Kutak Rock attorneys Ken Witt and Mark Staines authored an article, “Crypto-Concerns: Initial Coin Offerings and the U.S. Securities Laws in the Wake of Aggressive SEC Enforcement Actions,” in the April 2019 edition of the Denver Law Review, the flagship journal of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

In recent years, the rise of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, have made it possible for companies to raise staggering amounts of capital by conducting “initial coin offerings” or “ICOs.” Cryptocurrency has become a multibillion-dollar industry, with an estimated 1,075 ICOs conducted in 2018 valued at $21.5 billion.

The article from Mr. Witt and Mr. Staines provides a brief overview of cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology, explores recent enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and provides guidance on how an ICO issuer can avoid implicating U.S. securities laws, as well as how to conduct ICOs and trading activities in compliance with U.S. law.

To read the article, please click on the file below.

An experienced corporate and securities attorney, Mr. Witt represents energy and technology companies and institutional clients in public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions.

Mr. Staines is a corporate and commercial associate in the Denver office and practices primarily in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and technology.

Related Files

Crypto-Concerns: Initial Coin Offerings and the U.S. Securities Laws in the Wake of Aggressive SEC Enforcement Actions