Blockchain and Web3 are amongst Aurum’s key specialisations. Since 2016, our focus on cryptocurrencies and virtual assets has positioned us as legal counsel for a diverse range of crypto and blockchain projects, extending from London to Hong Kong.
Now, we advise governments on the regulation of virtual asset markets and take part in the development of virtual asset legislation in different jurisdictions across the world. Aurum’s founders act as independent directors on the boards of leading blockchain and Web3 companies, providing strategic advice on business development, government relations, and regulatory strategy.
Aurum is proud to have as clients CoinMarketCap Top-100 projects, renowned DeFi protocols, blockchain network developers, dApp operators, DEXs and CEXs, wallet and infrastructure providers, DAOs, crypto startups, and other pivotal market actors. The blockchain legal services offered by Aurum's crypto lawyers are designed to meet the needs of even the most discerning clients.
This deep integration into the cryptocurrencies and Web 3.0 industry has not only furnished us with a profound understanding of the space and the market but has also enabled us to acquire extensive expertise and valuable connections in the sector.
Web3 and Blockchain Legal Services
Navigating the multifaceted world of Web3 and blockchain requires legal counsel that deeply understands the nuances of these rapidly evolving technologies, and Aurum’s significant experience in cryptocurrencies (legally termed as virtual assets), blockchain, and everything related to Web 3.0 positions us at the forefront of the industry.
By collaborating with projects operating across nearly all areas of the blockchain industry, our crypto lawyers have cultivated a deep-seated passion for distributed ledger technology and its extensive applications. Now, we consistently contribute to the industry's development and the enhancement of legal solutions for market participants, offering Web3 counsel and legal services globally. No matter the scope of your project or endeavour, rest assured that the team at Aurum has the necessary experience and insights to support your success.
In 2023, Aurum started a new portfolio project DAObox, specialising in designing, creating, and managing legal wrappers for decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) worldwide, and providing ancillary services. Through this endeavour, our firm contributes to the development of the sector and the advancement of DAO structuring and governance solutions. Recognised by the Innovative Lawyers Europe 2024 Awards for leading innovation in this field.
International Legal Support for Cryptocurrency Companies
At Aurum, we recognize that blockchain companies operate in a global landscape, often creating products with limitless geographic reach. To help navigate the complexities of cross-border business, we’ve assembled a team of highly skilled Web3 and crypto lawyers with extensive international experience, making us perfectly positioned to provide comprehensive international cryptocurrency legal support.
Vast international expertise enables us to provide strategic guidance on international compliance, risk management, and operational structuring. We don't just assist our clients in understanding legal requirements across various jurisdictions; we also help them adapt their business models to align with or coexist within these regulatory landscapes, finding the most efficient structures.
Web3 Regulatory and Compliance
Whether you’re an established blockchain company or a newly launched crypto project, understanding the regulatory landscape is paramount. With the widespread adoption of Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) regulatory frameworks globally and an increasing tendency to apply traditional financial and security laws to the crypto industry, Web 3.0 projects have no choice but to navigate these frameworks carefully to ensure the required level of Web3 regulatory compliance.
Compliance team at Aurum excels in guiding clients through diverse regulatory landscapes and frameworks. Depending on the client’s chosen regulatory strategy, our team assists in selecting the optimal jurisdictions for business structuring, obtaining licences and state authorisations, or leveraging available exemptions and regulatory grey areas to enable the project to operate with minimal regulatory burden.
By utilising innovative legal structures and the most effective instruments available in the area, our blockchain lawyers mitigate regulatory and compliance risks for the client projects and ensure that the teams behind them and their founders are safeguarded from personal liabilities, Web3 regulatory exposure, and other legal risks.
Selected services
Crypto lawyers at Aurum provide the full range of legal services and strategic advice for blockchain, crypto, and Web3 companies and projects. Some of our selected services include:
Legal advice on international corporate structuring.
Assessment of the anticipated project activities, requirements and objectives, development of an efficient corporate structure.
Basic tax planning and advice.
