Jacob Robinson
@JacobRobinsonJD
Followers
6K
Following
11K
Media
441
Statuses
5K
Crypto law, often via the Law of Code podcast. Tweets not legal advice. Football, too.
Joined January 2021
Was honored to discuss crypto law with the great SEC Commissioner @HesterPeirce. In our wide ranging conversation, the Commissioner answers when a protocol is sufficiently decentralized, whether a digital asset can evolve from a security, and much more.
38
47
265
USD has depegged 99.5% over the past century, for some context.
15
114
769
I���ve never heard of anyone leaving DeFi for TradFi. Few things are ever this binary.
40
59
710
SEC v Ripple (& XRP) could have enormous implications for the broader crypto market. In this conversation, @JohnEDeaton1 and I discuss everything that’s happened so far, how the case might end, and the idea of decentralized nodes vs tokens.
14
194
674
Thrilled to share that the great SEC Commissioner @HesterPeirce is joining the Law of Code podcast!. Looking forward to hearing her thoughts on:. - SEC enforcement vs guidance.- sufficient decentralization.- future of NFTs.& more. What else should we cover?.
37
26
336
Earlier today, JPMorgan executed their first live DeFi trade when they swapped tokenized SGD for JPY, using a modified version of Aave on Polygon. The future is here, it’s just not evenly distributed.
29
71
280
There’s no better opportunity for young lawyers than tying a legal practice with crypto, NFTs, or DAOs. And it’s not even close.
32
22
250
I've been quiet on socials for the past 12 months. I also paused my legal practice and stopped recording podcasts. Why? . Last year, at 29, doctors found a large tumor wrapped around my heart. It was cancer.
83
7
254
1/24 As a Canadian 🇨🇦, crypto-focused lawyer, I wanted to clarify the recent update regarding purchase limits and how they impact clients of certain crypto exchanges.
20
56
215
An evergreen reminder that innovation wins out in the long run👇
8
28
166
Any Canadian 🇨🇦 in crypto should be aware that the federal government plans to introduce a number of amendments to the Criminal Code and the PCMLTFA for "businesses that deal in virtual currencies". There's still time to comment. The proposed amendments include measures to:.
22
45
146
When deciding to build a legal career in crypto, we ask: How does one become a crypto lawyer? . Thankfully, @jchervinsky, @RebeccaRettig1 and @SHodyEsq, an incredible and generous group, spent over an hour answering that question with me 👇.
7
32
151
Good news: I also recently rang the bell at the cancer center. My next scan is in May, and I'm hopeful this chapter remains behind me. I'm excited to feel normal again. To have energy. To help others. Many aren't so lucky.
10
2
146
If your goal is to become a blockchain-focused attorney, understanding the technology is critical - this is stressed by many of the guests on Law of Code. It took weekends and weeknights, but I am proud to have passed my first CS course.
10
4
134
Thrilled to share that @iampaulgrewal, Chief Legal Officer @coinbase, will be joining the Law of Code podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on crypto law. What would you like to hear Paul and I discuss?.
20
5
131
People can trade options via Robinhood or buy lottery tickets without any realistic chance of winning, but can't invest directly in startups.*. That is insane.
8
20
124
“Following recent events in the crypto market,” the Canadian 🇨🇦 Securities Administrators released an update today that will impact the entire crypto landscape in Canada (exchanges, custody, stablecoins, etc). Four key takeaways:.
2
36
121
What are the legal risks of participating in a DAO?. This podcast aims to provide a high-level overview to help DAO builders and operators understand the grey-area that is member liability.
3
32
118
Thrilled to share that I am joining @McCarthy_ca's to help crypto companies + builders navigate the complex Canadian legal system. Grateful to be working with and learning from an incredible group of lawyers/mentors, including @loriandreastein & @Ana_Badour.
26
3
118
The legal profession would improve by leaps and bounds if more lawyers thought like programmers.
15
7
115
Thrilled it’s finally here!. My new podcast, Law of Code, is now available on all streaming platforms . This pod is dedicated to the legal side of blockchain - discussions with top lawyers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs about:. - DAOs 🏘.- Crypto 💎.- NFTs 📈.& much more.
