Law, Blockchain, and Cryptocurrency Regulation by Preston Byrne
Preston Byrne is a partner in the Digital Commerce Group at Brown Rudnick LLP and a Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute. Career experience includes serving as COO and General Counsel at Monax, where development included the first Ethereum DAO prototype and Hyperledger Burrow, one of the earliest enterprise blockchains. His practice advises exchanges, DAOs, and token issuers on compliance, smart contracts, and litigation.
Byrne also teaches courses on cryptocurrency law at Fordham University and George Mason University. His Not Legal Advice column for CoinDesk reaches thousands of readers with regular updates on regulatory and case law developments. Recognition in 2025 as a “Top Crypto Lawyer” underlines standing in the field. Annual income from legal practice, teaching, and advisory work is estimated in the high six-figure USD range. With technical fluency and extensive policy engagement, Byrne remains one of the leading voices clarifying legal structures for the global crypto economy.
Binance could remain accessible to EU users under new approach, Preston Byrne notes
Preston Byrne suggests that Binance could potentially continue servicing EU clients if it shifts its business model to rely on reverse solicitation in most EU jurisdictions. Byrne notes that ...
Preston Byrne: Encourages creation of new token for rapid wealth
Preston Byrne suggests that someone create a new token and pursue rapid wealth. He expresses support and encouragement for the ...
Reputational risk did not forecast failures, Preston Byrne argues
Preston Byrne highlights a policy shift regarding U.S. bank supervision. He notes that changes originally introduced by Brian Brooks when he served as OCC Comptroller were later reversed by the ...
Preston Byrne: UK unlikely to align with U.S. on digital assets by 2027
Preston Byrne, industry influencer, cautions that regulatory compatibility between the UK and the U.S. on digital assets is unlikely by 2027. Byrne also remarks that Labour’s election in 2024 ...
Preston Byrne: EU and UK assets lose appeal amid US shift
Preston Byrne highlights the growing unappeal of EU and UK assets for investors. He suggests that European sovereign assets are increasingly being relocated to the US. Byrne also mentions ...
Preston Byrne hints at new crypto meme phenomenon
Preston Byrne, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency sector, has drawn attention to a developing meme trend involving a rodent mascot. In a recent tweet, Byrne hinted at the powerful ...
Preston Byrne suggests dominance of US Internet ruleset
Preston Byrne hints at a future where the non-shit segment of the Internet operates under an American ruleset. He suggests that this transition would make adherence to such a ruleset unnecessary ...
Preston Byrne examines potential legal actions against Australian official
Preston Byrne hints at a possible legal theory for those who have been censored by Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety Commissioner. Details are being ...
Preston Byrne challenges protest ban rationale in London
Preston Byrne argues against the rationale for banning a protest in London, questioning the lack of public safety concerns. He highlights that the protest, while illegal under English law, has ...
Preston Byrne warns of technology company challenges
Preston Byrne raises concerns about the future landscape as every company evolves into a technology-driven entity. He warns of the potential implications if a geopolitical decision leads to a ...
Preston Byrne aims to offer legal template for US lawyers
Without commenting on the ongoing litigation, Preston Byrne has highlighted his effort to provide a legal template. Byrne's intention, as shared on The Conversation show with Adrian Dittmann, is ...
Preston Byrne critiques Labour Party weekend work policy
Preston Byrne criticized a new Labour Party policy suggesting forced labor on weekends as a strategy to attract tech and entrepreneurial talent. He highlighted the irony in the Labour Party's ...
Preston Byrne: 13 percent approval rating marks baseline for politicians
Preston Byrne humorously reflects on a past poll which suggested that 9% of the population viewed the Black Death favorably. He draws a parallel to the 13% floor of approval ratings for ...
Preston Byrne: UK digital ID risks government overreach
Preston Byrne, a prominent critic of excessive government control, argues that the UK's implementation of a digital ID may lead to undue government influence over individual lives. Byrne ...
Preston Byrne criticizes police for free speech restriction
Preston Byrne, known for his outspoken views on individual rights, has criticized the police for allegedly enforcing apologies over speech. He argues that there is no legal basis in English law ...
Preston Byrne asserts hate speech protected by First Amendment
Preston Byrne, a legal expert, highlights the protection of hate speech under the First Amendment. He underscores this by referencing the landmark Supreme Court case Matal v. Tam (2017), which ...
Preston Byrne examines tech giants political biases in moderation
Preston Byrne, a legal expert and commentator on technology policy, has turned his attention to the political biases in the content moderation practices of tech giants like Apple and Google. ...
Preston Byrne warns against free speech erosion by government
Preston Byrne, a prominent voice in the debate over speech regulation, warns against the risks of government intervention in free speech. Byrne emphasizes that illegal speech should be handled ...
Preston Byrne suggests drastic measure to tackle online content in Australia
Preston Byrne, a prominent legal expert and partner at Anderson Kill, presents a radical idea to address online safety concerns in Australia. Byrne proposes that in order to protect Australians ...
Preston Byrne argues UK Online Safety Act contradicts US constitution
Preston Byrne, a prominent legal expert on technology, has voiced strong concerns about the UK government's Online Safety Act. He argues that the act mandates measures deemed unconstitutional ...
Preston Byrne introduces UK internet freedom amendments
Preston Byrne, a prominent legal expert, has announced amendments aimed at bolstering internet freedom in the UK. These changes are intended to simplify protections similar to those offered by ...
