Blockchain meaning

This Practice Note sets out detailed, relevant guidance on the principal legal and regulatory compliance obligations that a website operator should take into account within the EU, covering the following areas: the type and functionality of the website information disclosure requirements consumer protection data protection and privacy cookies accessibility cyber security platform-to-business online payments advertising, promotions and direct marketing AI competition law taxation liability for third party content intellectual property and observance of copyright geographic and territorial considerations Topics such as electronic data interchange (EDI), blockchain, smart contracts, or sector-specific laws and regulations—including those relating to financial services, intermediation services, or online auctions—fall outside the scope of this Practice Note. This Practice Note addresses only legislation that has been adopted to date by the EU. For further details on ongoing initiatives that may materially affect websites operating in the EU, also see Practice Note: Key EU digital...

Restructuring & Insolvency weekly highlights—27 November 2025 In this issue: Key R&I law developments Insolvency litigation Restructuring Directors and insolvency The office-holder Financial institutions R&I in Scotland Daily and weekly news alerts Key dates for restructuring and insolvency professionals New content New Q&As Key R&I law developments Budget 2025—key Restructuring & Insolvency announcements On 26 November 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, set out measures of note for restructuring and insolvency practitioners. Plans cover business rates changes, hiring extra Insolvency Service staff to combat abusive phoenixism and rogue directors, the creation of the Public Authorities Fraud Investigation and Enforcement Service, and adjustments to National Insurance Contributions. See: LNB News 26/11/2025 65. Council of the EU agrees directive harmonising insolvency law across member states Negotiators for the Council of the EU and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on a directive aligning...

See Practice Notes: Part 26A restructuring plan deal debrief—Argo Blockchain plc Part 26A restructuring plan deal debrief—Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd For a summary of restructuring plans, see: Restructuring plan—overview...

Background A verbal lending arrangement from June 2018 lies at the centre of the dispute. Southgate maintained he advanced 144 ETH—then worth roughly £50,000—to Graham, with a 10% uplift to be repaid. Graham argued the loan was for £50,000 in sterling, with ETH used merely as the vehicle for the transaction. When Graham did not repay the full amount, Southgate sought specific performance, requiring Graham to obtain and return the requisite ETH, or alternatively to pay damages equal to its value... County Court judgment and appeal The County Court preferred Southgate’s interpretation, concluding the agreement obliged repayment of 144 ETH plus 10% (158.4 ETH). As Graham had already paid the fiat equivalent of 42.7 ETH, 115.7 ETH remained outstanding. However, the court declined to order specific performance, citing the potential hardship of acquiring the remaining ETH and noting it ‘would do no more than set up [Graham] to fail’, since by judgment the fiat value of 115.7 ETH had reportedly risen to about £350,000. Instead, the court...

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have surged into prominence in recent years. Sectors from art and gaming to finance and media have adopted them, with brands like Starbucks weaving NFTs into loyalty programmes to show real-world commercial utility and the scope to spread into other fields. They already power everything from event tickets to artworks and digital assets minted and resold in the ‘Metaverse’. This Practice Note reviews the legal and regulatory challenges NFTs have encountered and could yet face, and addresses: Understanding NFTs Using NFTs Dealing with NFTs Intellectual property rights and NFTs Licensing NFTs Are NFTs regulated? NFTs and money laundering NFTs and tax Consumer law and NFTs Advertising regulation Data security NFTs in the court room Key practical questions to be considered in any NFT project Understanding NFTs Real-world applications of NFTs There is a constantly shifting roster of celebrated and notorious NFTs. Beeple’s ‘Everydays: The First...

This note seeks to monitor and condense legislative, guidance and wider policy movements that illuminate how global competition authorities are addressing the ways blockchain technology could trigger competition law issues. 2023 Jurisdiction and body: Luxembourg (Autorité de la concurrence) Details: The authority opened a market study focused on the blockchain industry Developments: Press release issued—06/06/2023 2021 Jurisdiction and body: France (Autorité de la Concurrence—AdC) Details: Following its 2020 Fintech inquiry, the AdC released findings that, amongst other matters, explore competition law risks arising from blockchain use Developments: Public opinion released—29/04/2021 Jurisdiction and body: India (CCI) Details: Discussion paper intended to provide stakeholders with broad-level information on the interplay between blockchain applications and competition law Developments: Discussion paper published—April 2021...

This Practice Note sets out the principal Irish legal and regulatory points a website operator should consider when running a site, such as: The type and functionality of the website Information disclosure requirements Consumer protection Privacy and data protection Cookies Accessibility Cybersecurity Platform-to-business Online payments Advertising, promotions and direct marketing Competition law Taxation Liability for third party content Intellectual property and respecting copyright Geographic and territorial considerations Consideration of electronic data interchange (EDI) arrangements, blockchain, smart contracts or sector-specific laws or regulations, including those applicable to financial services, intermediation services or online auctions, is outside the scope of this Practice Note. The type and functionality of the website Applicable compliance duties and rules differ according to a site’s nature, functionality or purpose. Pinpointing these characteristics is the crucial first step for an operator to establish its Irish legal and compliance obligations. For example, is the website ‘information only’;...