18
8
112
Thrilled to be restarting the Law of Code podcast this week — with less hair but just as great guests (like @larryflorio). The first episode covers the SEC's Statement on Stablecoins. Here's a snippet:
15
16
115
Grateful for all the amazing lawyers in this space who spend countless hours of their (extremely valuable and limited) time educating myself and many others in the crypto law space. Just very thankful.
3
2
92
Thrilled to have one of the pioneers of crypto law, the uber-impressive @RebeccaRettig1, on the Law of Code podcast tomorrow to talk DeFi regulation. What would you like to hear Rebecca’s thoughts on?.
14
3
88
Drafting the Who's Who of #CryptoLaw Twitter - 2022. One thing stood out: the jump in followers for some exceptional crypto lawyers. Everyone's almost 2x'd YoY. Illustrates the enormous growth of interest in the space, regardless of prices.
14
5
85
A number of great people helped me through the biggest challenge of my life. I'd love to pay that forward however I can. DMs are open.
16
1
85
Had the pleasure of sitting down with @r_ross_campbell, a great legal engineer who is building incredible crypto law projects with multiple teams. In this episode, Ross walks me through @_KaliDAO, the progression of @LexDAO, optimizing smart contracts, and productivity hacks.
5
6
82
The Law of Code podcast provides a platform for the best crypto lawyers to dive deep into complicated issues. This discussion with @lex_node and @SH_Brennan does exactly that - legal side of tokens, decentralization, @LeXpunK_Army & (so much) more 👇.
6
10
84
Thrilled to be interviewing @stephendpalley tomorrow for the Law of Code podcast. He is one of the most well respected and exceptional lawyers in the crypto space. We will discuss herring, dumpsters, the SEC, DAOs, and much more. What would you like to hear from Stephen?.
21
5
80
Operation Chokepoint. Wells Notices. Amicus Briefs. The legal side of crypto has never been more important. Thankfully, @BlockchainAssn is part of the fight. In this pod, @jchervinsky and @MTCoppel discuss de-banking and the state of crypto law👇.
3
22
66
As Ontario locks down again, it remains shocking to see the liquor and beer stores remain open while gyms close. I understand some are dependent on substances, but people are also dependent on exercise. Physically, and - just as importantly - mentally.
6
16
73
Government is for the people, by the people. Let’s keep it that way. Speak up. Share your story. Join the discourse. This is a critical opportunity to have your voice heard through the incredible work by @jchervinsky and the team at @BlockchainAssn.
1/ Today, @BlockchainAssn sent FOIA requests to the Fed, FDIC, and OCC, demanding information about the unlawful debanking of crypto companies. We are also collecting evidence of debanking. Share your story with us:. debanked@theblockchainassociation.org. Here's the situation 🧵.
5
10
71
Earlier today, Binance announced their intention to exit Canada. You should know their public regulatory history in 🇨🇦:.
10
14
67
So much talk of IP rights for NFT holders, yet so little use of IP rights by NFT holders. Web 3 is full of potential that I can't wait to see built.
12
7
69
We’ve moved past blaming “the internet” for the actions taken by individuals and companies. It’s time we start doing that for crypto. 🧵 (1/18).
3
19
73
Thrilled to have titans of crypto law @lex_node, @SH_Brennan & @MarcGoldich on the Law of Code podcast. We’ll cover LeXpunK, crypto regulation, social slashing, disclosure & ongoing lessons from recent enforcement. What else would you like to hear from them?.
7
9
70
DeFi regulation is one of the most important (& debated) aspects of crypto law, and few rival @RebeccaRettig1’s knowledge in this area. In this episode, Rebecca shares her views on Ooki DAO, Tornado Cash, MiCA & all aspects of DeFi regulation.
2
14
71
In this podcast, my go-to source for European Union crypto regulation - @paddi_hansen - shares updates on the state of crypto in the EU. He outlines MiCA, EU Transfer of Funds Regulation, and what makes the EU a global leader in crypto policy.
2
15
66
The sooner you do things you “aren’t qualified” to do, the sooner you are qualified.
2
7
67
Speaking with three titans of industry tomorrow about how to break into crypto law: Whether in-house, private practice, regulatory/admin bodies, or any other possible role. What would you like to hear from @jchervinsky, @RebeccaRettig1 and @SHodyEsq?.
4
5
65
The Cryptopians is one of my favourite books, so I am thrilled @laurashin is joining the Law of Code podcast this week. We’ll dive into Laura’s research process and writing strategies, the story of ETH, and what lawyers can learn from journalists. What else should we cover?.
6
9
67
If you enjoy:. - problem solving.- working cooperatively with brilliant colleagues.- building the future. You’ll love being a lawyer with a crypto-based practice. You might also like DAOs.
3
5
63
What is the biggest legal risk facing crypto developers? Likely the U.S. DOJ’s interpretation of Section 1960. In this episode of the Law of Code podcast, @amandatums of the @fund_defi shares why Section 1960 is relevant to non-custodial DeFi builders. A quick snippet:
8
50
58
Looking forward to having @milesjennings on the Law of Code podcast tomorrow. We’ll discuss his new piece on decentralization, what being GC at @a16z looks like & the future of DAOs. Any other topics/questions we should cover?.
16
4
64
The recent order in SEC vs Coinbase illustrates the importance of non-custodial wallets. The Judge found the SEC's claims over the Coinbase Wallet "insufficient to establish 'brokerage activities.'". Here's what wallet creators/platforms should know:.
11
5
56
Had the pleasure of speaking with the @DLxLawLLP team (@NYcryptolawyer, @sarahcwy143, @Freeman_Lewin & Greg Strong) about the Ineluctable Modality of Securities Law. We covered all aspects of Howey and why/when digital assets are not securities 👇.
5
15
60
You either try to avoid securities laws, or you live long enough to change the accredited investor rules.
3
5
61
If you want an almost guaranteed job in crypto, go into compliance.
10
9
60
Imagine how much better life would be if people couldn’t send you emails unless they paid gas fees.
4
5
63
Grateful three epic guests are joining Law of Code pod this week. Topics:. Off-chain, sufficient decentralization w/ @boironattorney. All things EU policy & regulation w/ @paddi_hansen. Educating the masses and policy-makers on DeFi w/ @millercwl. What else should we cover?.
6
5
62
But there was still so much good during that time. I married my amazing wife. Landed a dream gig writing @TheAthletic's NFL newsletter. Leaned into morbid humor. Saved money on haircuts. Stayed involved in crypto.
1
0
61
Have some incredible (paid) opportunities for attorneys or law students interested in crypto to work with brilliant individuals. DM if you’re interested.
1
12
59
Episode 100 of Law of Code is a compilation of the best answers to the question "Why crypto?" from previous podcasts. Since day one, the support from the legal x crypto community has been unbelievable. It's an honour & privilege to learn from everyone.
9
9
59
Huge announcement today - Canadian crypto exchanges WonderFi, Coinsquare and CoinSmart have revealed plans to merge, creating what would be one of the world's largest crypto trading platforms, per @CoinDesk.
4
14
56
One (rare) positive today: @r_ross_campbell is gracing the law of code pod to discuss the incredible innovation coming out of @lex_DAO , the progression of legal engineering, and maybe even riff on Soulbound NFTs 👀. What other questions would you like to hear Ross answer?.
4
4
59
@naval Effortless self discipline is so underrated. Building daily habits (I.e. morning workouts) into an effortless routine through repetition and environment hacking makes one - as Ben Franklin put it - healthy, wealthy, and wise.
0
9
54
For anyone interested in the dynamic between offshore legal structuring and crypto, this podcast with @chrisrossduncan offers a masterclass on the Cayman, BVI and Guernsey laws impacting digital assets, including an overview of the respective VASP Acts.
4
11
58
One year of law school to expose students to the breadth of practice opportunities + two years of practical experience (apprenticing with 2-3 lawyers) would be a 10x improvement. Current system is built for law schools, not law students.
I firmly believe that the legal profession should be greatly improved if the law school requirement were abolished and the bar exam were made 50% harder to pass.
