Tokenised Economy and the Law

This topical book offers a comprehensive examination of the legal framework behind the tokenised economy, illustrating the business applications of blockchain and distributed-ledger technologies. Conducting a thorough analysis of the different taxonomies of crypto assets, Riccardo de Caria focuses on a range of legal areas, including currency, property, contract, investment and corporate law. Presenting a multijurisdictional perspective on the legal challenges that arise from economic application of tokens, de Caria approaches the subject by looking primarily at the business implications of the regulatory choices facing policy-makers. Chapters explore relevant case studies such as the implementation of the EU's MiCAR and the Data Act. Contextualising his discussion within the broader framework of the relationship between law and new technologies, de Caria underscores the need for lawyers to reflect on the extent to which computer code can replace traditional legal categories. The Tokenised Economy and the Law is an accessible resource for scholars of public and private law, as well as scholars of macro-economics, business management and corporate finance. Legal practitioners and researchers will also find the policy debates and market insights presented here beneficial.