PwC’s legal services for FinTech, blockchain and digital assets
Delivering the legal edge to innovative FinTech and crypto projects.
Transforming regulatory challenges into competitive advantages
While the convergence of regulation, business, and technology in the financial industry evermore increases, we at PwC combine our expertise to transform this complexity into competitive advantages for our clients.
Experienced, multidisciplinary team
The FinTech, blockchain and digital assets legal team combines various backgrounds and interdisciplinary competencies. The team comprises specialists in financial markets regulation as well as regulatory supervision, and is excellently acquainted with the Swiss FinTech and blockchain industries.
Our services
PwC’s FinTech, blockchain and digital assets legal services include regulatory guidance and legal advice for established financial institutions and start-ups alike. We help them successfully navigate through the legal and regulatory challenges that blockchain related business models are facing.
Our team has successfully advised groundbreaking projects and reputable financial institutions in the field of blockchain technologies, including native protocols, banking services, custody solutions, ICOs/STOs, NFT issuance, staking of cryptocurrencies, investment structures and dedicated vehicles, as well as protocol governance.
Regulatory advisory and structuring
We support you in finding the right setup for your business and aligning it with the legal and regulatory requirements
Legal and compliance
We help you design and implement legal frameworks and compliance processes
Rulings
We help you obtain rulings, such as no-action letters, from relevant authorities
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Outsourcing
We advise you on outsourcing matters and draft relevant documentation and contracts
Tax
We aware of the potential tax implications for your company and employees and can help you negotiate the challenges. You can find our tax dedicated offerings here
IP
We advise on how to best protect your inellectual property within a decentralized environment
Licensing projects
We help you prepare your licensing application and support you in the licensing and implementation process
AML & KYC
We provide guidance on drafting and implementing AML and KYC documentation and procedures
Agreements and documentations
We draft agreements and other legal documentation for you, e.g. terms and conditions or disclaimers
Cross-border business
We provide guidance on cross-border activities and help you mitigate cross-border risks
Governance
We assist you implementing the setup most suited to your porject and foster adoption within your community
Blockchain assurance
We can offer blockchain audit services for your products, platforms and cryptocurrencies. Learn more about our dedicated offering here
We combine expertise from different backgrounds and understand your business model, whether you are coming from traditional or digital financial services.
- Regulatory assessment of business activities and products
- Registration or Licensing, if required
- Introduction of Digital Assets offerings with banks and other financial institutions
- Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STO)
- Due Diligences (buy and sell side)
- NFT issuance
- Digital financial products and instruments
Regulatory assessment of business activities and products
- Assessment of Fintech business model regarding the application of and compliance with Swiss financial market laws (e.g. licensing obligations)
- Legal advice on Digital Assets and Crypto products, such as funds or other financial instruments
Registration or Licensing, if required
- Legal advice for the registration of the company with a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for AML purposes
- Legal advice for the FINMA-licensing (any type of license), including representation towards FINMA
- Legal advice for the licensing in Liechtenstein (any type of license)
- Our experience in the Fintech/Digital Assets space ranges from SRO registrations up to complex banking licensing projects
Introduction of Digital Assets offerings with banks and other financial institutions
- Development and implementation of strategies to include crypto-assets and new service offerings by banks, securities firm, asset and fund managers and other financial intermediaries
- Support in designing your operating model and set up
- Introduction to reliable financial and technical partners with established track-record
- Regulatory support with the authorities relating to the new offering
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Security Token Offerings (STO)
- Legal advice on the structure and performance of ICOs and STOs out of Switzerland or Liechtenstein
- Compliance advisory services for the cross-border distribution of utility, payment and security tokens
Due Diligences (buy and sell side)
- Assessment of target companies
- Due diligence process (data room, meetings, report)
- Financial due diligence (one-stop shop approach)
NFT issuance
- Legal advice on the structure and performance of the sale
- IP assessment and protection
Digital financial products and instruments
- Structuring of various crypto-related financial products (funds, ETP, AMC, tracker certificates)
- Ensuring compliance with the relevant provisions in the respective jurisdictions
Your benefits
- One-stop shop
- Holistic and integrated approach
- Tailor-made solutions
- Combined expertise in traditional banking and FinTech business models
- Interdisciplinary know-how
The Swiss fintech licence - a brief introduction
Financial innovation is more important than ever! With the FinTech licence, the Swiss legislator provides a licence category for progressive business models. In our brochure on the FinTech licence we give you an overview and summarise the most important points for you.
You might also be interested in the following
Swiss DLT law: New regulations bring new opportunities
Annual Global Crypto Hedge Fund Report 2021
5th ICO / STO Report
Download PDF
Billionaires Insights 2020
Download PDF
Transparency in corporate matters
Contact our legal experts
Looking for legal support with any aspect of banking, FinTech or blockchain? We would be delighted to hear from you.
https://pages.pwc.ch/core-contact-page?form_id=7014I0000006rV1QAI&embed=true
Contact us
Dr. Jean-Claude Spillmann
Director, Head Asset & Wealth Management and Banking Regulatory, Legal, PwC Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 792 43 94
Adrien Tharin
Co-Head of FinTech, Blockchain and Digital Assets, PwC Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 792 92 24
Leandro Lepori
Attorney-at-law, Co-Head of FinTech, Blockchain and Digital Assets, Legal, PwC Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 792 98 45
Manager, FinTech, Blockchain & Digital Assets, Legal, PwC Switzerland
Tel: +41 58 792 24 39