Cryptocurrency is Property: AA v Persons Unknown – The 36 Group

Posted February 11th, 2020 in contracts, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘In a significant recent decision, the High Court has acknowledged the finding of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (“UKJT”) in its Legal Statement on Cryptoassets and Smart Contracts that cryptocurrency is property.’

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The 36 Group, 11th February 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Disposals of cryptoassets, tax & the UKJT Legal Statement – Society for Computers and Law

Posted February 6th, 2020 in cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news, taxation by sally

‘Leigh Sagar looks at the mechanics and tax implications of cryptoasset disposals in the light of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce Legal Statement on cryptoassets and smart contracts.’

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Society for Computers and Law, 29th January 2020

Source: www.scl.org

Crypto statement a ‘watershed’ for English law – Law Society’s Gazette

‘In its first substantive output since being announced a year ago, the LawTech Delivery Panel last week posted good news for anyone developing, or working with, products based on blockchain encryption technology.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Refreshing legal clarity on cryptocurrencies and smart contracts – Technology Law Update

Posted November 20th, 2019 in computer programs, contracts, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘A UK Government-backed task force has reviewed the status of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts under the existing law. In a new Legal Statement, they offer some welcome clarity to these evolving technologies.’

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Technology Law Update, 19th November 2019

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Digital assets “are property” under English law – Legal Futures

Posted November 19th, 2019 in consultations, contracts, cryptocurrencies, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘Blockchain and smart contracts were given a major boost towards becoming a standard method for securely storing and transferring cryptoassets yesterday, when the expert panel charged with giving the technology legal certainty decided they should be treated in principal as property.’

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Legal Futures, 19th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cryptoassets and smart contracts valid in English law – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Assets and contracts created with blockchain-type encryption technology have validity under existing English law, a high-powered group of legal experts chaired by a senior member of the judiciary reported today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th Novembe 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bitcoin worth £900,000 seized from hacker to compensate victims – The Guardian

‘A judge has ordered the confiscation of bitcoin worth more than £900,000 from a jailed hacker in the first case of its kind for the Metropolitan police.’

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The Guardian, 23rd August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Information Commissioner raises privacy concerns over Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency plans – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 6th, 2019 in cryptocurrencies, data protection, electronic commerce, internet, news, privacy by tracey

‘Facebook’s past privacy breaches suggest financial information might not be safe if it launches cryptocurrency, the Information Commissioner has warned.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

FCA proposes ban on cryptocurrency products – The Guardian

‘The UK’s markets regulator has proposed a ban on financial instruments linked to digital “cryptocurrencies” such as Bitcoin, warning that such products could cause huge losses for retail consumers unlikely to understand their risks or value.’

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: cryptoassets as property – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court, gave a speech to the Joint Northern Chancery Bar Association and University of Liverpool Lecture, entitled: “Cryptoassets as property: how can English law boost the confidence of would-be parties to smart legal contracts?” ‘

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 3rd May 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

City watchdog steps up its inquiries into ‘crypto’ firms – Daily Telegraph

‘As the price of the controversial “cryptocurrency” Bitcoin plunges, new figures show that the City watchdog is stepping up its investigations into the murky sector.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tighter regulation of cryptoassets coming in the UK – OUT-LAW.com

‘The regulation of cryptoassets is likely to get tighter in the UK, starting from next year, according to a new report by a body tasked with exploring whether new rules are needed to address their growing popularity.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Bitcoins and hiding wealth in divorce – Family Law

Posted May 8th, 2018 in cryptocurrencies, divorce, financial provision, internet, news by sally

‘Divorce ends the marriage but does nothing to end the financial arrangements between the parties. If the parties cannot agree these, and as part of court proceedings to determine who gets what, the parties have to provide full and frank disclosure to the other of their entire financial means. This procedure allows the parties to be open and transparent about the extent of the assets in the marriage. There could be a situation arising whereby a party seeks to hide their wealth but evidence provided with disclosure such as bank statements in paper form provides a paper trail and this makes for the hiding of cash movements very difficult. But what if that party holds Bitcoins or other crypto-currencies?’

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Family Law, 4th May 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Divorce in the era of cryptocurrency: Bitcoin and non-disclosure – Family Law

Posted January 11th, 2018 in cryptocurrencies, disclosure, divorce, fees, internet, news by tracey

‘Bitcoin is a form of digital currency developed in 2009. It is created and held electronically in a decentralized system meaning that no one and no government controls it. Bitcoins aren’t printed but are ‘mined’ by both people and businesses using software that solves complex mathematical problems. Prone to volatility, Bitcoin hit the news last month after it reached an all-time high then dropped in value by almost 20% in a time period of only 90 minutes. Despite its erratic nature, the interest and investment in Bitcoin is rapidly growing and with more people holding Bitcoin, it is likely to be a far more common asset in divorce proceedings. Further, the extra privacy given to Bitcoin holders, as opposed to those who hold money in a bank, has led to many discussions on whether it will be the case that non-disclosers in divorce proceedings will increasingly try to hide assets through Bitcoin.’

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Family Law, 11th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Bitcoin, blockchain and smart contracts: consequences for family law in the not too distant future – Family Law Week

‘Byron James barrister, Expatriate Law (United Arab Emirates) considers the possible implications of bitcoin, bitchain and other developments on financial remedy cases.’

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Family Law Week, 13th December 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Bitcoin: UK and EU plan crackdown amid crime and tax evasion fears – The Guardian

‘The UK and other EU governments are planning a crackdown on bitcoin amid growing concerns that the digital currency is being used for money laundering and tax evasion.’

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The Guardian, 4th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

The New POCA Frontier: Bitcoin and Electronic Currency, Shaping Asset Recovery in the 21st Century – Drystone Chambers

‘The question of whether the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) can be used to deal with Bitcoins¹ and electronic currencies has been the subject of some speculation by specialist practitioners recently. In my view it can be utilised, but it is not ideal. I will not deal with the technical difficulties in finding bitcoin accounts; what I will concentrate on in this article is finding the correct legal tools to recover the assets and what other options are available when it does not work.’

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Drystone Chambers, 23rd October 2017

Source: drystone.com

University lecturer jailed after using bitcoins to buy drugs over ‘dark web’ that led to friend’s death – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 6th, 2017 in cryptocurrencies, drug offences, internet, news, sentencing, teachers, universities by tracey

‘A university lecturer has been jailed after buying a cocktail of drugs over the “dark web” that led to the death of his friend.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bitcoins and the dark net: a virtual reality that every divorce practitioner should know about – Family Law Week

Posted November 26th, 2015 in cryptocurrencies, divorce, financial provision, internet, news by tracey

‘Byron James, barrister, Fourteen considers the possible significance of the dark net and bitcoins in financial remedies cases.’

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Family Law Week, 23rd November 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Bitcoin: Government to regulate cryptocurrency to avoid money laundering, says Treasury – The Independent

Posted March 19th, 2015 in banking, consultations, cryptocurrencies, money laundering, news, reports by sally

‘The Government is to regulate bitcoin exchanges to stop their use as money laundering hubs, the Treasury said today.’

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The Independent, 18th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk