brought against the leaders of the global, multi-billion-dollar OneCoin cryptocurrency pyramid scheme. The story has continued to develop in months since, with arrests made and new information revealed about the extent of the damages that have followed in its wake.
Blog Post
Cryptocurrency Market Activity Signals Trends to Watch
On April 2, Bitcoin mysteriously spiked to $5,000, reaching nearly five-month highs in just a 60-minute period. Some experts think this jump may be the beginning of a renewed surge in cryptocurrency value.
Blog Post
Digital Asset Protection Gains Momentum: Considerations for Insurers
Insurance claims involving cryptocurrencies are on the rise. Today, the industry is not fully prepared for how to deal with them. These claims seem like familiar claims on the surface, but have incredible uniqueness due to the involvement of cryptocurrencies.