As regulatory lines begin to clarify, the shift from navigating uncertainty to enabling growth is underway. Strategic transactions are heating up. Institutions are entering the space in earnest. And new leadership at the CFTC could reshape the terrain in subtle but significant ways. This half-day virtual forum will focus on what comes after initial legislation—and the deals and institutions that will define the next chapter.
As regulatory lines begin to clarify, the shift from navigating uncertainty to enabling growth is underway. Strategic transactions are heating up. Institutions are entering the space in earnest. And new leadership at the CFTC could reshape the terrain in subtle but significant ways.
This half-day virtual forum will focus on what comes after initial legislation—and the deals and institutions that will define the next chapter:
- Institutional Entry: TradFi is stepping into crypto with fresh interest but legacy assumptions. Legal teams are bridging the gap—and resetting expectations.
- Next 12 months from CFTC / SEC: With new leadership and a renewed mandate, how will the CFTC approach derivatives, DeFi, and its evolving role alongside the SEC? What should GCs anticipate in terms of oversight, enforcement, and interagency dynamics?
Please register using the button at the top of this page, which will direct you to a Zoom Events registration page. You will be asked to authenticate your email or Zoom account.
L Suite members, please use the email associated with your membership to be directed to the correct ticket type.
Once you have registered, you will receive a unique Zoom link to join the event via email.
Chatham House Rule applies.
*This program is eligible for CLE credit. More details to come. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. This course is appropriate for experienced attorneys only. The L Suite has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board and the State Bar of California as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education. Additionally, we will seek CLE accreditation in IL, WA, FL, TX, PA, CO, GA, and any of the other 50 states by selecting your jurisdiction in the affidavit form received from the ABA. Canadian participants may use their certificates to submit for credit directly to the Law Society of British Columbia, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Maison du Barreau du Quebec.
Bridging the Divide: How GCs Are Navigating Traditional Institutions’ Entry into Crypto
As traditional financial institutions deepen their involvement in crypto—through partnerships, custody, tokenization, and trading—they bring with them legacy frameworks that often conflict with decentralized technologies and norms. This session will explore how General Counsels are navigating the legal, regulatory, and cultural friction points that arise when TradFi meets Web3. Panelists will share how they’re resetting expectations around risk, governance, and compliance while educating stakeholders across both ecosystems. Topics will include contractual alignment, KYC/AML design, asset classification, and the negotiation dynamics between crypto-native and institutionally-backed players. Attendees will gain insights into how legal teams are shaping safe, strategic pathways for institutional capital to enter the digital asset space.
Speakers:
- Katherine Dowling, General Counsel & CCO at Bitwise Asset Management
- Ben Sherwin, General Counsel at Chainlink Labs
- Ashish Walia, Cofounder, COO at Lawtrades
What to Expect from New CFTC Leadership and Key Regulators Over the Next 12 Months
With new leadership at the helm, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is poised to take a more assertive role in shaping the future of digital asset regulation—particularly around derivatives, DeFi platforms, and market structure. This session will examine how the agency’s evolving priorities intersect with SEC jurisdiction, and what legal teams should anticipate in terms of oversight, rulemaking, and enforcement. Panelists will discuss key questions around interagency coordination, regulatory gaps, and jurisdictional clarity, as well as the practical implications for crypto market participants. The conversation will also explore how General Counsels are preparing for compliance across increasingly overlapping federal regimes. Attendees will leave with a forward-looking view of how the CFTC may influence crypto legal strategy in the months ahead.
Speakers:
- Cathy Yoon, General Counsel at Wormhole Foundation
- Gerald Gallagher, General Counsel at Sei Labs
- Tyler Harttraft, Partner at Bull Blockchain Law, LLP
Called “the gold standard for legal peer groups” and “one of the best professional growth investments an in-house attorney can make,” The L Suite is an invitation-only community for in-house legal executives. Over 2,000 members have access to 300+ world-class events per year, a robust online platform where leaders ask and answer pressing questions and share exclusive resources, and industry- and location-based salary survey data.