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Blockchain & Digital Assets

Orrick is a leader in the technology and fintech sectors, delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique business objectives of clients in the digital assets space. We advise on cutting-edge matters, from development of stablecoin payment infrastructures and tokenization of real-world assets to investments in blockchain interoperability solutions and pioneering work in crypto-based lending and securitization.

Strategic Counsel Throughout the Digital Asset Ecosystem

Our cross-functional teams deliver scalable, business-focused legal strategies to the full spectrum of participants in the blockchain and digital asset ecosystem, from disruptive fintech start-ups and scaled crypto platforms to global financial institutions, private capital funds and institutional investors.

Launching & Scaling

Bringing blockchain-based products to market presents legal complexity for early-stage companies and the investors and lenders fueling their development. We help clients maximize the value of their technology and build infrastructure that supports sustainable growth.

  • Token Structuring & Launches
  • Technology Contracting, Commercialization & Licensing
  • Multistate Licensing & Compliance
  • Commercial Financings
  • Consumer Lending
  • Bank Partnerships

Financing Growth

We work with companies and a broad range of capital providers — including private equity firms, venture capital investors, private credit funds, and traditional financial institutions — to structure and execute creative capital strategies across traditional and blockchain-native formats.

  • Fundraising & Venture Capital Financing
  • ABS Financings
  • Syndicated Loans
  • Data Center Financings
  • Distressed Situations
  • Private Credit Facilities
  • Forward Flow & Discrete Asset Sales

Advising Through Strategic Exits

Liquidity events involving digital asset businesses require navigating complex legal and regulatory considerations. We partner with clients to design and execute exit strategies that capture long-term value, ensure continuity and withstand regulatory scrutiny.

  • IPO
  • M&A
  • Restructuring
  • De-SPAC
  • Regulatory Diligence

Navigating Regulatory Complexity

Our team monitors global regulatory developments to deliver scalable, forward-looking risk-management strategies that support innovation.

  • Tax
  • Third-Party & Self Custody
  • Banking, Securities & Commodities Regulation
  • State Money Transmitter Licensing
  • Federal & State Chartering
  • Federal & State Policy
  • BSA/AML & Sanctions
  • Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
  • Federal & State Litigation & Enforcement

Global Counsel to Financial Innovators

Orrick is a leader in the technology and fintech sectors, delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique business objectives of clients operating and investing in the digital assets space.

Market Recognition

  • 2022 Fintech Practice Group of the Year (Law360)
  • Tier 1 for Fintech and Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Legal500)
  • Band 2 for Fintech Legal: Payments & Lending (Chambers)
  • Band 3 for Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies (Chambers Global)
  • Top 4 for Venture Capital globally (Pitchbook)
  • Top 10 for M&A globally (Bloomberg)
  • Band 2 for Asset Backed Securities (Chambers USA)

  • Mina – Advised Mina Foundation and its GC, Joon Kim, in their part of the Mina Protocol $92 million ecosystem raise. The Mina Ecosystem is a collective involving several groups behind Mina, a privacy-focused layer 1 protocol that leverages zero-knowledge proof technology.

    Metatheory – Advised this California-based company that develops Web3-based games and interactive content on its $24 million Series A financing.

    United States Tennis Association – Provided corporate advice on the NFT content, auction terms and NFT licenses for the launch of the 2021 US Open Tennis Championships NFT collection, which includes player NFTs and experiential prizes.

    PayPal – Advised on PayPal Ventures’ investment in the $135 million Series B financing of LayerZero Labs, a Canada-based company developing a protocol to connect decentralized applications across multiple blockchains, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.

    Nomad – Advised this Utah-based blockchain interoperability company on its $22.5 million Series A financing. Investors included Polychain.

    Ondo – Advised Ondo Finance on its token structuring and regulatory compliance for issuing real-world asset (RWA) backed tokens, as well as intellectual property matters, partnership agreements, DAO formation, patent prosecution and Series A financing.

    Flipside Crypto – Advised this blockchain analytics and business intelligence provider on its $50 million Series A financing to support workforce growth, analytical tool development and bounty programs launches.

    Ziglu – Advised this London-based crypto platform on its definitive agreement to be acquired by Robinhood, as well as its seed and Series A financings and other corporate matters.

    Cometh – Advised this France-based company, which developed a blockchain game that integrates DeFi features into a spaceship game, on its $10 million Series Seed financing.

    Elastos Foundation – Represented the foundation in securities class action litigation, securing a precedent-setting ruling preserving the removal of certain Securities Act class actions to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA).

    Integra Ledger – Advised on the launch of the Global Legal Blockchain Consortium, which is working toward the standardization, governance and application of blockchain and related technologies in global legal systems.

    Compound – Negotiated a covenant with an outside investor regarding actions to be undertaken if the client or one of its portfolio companies became subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act.

    Chia Network – Represented client in connection with technology transactions and advised on commercial, regulatory, FCPA, capitalization and equity, employment, and general corporate matters.

    Chainalysis – Advised a leading blockchain analytics company on IP data structuring and licensing matters.

Client Results

Insights

Events