James Burnie
James Burnie FRSA is ranked Tier 1 for Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies in Chambers FinTech 2024 Guide, and specialises in advising on blockchain, cryptoassets and FinTech. He has acted for over 300 firms in Web 3, including advising: on the first successful UK-based ICO; on the first equity issuance settled on blockchain; and the Mauritius FSC, the Khazakstan AFSA and other regulators on the development of their legal and regulatory frameworks for cryptoassets. James hosts the podcast Crypto Cast, which has around 8,000 impressions per episode. He is a partner gunnercooke llp, the first major UK law firm officially accepting payment in cryptoassets.
Practice Area
Panels
- Consulting Editorial Board
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2015
Membership
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
Education
- LLM (Corporate and Commercial Law), London School of Economics and Political Science (2011)
- BA (Law), University of Cambridge, Christ's College (2010)
- MA (Law), University of Cambridge (2014)
- LPC, BPP University College (2012)
1 Contributions by James Burnie
PRACTICE NOTES
Web 3.0, Digital Assets and Cryptoassets: Legal Definitions, Property Status, Regulation, AML/Payments, Smart Contracts, Token Offerings, Derivatives and Disputes
Scope of this Practice Note
This Practice Note sets out the core ideas behind Web 3.0, digital assets and cryptoassets. Regulators, tax authorities and commentators use a variety of labels—cryptoassets, digital currencies, virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies, and crypto/digital tokens—and it is often uncertain whether these are used as interchangeable terms or with distinct meanings. For the purposes of this Practice Note, ‘cryptoasset’ is adopted as a broad term covering cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, virtual assets and digital tokens. As outlined in the section What are digital assets and cryptoassets? below, although all cryptocurrencies are cryptoassets and all cryptoassets are digital assets, some digital assets are not cryptoassets, and some cryptoassets are not cryptocurrencies. This Practice Note primarily concentrates on ‘cryptoassets’ rather than the wider category of ‘digital assets’, because targeted regulatory measures in the digital arena have, so far, largely focused on cryptoassets. The Note also briefly considers regulatory initiatives concerning the regulation of Web 3.0. In addition, it explores frequently used terms connected with cryptoassets and offers insights into legal and regulatory issues and consequences arising from the issue of cryptoassets (excluding matters in relation to money laundering regulation and virtual currencies generally, as described)...
Financial Services
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