Last week, the American Bar Association (ABA) published a white paper surveying the regulation of digital assets in a number of global jurisdictions.  The most space is devoted to how digital assets fit in U.S. regulatory frameworks under the jurisdiction of certain federal regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.  The paper also details certain U.S. state legislation, such as New York’s BitLicense, and surveys digital asset regulatory environments in all 50 states.   The paper also explores how digital assets fit in international regulatory frameworks, including those in the EU, the U.K., Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and China, among several others.  It highlights guidance from international standard-setting bodies as well, such as the International Organization of Securities Commissions, the Group of Twenty Nations and the Financial Stability Board.

The paper promises to be a useful resource for both attorneys and firms interested in digital asset regulation.  But this is a fast-moving area and changes should be expected over time.  No white paper covering the development of digital assets will stay current or comprehensive for long.