Company formation, establishment of the legal entities and corporate vehicles anywhere in the world, including in the US, UK, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, countries of the EU and Asia.
Drafting corporate documents. Corporate governance. Structuring the relationship between the founders and shareholders.
Structuring of international money flows and transactions between the entities of the group, drafting relevant contracts and documentation.
Opening bank accounts and accounts with payment service providers.
Structuring the token private sale (presale), development of SAFTs, token warrants or other token sale instruments.
Structuring the equity offering, drafting SAFEs, share subscription agreements, convertible or other investment instruments.
Structuring mixed rounds of financing involving both equity and token offering.
Advising the project on the fundraising activities, determination of valuation and other commercial terms of the investment transaction.
Advising on the availability of different raising options and instruments.
Structuring the round of financing, development of the necessary corporate resolutions, investment instruments, investor agreements, etc.
Designing procedures for the AML/KYC and KYT checks, PEP and sanction screenings. Composing the list of restricted jurisdictions. Advising on the implementation of KYC software. Conducting the KYC checks, supporting potential investors.
Facilitating the round of financing, representation, negotiations, execution of the transactional documents.
Advising on the applicability of securities laws and VASP regulations, exemptions available, compliance and regulatory matters.
Assessment of the token design, advising on the tokenomics, token parameters and utility, and the manner of offering.
Review of the whitepaper, project website, documentation and other public materials relating to the token and its offering. Preparation of legal disclaimers, risk disclosure statements, legal notices for the public materials.
Advising on the regulatory and compliance issues.
Structuring the issuance (creation) of the token.
Structuring the public token offering, including in the form of airdrop, IEO, IDO, launchpad offering, LBP, etc. Legal design of the public sale, advising on the token sale terms, drafting the necessary token offering documents.
Legal advice on the token distributions. Web3 regulatory compliance.
Development of the regulatory and compliance strategy for the project, including major products and services, such as DeFi platforms, dApps, blockchain protocols, wallets, networks, etc.
Identifying the most suitable and efficient compliance approach to the product structuring, advising on the steps to be taken to mitigate major regulatory risks, providing recommendations on related organisational and technical aspects.
VASP, AML/CTF, securities and financial regulations compliance.
Data protection and GDPR compliance.
Government relations.
For Crypto-Asset Issuers:
- Asset Classification & Structuring: Ensure correct token classification under MiCA to clarify regulatory obligations, reducing risk and preparing for seamless entry to market.
- Disclosure & Whitepaper Development: Create MiCA-compliant whitepapers with full transparency on project goals, risks, and financial structures, boosting investor trust and credibility.
- Regulatory Compliance Advisory: Our experts provide clear strategies to meet MiCA requirements, including risk disclosures and capital obligations, fostering long-term compliance and investor protection.
For Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs):
- Licensing & Registration Assistance: Gain essential support in navigating CASP licensing and registration, facilitating rapid, compliant entry into the EU market.
- Operational Compliance Frameworks: We design AML/KYC, cybersecurity, and risk management protocols to meet MiCA standards, strengthening your operational integrity and security.
- Continuous Compliance Monitoring: Stay up to date with evolving requirements through ongoing reviews and adaptations, safeguarding compliance and mitigating regulatory risks as your business grows.
For Exchanges & Trading Platforms:
- Authorization & Licensing Support: We assist in acquiring necessary licenses, enabling exchanges to operate transparently and legally in the EU, while enhancing market reach.
- Consumer Protection & Trust: Implement MiCA-mandated safeguards, including user fund protection and clear disclosure practices, to build credibility and secure user trust.
General Compliance and Integrated Solutions:
- Comprehensive MiCA & Related Regulation Compliance: Beyond MiCA, we ensure alignment with privacy, data protection, and emerging AI regulations, creating a fully compliant ecosystem for your operations.
- Risk & Capital Management: Meet MiCA’s stringent capital and risk management requirements, establishing a secure financial foundation that safeguards user funds and supports business resilience.