11
4
56
DAOs decentralizing by issuing tokens to a widespread group sounds a lot like companies selling securities. Despite diverse and widespread ownership, we don't consider companies "sufficiently decentralized" because they hire managers and issue dividends?.
15
12
52
Critical work by @fund_defi to challenge a patent (used to sue protocols Maker and Compound) which would have massive implications for DeFi. In this episode of Law of Code, Amanda shares everything you should know about the DEF's petition (& much more).
@fund_defi has petitioned the US Patent & Trademark Office for cancellation of a patent claiming invention of oracle-like tech and being used to sue MakerDAO and Compound. We are excited to talk about this project we have been working on the past few months👇
3
12
54
Looking forward to speaking with some brilliant legal minds this week for Law of Code:. @JWVerret to discuss all things SEC & advisory. @msantoriESQ covering SAFTs, Bank Charter Applications, and his career. @adamsternbach on NFTs & law. What else should these episodes cover?.
3
8
54
The schedule for Law of Code is wild:. - episodes w/ @propelforward & @HaileyLennonBTC are out over the next 2 weeks. - recording with @SinaKian1 tm & @ohaiom next week. - then a dual episode with @SH_Brennan & @lex_node . So much prep, but open to great Q’s for any of the above.
5
5
54
This is the key takeaway from the Hinman emails: the SEC recognized a regulatory gap. What changed since? The SEC Chair.
"The regulatory gap." Proof from the Hinman emails of what we've been saying to the Third Circuit, to Congress and to the SEC itself: that the securities laws are incomplete when it comes digital assets, that securities law aren’t meant to rule over all digital assets, and that
4
5
47
A deep dive on the Can't Be Evil NFT Licenses, w/ the team behind them: @milesjennings @GhaithMahmoodLW @markfradcliffe. The group covers implementing the licenses, lawful ownership, notice, hard forks, fractionalizing & much more. Listen now. ↓.
6
14
51
Historically, people - such as “critics” of Web3 - struggle to separate the current iterations of a new technology (largely experimental) from the long term potential of the underlying technology.
5
7
51
The drafters of the Can’t Be Evil NFT licenses are joining the Law of Code podcast this week. Thrilled for the chance to interview three world class lawyers in @milesjennings @markfradcliffe and @GhaithMahmoodLW. What NFT & legal-related topics would you like us to cover?.
10
6
51
This weeks #5BulletFriday featured an eye-opening short film (13 mins) . This film says more with images than any movie I’ve seen. It’s powerful and something I never would have found. Thanks @tferriss .
4
12
51
Miles and David go far beyond typical DAO research - their entity selection framework offers operators a one-stop shop for key legal considerations (incl oft-ignored tax). Contributions like this are critical to the success of DAOs. Thank you @milesjennings & @David_M_Kerr.
DAOs are fundamental to the success of web3, yet they're shrouded in legal uncertainty with no consensus about a path to legitimacy. Today, @Dave_M_Kerr and I published Part II of our Legal Framework for DAOs to chart a definitive way forward. #LFDAOs!👇.
1
8
50
1/8 A few noteworthy points from a speech by the CEO of the most important securities regulator in Canada:.
2
16
46
Grateful to have Peter Van Valkenburgh (@valkenburgh) join the Law of Code podcast. We’ll discuss his role as Director of Research at @CoinCenter, the proposed SEC definition of exchange, and “owning” Bitcoin. Maybe even seed oils. What else would you like to hear from Peter?.
7
4
46
Had the pleasure of speaking with @jolieyang about @BuildOnBase, @friendtech and @coinbase. Jolie shares insights into Coinbase's IPO, the backstory behind Base and Friend Tech, and discusses the concept of decentralization at a centralized business.
3
6
47
Using crypto for illicit transactions is akin to conducting a drug deal in an alley with 24/7, recorded surveillance. The recovery of billions from the Bitfinex hack exemplifies this.
2
6
50
Thrilled to have had @RSSH273 on the Law of Code podcast - it was a great one. In this episode, Rodrigo shares his thoughts on the state of DAOs, covers ongoing DAO-related cases and member liability, and dives deep into the implications of CC0 on NFTs.
