The world of financial technology (FinTech) is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by innovations in blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and decentralized financial systems. As these technologies evolve, so do the legal, regulatory, and economic challenges surrounding them. From cryptocurrency trading practices to token economics and consumer financial services platforms, stakeholders face complex disputes requiring deep technical understanding and financial expertise.
At the intersection of law, finance, and technology, expert analysis plays a crucial role in litigation, regulatory investigations, and strategic decision-making. Whether assessing the validity of a token offering, tracing illicit transactions across blockchains, or evaluating market manipulation claims, specialized knowledge is essential for navigating this dynamic landscape.
Expert Insights in FinTech and Digital Assets
To address the growing complexity of FinTech-related disputes, access to seasoned professionals with both academic rigor and real-world experience is vital. Experts in blockchain technology, cryptotoken economics, and market microstructure provide critical support in regulatory compliance, litigation, and enforcement actions.
Angelo Chan: Bridging Traditional Finance and Crypto Innovation
Angelo Chan, Managing Director at 8C Management, brings extensive expertise in digital assets and traditional financial instruments. His background spans complex financing structures, regulatory challenges, fraud investigations, and bankruptcy proceedings—particularly those involving cryptocurrency.
As a former managing director at BlockFi, Mr. Chan structured crypto-collateralized loans and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives such as swaps. He also led initiatives in staking and decentralized finance (DeFi), managed debt financings with institutional lenders, and navigated evolving regulatory frameworks.
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His experience extends beyond crypto; he previously held senior roles at Barclays Capital and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he executed cross-border financings involving equities, sovereign debt, corporate bonds, and asset-backed securities. His work included designing bespoke capital instruments like preference shares and subordinated debt, along with custom OTC derivatives to hedge currency and interest rate risks.
Mr. Chan has served as an expert witness in high-profile cases, including Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Gemini Trust Company LLC, where he analyzed bitcoin lending practices. His FINRA (Series 7 and 63) and UK FSA registrations further underscore his credibility in financial markets.
Christine A. Parlour: Advancing Research in Market Microstructure and Cryptocurrencies
Christine A. Parlour, Sylvan C. Coleman Chair in Finance and Accounting at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, is a leading authority on market design, limit order books, and FinTech innovation. Her research explores how digital currencies impact banking stability, the economics of initial coin offerings (ICOs), and settlement costs on the Bitcoin ledger.
Professor Parlour has advised the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a visiting economist and served on Nasdaq’s Economic Advisory Board. Her insights into payment systems, market manipulation, and cryptocurrency regulation are widely sought after in litigation and policy discussions.
With over two decades of research published in top journals—including the Journal of Finance and American Economic Review—she also contributes to editorial boards such as the Review of Finance and Journal of Financial Markets. Recognized for excellence in teaching, she has instructed courses on FinTech, capital markets, and auction theory.
Her academic appointments at INSEAD, LSE, and Paris Dauphine reflect her global influence in financial economics.
Craig M. Lewis: Authority on Financial Regulation and Corporate Policy
Craig M. Lewis, professor at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and Law School, is a former chief economist of the SEC. In that role, he directed the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA), overseeing economic analysis for rulemaking, enforcement, and risk assessment.
His expertise covers convertible debt, ETFs, corporate disclosures, and FinTech market dynamics. He has consulted for major institutions like State Street Global Advisors, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Professor Lewis has submitted expert reports and testified in court on financial matters, bringing academic depth to real-world legal challenges. His scholarly work appears in premier journals such as the Journal of Financial Economics and Review of Financial Studies. As a CPA earlier in his career, he combines accounting precision with financial theory.
Jennifer Marietta-Westberg: Leading Economic Analysis in Regulatory Investigations
Dr. Jennifer Marietta-Westberg, Vice President and head of Cornerstone Research’s Washington, DC office, co-leads the firm’s corporate and government investigations practice. With a decade at the SEC—including as deputy chief economist—she has shaped policy on asset management, broker-dealers, and market microstructure.