- Cross-Border Compliance & Passporting: Leverage our cross-border operational expertise to access EU-wide markets seamlessly, allowing for compliant growth and market expansion across all EU jurisdictions.
Legal review and assessment of the products and services developed or provided by the project, development of comprehensive legal strategy for such products and services.
Regulatory assessment. Addressing legal, compliance and security issues arising in connection with the release or operation of the products and services.
Legal structuring. Development of the necessary user documentation, which may include the Terms of Service, Privacy Notice, Risk Disclosure Statement, Legal Notice, etc., as applicable.
Providing instructions on the implementation of the user documentation within the products and services, collecting user consents, placement of disclaimers, etc.
Drafting the list of restricted jurisdictions where operating the products or services may pose substantial risks for the project, advising on the methods and instruments that should be employed to restrict the access, etc.
Review of the language used within the product interfaces and in the project public documentation; providing suggestions on the required amendments.
Collecting, structuring and managing the project IP.
Legal advice on structuring and managing the company’s most valuable assets.
Assessment and structuring of the cash flow within the project.
Assistance with the registration of the project trademarks.
Advice on managing project infrastructure.
Review of the project GitHub repository to identify third-party elements used in the product and assess their licensing terms. Ensure compliance with open-source licences, restructure the repository if needed to avoid third-party rights issues.
Advising on the licensing of the product source code, including on the use of semi-open licensing options like BSL 1.1 to protect against potential forks.
Structuring relationships with the project directors, officers, employees, contractors, and advisors.
Preparation of employment contracts and advising on determination of the applicable employment terms.
Drafting the contractor agreements and advising on determination of the applicable commercial terms.
Structuring token and equity incentive plans, developing token/equity allocation agreements, option agreements, etc.
Development of the employee and contractor onboarding procedures.
Payments. Payroll.
Advice on the matters relating to transitioning to a DAO, facilitating decentralization and organization integrity.
Advice on the use of the DAO as a legal instrument for mitigating major legal and regulatory risks and related exposure.
Advice on the sufficient decentralisation requirements, DAO governance mechanisms, etc.
Drafting DAO Constitution, policies, rules and procedures.
Assistance with the development of the DAO structure, including relevant sub-DAOs and committees, their legal structuring.
Designing and creating the necessary legal wrappers globally.
Aurum supports blockchain startups and Web3 companies in their early stages with expert legal solutions tailored to their needs. We help founders establish a strong legal foundation, protect core team members from liabilities and risks, and assist them with fundraising, issuing and distributing tokens, and compliant product release.
Other details
We empower our clients to navigate the complex legal landscape of this rapidly evolving industry, ensuring compliance and safeguarding their interests. Explore our cases, delve into our publications, and discover the recognition we've earned for our contributions to shaping the legal framework of the Web3 and Blockchain space.
Acted as lead counsel in structuring a $135 million financing facility for a Swiss-based layer-one blockchain network developer.
Structured a $2.8 million seed financing round for a Web3 startup, combining equity and token offerings.
Served as lead advisor to a blockchain data and mining centre operator in Oman, structuring and securing $23 million in equity and debt financing.
Acted as lead counsel to a blockchain company in a transaction involving the strategic sale of their project, including control over unvested tokens, listings on the world’s top-3 CEXes, and related smart contracts.
Advised a top-3 blockchain explorer operator globally on corporate structuring, formalising operations, and conducting a round of financing.
Served as legal counsel to a launchpad (IDO) platform operator with a community of over 40,000 unique wallet addresses, focusing on corporate structuring, legal, and regulatory matters. Implemented a regulatory strategy to reduce and mitigate major compliance risks.
Acted as lead counsel to a virtual asset (cryptocurrency) exchange operating in the LATAM region on all matters related to corporate structuring, legal, and compliance. Successfully obtained the necessary licences and government registrations.
Advised the core contributors of a DAO with over $100 million in TVL on legal structuring and governance matters, and established the required legal wrappers.
Served as legal advisor to a cryptocurrency exchange operator during their strategic M&A transaction, which involved structuring the sale of the business, transferring operations and control over balances and assets.