0
10
48
If you are a developer unsure how one interpretation of a U.S. AML rule impacts DeFi (via the Tornado Cash and Samourai Wallet cases), @amandatums and I unpack that in the most recent Law of Code podcast. Now on YouTube:.
3
43
41
– they rent it out and pocket the earnings, while you bear the risk of loss.". Excellent article by @CaitlinLong_ .
1
9
46
A significant problem with crypto is education. This is exacerbated by many “educators” themselves not understanding the technology, but speaking as if they do. Not sure how we fix this, but glad we have some great people on our side.
7
3
45
Listen as @lex_node, @SH_Brennan and @MarcGoldich go in depth on crypto law in 2022, 2023 and beyond 👇.
2
11
48
The 🇨🇦 Canadian Securities Administrators recently published a Staff Notice “in light of recent insolvencies” that will have a major impact on the crypto industry in Canada. They assert that stablecoins are securities/derivatives and impose stricter requirements on CTPs. thread:.
2
18
44
Curious about the evolution of the Accredited Investor regime? . @larryflorio and I explored the history and principles behind the rules that allow certain investors to access private markets. 30+ pages of notes and 3+ hours distilled into one episode.
2
8
47
The day @amandatums and @fund_defi submitted their brief in the Roman Storm Tornado Cash matter, Amanda and @jchervinsky joined Law of Code to unpack the case. Anyone interested in the future of financial privacy will benefit from their perspectives.
3
19
45
Many projects forget to put the DA in DAO. The more I look into DAOs, the more I realize most current iterations aren’t DAOs at all. DO’s maybe, CAO’s maybe.
10
6
45
Bitcoin for money. Ethereum for finance. @MetaLeX_Labs for law. That's the goal of the MetaLeX team, who shared their vision on the Law of Code podcast. Enjoyed this conversation with @lex_node, @PrePopAi @erichdylus, @DumbApe69420 on BORGs & more.
6
10
47
Had the pleasure of speaking with @milesjennings about his recently published “Principles & Models of Web3 Decentralization". We cover legal decentralization, issues with SAFTs, managing conflicts of interest at @a16z & much more.
5
6
43
Pumped to interview @propelforward today for the Law of Code podcast. We’re talking legal standing to bring a claim for NFT rug pulls, his crypto law course, and the future of money transmitter regulation. Can’t wait.
1
6
44
Can projects airdrop free tokens to US-based users without exposing themselves to the SEC’s wrath? . Not sure. It’s one reason @amandatums and @fund_defi brought a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the SEC. Spoke to Amanda and @jchervinsky about this.
2
6
46
The Ripple Labs decision impacts Canadians 🇨🇦. Here's how:.
3
9
39
Pretty sweet to see Commissioner Hester Peirce’s speech at Duke reference a Law of Code episode with the great @propelforward & @Andrea_Tosato
4
2
45
Few realize DAO actually stands for. Discord-based.Algorithm-optimized (Twitter, Youtube, etc).Organized-group.
0
2
40
Some incredible crypto-law interviews to be released over the next few weeks, including @evanmthomas and @collins_belton (2-parts 🔥). Who would you like to see next on the Law of Code podcast?.
6
4
44
Unsure where to domicile a crypto-related business? You’re not alone. This podcast offers a detailed review of global crypto regulation with a team of former regulators, who categorize and explain the differing approaches of countries across the globe.
2
9
43
Update on the crypto mining moratorium in Canada 🇨🇦. The Supreme Court of British Columbia upheld a Order in Council effectively banning new crypto mining projects in the province. Some background/thoughts:.
3
9
42
It started in May 2023, with an itch around my ankles. No rash, no lump — none of the usual symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The itch worsened for 18 months before a dermatologist ordered a chest X-ray. It probably saved my life. It also meant chemo every two weeks. Not fun.
2
0
43
Last week, the SEC charged Coinbase and Binance with illegally operating unregistered securities exchanges, among other claims. In this podcast, @collins_belton masterfully explains everything you should know about the SEC’s legal arguments👇.
1
8
43