She chairs the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee and has served on the board of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Law and Economics. Her litigation experience includes securities class actions under Rule 10b-5, ERISA violations, insider trading allegations, Ponzi schemes, and corporate governance disputes.
Dr. Marietta-Westberg leads multidisciplinary teams supporting expert testimony from case inception through trial. Her academic research has been published in the Journal of Accounting and Economics and European Financial Management.
Core Areas of Expertise
Blockchain Forensic Data Analytics
Understanding blockchain activity requires more than surface-level transaction tracking. Advanced forensic tools decode wallet pseudo-anonymity, trace value flows across decentralized networks, and reconstruct economic behavior behind addresses.
Cornerstone Research leverages proprietary databases and in-house analytical platforms to conduct forensic tracing of token transfers. By syncing nodes and using APIs for data extraction, experts assess damage claims related to stolen funds or fraudulent distributions.
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Cryptocurrency Market Microstructure
Market quality on crypto exchanges hinges on transparency, liquidity, and fair price discovery. Experts analyze reported trading volumes, order book dynamics, and large trade impacts to evaluate market integrity.
Issues like wash trading allegations or auction mechanism flaws are assessed using granular data from centralized exchanges and DeFi protocols. The role of stablecoins in influencing volatility and arbitrage opportunities is also examined.
Cryptotoken Economics and Valuation
Determining whether a cryptotoken qualifies as a security involves applying the Howey Test through an economic lens. Analysts evaluate utility vs. investment intent, network participation incentives, and secondary market dynamics.
Valuation models consider both fungible tokens (e.g., utility or governance tokens) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Damages assessments may involve comparing trading strategies or valuing firms whose primary assets are illiquid cryptotokens.
Consumer Financial Services in the Digital Age
As robo-advisors, automated lending platforms, and digital wallets reshape consumer finance, new regulatory questions emerge. Experts assess how existing regulations apply to algorithmic investment tools and emerging loan technologies.
Performance evaluations compare automated portfolios against traditional benchmarks under varying market conditions.
NFTs and Intellectual Property
NFT markets differ fundamentally from traditional securities markets in terms of information asymmetry, pricing mechanisms, and brand value drivers. Experts analyze NFT trading records, platform operations, and IP valuation frameworks.
Assessments include whether competitive actions dilute brand equity or infringe intellectual property rights tied to digital collectibles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Howey Test’s role in cryptocurrency regulation?
A: The Howey Test determines whether a digital asset qualifies as an investment contract—and thus a security—under U.S. law. It examines whether there’s an investment of money in a common enterprise with expectations of profit derived from others’ efforts.
Q: How are damages calculated in crypto litigation?
A: Damages may involve rescission calculations for traded tokens, valuation of crypto-based companies, or economic loss comparisons between legitimate and manipulated trading strategies.
Q: Can blockchain transactions be traced despite pseudonymity?
A: Yes. While wallet addresses are pseudonymous, forensic tools can link addresses to entities through behavioral patterns, exchange KYC data, and network analysis.
Q: What defines market manipulation in cryptocurrency?
A: Practices like wash trading, spoofing large orders, or pump-and-dump schemes may constitute manipulation when intended to mislead other traders or distort prices.
Q: How do stablecoins affect crypto market stability?
A: Stablecoins provide liquidity and reduce volatility but can pose systemic risks if reserves are inadequately backed or redemption mechanisms fail during stress events.
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Conclusion
As FinTech continues to disrupt traditional finance, expert analysis grounded in economics, law, and technology becomes indispensable. From blockchain forensics to cryptotoken valuation and regulatory compliance, multidisciplinary insight ensures sound decision-making in an era of rapid innovation.
Whether facing litigation, regulatory scrutiny, or strategic uncertainty, stakeholders benefit from rigorous analysis informed by deep industry experience and cutting-edge research.
Core Keywords: FinTech, blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, cryptotoken economics, market microstructure, DeFi, NFT