Gibraltar and ISOLAS LLP - a key combination in the DLT/Token Launch space
Gibraltar is quickly emerging in the Fintech space for new businesses starting up in this fast-moving sector.
With a sound regulatory environment that welcomes innovation together with an accessible and forward-thinking regulator, Gibraltar is a jurisdiction that many Fintech businesses (including blockchain start-ups, multi-currency digital wallet providers, e-money institutions and innovative payment service providers) are either setting up operations in or keeping a close eye on.
This has been accelerated by the proposal for a Distributed Ledger Technology Framework from the Government of Gibraltar and the Financial Services Commission. This document follows on from the ‘Virtual Currency: Outline Regulatory Framework’ paper which was produced by the Cryptocurrency working group co-chaired by partner Joey Garcia. Joey Garcia has recently been recognised as one of only 12 leading individuals in Blockchain by Chambers & Partners - click here for more info
ISOLAS is a market leader in the Fintech sector, having worked closely with the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission on various niche areas within this space. We have been instrumental, through our participation in Government established working groups, in shaping discussions and regulatory proposals for Crypto-Currency, Crowdfunding and Distributed Ledger Technology.
ISOLAS also founded Gibraltar’s only dedicated Fintech think tank, thinkFintech.gi, an initiative that brings together local and international financial services and technology professionals to collaborate and discuss ways in which Gibraltar can position itself as a welcoming, supportive and well-regulated environment for Fintech business.
ISOLAS is therefore at the forefront of legal developments and has unrivalled expertise when it comes to advising on these exciting new areas of financial services. We provide a tailored approach to finding legal and regulatory solutions for our client’s objectives based on our in-depth understanding of the industry.
Joey Garcia has been recognised as one of only 12 global legal blockchain experts by Chambers & Partners in 2017 - for more information, click the link: Joey Garcia recognised as Global blockchain legal expert
ISOLAS recently contributed the Gibraltar chapter of the European Crowdfunding Regulation review - click the link for more information - ISOLAS LLP contributes to the European Crowdfunding Regulation review 2017
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Our latest brochure
ISOLAS LLP Gibraltar DLT Practice, London - October 2018
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Our approach to the regulatory and legal approval of ICOs is quite unique. We also work with a number of larger, well established businesses in the space and a number of businesses post ICO are coming to Gibraltar to explore their options for licensing and regulation under the new DLT regime. In essence, the regime determines 9 headline 'principles' which are then applied on a proportionate basis to each applicant depending on a number of factors.
News Bulletins
Gibraltar Minister for Commerce invited to Latin American Bitcoin Conference in Santiago, Chile - read more
ISOLAS LLP Ranked Band 1 leading law firm in the Fintech edition of Chambers for Gibraltar - read more
Launch of Gibraltar Association for New Technologies Boosts Country's Expanding Blockchain Ecosystem - read more
GFIA publishes code of conduct for crypto funds - read more
Joey Garcia speaks at gathering of London Underwriters - October 2018 - read more
GFIA hosts crypto funds breakfast at the RAC in London - read more
Joey Garcia attends Stable.Report event in London - read more
ISOLAS Sponsors And Participates In Signature Gibfin Event In London - read more
News Bulletin September 2018 - Click here
Jonathan Garcia was recently elected to the GFIA Executive Committee – read more
Earlier this year, Coinfloor’s CEO offered his views on Gibraltar’s DLT regulations in evidence to the UK House of Commons Treasury Committee – read more
Contributions to legal Publications and Thought Leadership
ISOLAS sponsors European Blockchain convention - read more
ISOLAS' Jonathan Garcia highlights the changes in regulations to Experienced Investor Funds investing in Digital Assets- read more
ISOLAS’ Jonathan Garcia writes about use cases for DLT and ICOs in Insurtech – read more
How DLT can revolutionise the DLT space – read more
ISOLAS contributes chapter to Global Legal Insights’ Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Regulation 2019 Publication read more
The Gibraltar chapter of the US Digital Chamber of Commerce’s report on Understanding Tokens was recently provided by the DLT Team at ISOLAS – read more
The DLT team recently contributed the Gibraltar chapter to ‘Masters of Blockchain’, available on Amazon – read more
Joey Garcia and the DLT team participated in TokenMarket 2018, held at the Sunborn Hotel on 28th and 29thJune – read more
On 6 June 2018 ISOLAS, in association with RSK Labs, hosted the first meetup of its kind at its offices – read more
On 5 June 2018, ISOLAS participated in a joint event hosted by Withers worldwide on cryptocurrencies in philanthropy – read more
In March 2018, the Gibraltar Government published proposals for the Regulation of Token Sales and related activities - our analysis of these proposals can be found here
ISOLAS contributed the Gibraltar chapter to the European Crowdfunding Regulation review in February 2018 – read more
On 15 December 2017, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission published the DLT Guidance notes - find out more by clicking on the following link - Gibraltar publishes DLT Guidance Notes
In October 2017, the Government of Gibraltar published DLT regulations , confirming the DLT regulatory framework and the launch date of 1 January 2018. Click here to read our coverage of the publication of the DLT regulations.
Also in October 2017, Joey Garcia co-authored an article with Joshua Klaymann, a renowned blockchain expert at Morrisson Foerster who went on to establish her own boutique blockchain firm, on relation to a statement made by the Gibraltar regulatory on ICOs – click to read more
Joey Garcia presented at the D10e conference in Gibraltar in October 2017 - watch the presentation by clicking here
Memberships
Digital Chamber of Commerce – Token Alliance – read more
RegTech @ Wharton Initiative read more
Chambers and Partners – Global Blockchain Legal Experts – in December 2017, Chambers & Partners names Joey Garcia one of only twelve global legal blockchain experts. Click the link to read more
Interviews and Media Items
In June 2018, Joey Garcia appeared on LegalBlock’s Global Regulation frameworks series to discuss Gibraltar as a jurisdiction – you can view the video by clicking here
The Gnosis Senior Leadership team was in Gibraltar in June – read more
In May 2018, Bloomberg covered the developments in respect of our client Xapo in the DLT space in an article called “Gibraltar is rolling out the red carpet for crypto firms” – read more
In January 2018, Joey Garcia was interviewed by Flyover labs - click the following link to hear the podcast - Flyover Labs Interview with Joey Garcia
Interview with Sian Jones about the approach in Gibraltar from epicentre - Click here
Some of our clients and coverage of their projects
Huobi Awarded DLT Licence By Gibraltar Financial Services Commission - read more
RSK merges with RIF labs - read more
Coinfloor became the first exchange to secure a licence under the new DLT Provider Regulations in Gibraltar in October 2018 – read more
In May this year, Minister Isola welcomed Huobi to Gibraltar – read more
Also, “CryptoRepo platform Oxygen aims to be one of first regulated in Gibraltar” was published on Cryptoninjas, referring to our client Oxygen (now Changelly) – read more
In July, ISOLAS’ client, Blox.io, was in Gibraltar on a visit – read more
In June 2018, the Gnosis Senior Management team was in Gibraltar – read more
Coinsilium - appointment to advise on Terrastream - Click here
Xapo secures e-money licence in August 2017 - Click here
For the Government of Gibraltar's statement on Xapo's e-money licensing - Click here
The Fintech Times - Regulation and Innovation Go Hand-In-Hand as Gibraltar Leads DLT industry - Click here
Coinlaw - Podcast with Joey Garcia - Click here
Chambers Fintech Global Practice Guide - Click here