Daniel Stabile is co-chair of the firm’s Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology Group. He is a leading attorney in the distributed ledger, blockchain, and digital asset sector. He advises banks, broker-dealers, FinTechs, and other businesses regarding their implementation of blockchain technology. He also advises government officials and regulators on digital asset technology and regulation, and previously served as the vice chairperson of the Miami-Dade County Cryptocurrency Task Force, an appointed position. Since 2018, Daniel has taught a popular course on blockchain and digital asset regulation at the University of Miami Law School. He speaks regularly on digital currency regulation in various forums domestically and abroad. Additionally, Daniel is the co-author of Digital Assets and Blockchain Technology: US Law and Regulation (Elgar 2020), a first-of-its-kind legal textbook designed for law and other graduate-level students.

Daniel also represents financial institutions and other businesses in controversy matters, including government investigations and enforcement actions, arbitrations, and civil litigations. He has significant experience as lead counsel in complex arbitrations before JAMS, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the American Arbitration Association, and he regularly handles complex and cross-border matters in federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country. Daniel has been published in academic and trade journals on the issue of class action defense.

Experience

Daniel’s present and previous representations include:

Blockchain-Related Matters

• A major venture capital firm in a putative class action lawsuit relating to its investments in FTX
• A prestige NFT art exchange in connection with various regulatory issues
• The Chamber of Digital Commerce in SEC v. Wahi
• A blockchain company that develops and supports a major decentralized blockchain in connection with various regulatory issues
• A United States cryptocurrency exchange in a government investigation regarding anti-money laundering policies and procedures
• A European cryptocurrency exchange concerning whether certain digital assets are regarded as securities under United States law
• A Bitcoin ATM company in a class action lawsuit pertaining to marketing
• An issuer of a native digital asset interfacing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Private funds holding digital assets or investing in digital asset businesses
• A cryptocurrency exchange interacting with many state regulators to determine whether licenses are required for purposes of contemplated business activities
• A large, international money transmitter in negotiations with a custodian of digital assets
• Large institutional financial institutions regarding implementation of blockchain technology
• An American art museum regarding their development of non-fungible tokens
• A private art gallery regarding their agreements with artists regarding non-fungible tokens
• A real estate development company concerning its acceptance of cryptocurrency
• A real estate developer regarding its issuance of tokens backed by real estate
• A cryptocurrency tax reporting company

Controversy Work Matters

• A broker-dealer affiliate of a multinational financial institution in a FINRA investigation and enforcement action pertaining to the FINRA anti-money laundering rules
• A financial institution in a JAMS arbitration and supplemental proceeding regarding a $500MM dispute with a referral vendor
• An affiliate of a multinational financial institution in parallel SEC and FINRA investigations and enforcement proceedings pertaining to the promotion of a financial product
• A financial institution in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation regarding AML policies and procedures
• A lender in a class action lawsuit alleging improper processing of applications in violation of the Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act
• A national bank in an arbitration proceeding asserting application of non-U.S. law to an employment relationship
• A bank in a civil lawsuit regarding the bank’s wire fraud policies and procedures
• An investment advisor in an SEC enforcement action regarding custody of client funds
• A Florida Office of Financial Regulation investigation relating to securities offerings
• A Miami broker-dealer in a FINRA arbitration involving claims of defamation
• A Miami affiliate of a multinational financial institution in several FINRA arbitration proceedings alleging negligent promotion of a financial product and failure to supervise
• A life insurance company in a FINRA arbitration, involving claims of defamation
• A foreign financial institution in parallel DOJ/SEC investigations involving allegations that the firm failed to properly register under the securities law and assisted clients in committing tax fraud
• A multinational company in claims brought by the Department of Justice under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• A life insurance company in multiple class action lawsuits brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in which theoretical aggregate exposure exceeded $4 billion
• A major entertainment company in a series of lawsuits alleging intellectual property and other claims

Some of the experience represented here may have been handled at a previous firm.

Honors & Awards

• Daily Business Review Florida Legal Awards — On the Rise, 2023
• Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2016-2021
• South Florida Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2022

Activities

• Board Member, Catalyst Miami
• Volunteer Attorney Supervisor of LegalLink (in residence at the University of Miami Law School), a program of the non-profit arts organization Locust Projects
• Board Member, the George Washington University Law School Alumni Association (2014-2018)
• Previously served as Vice Chairperson, Miami-Dade County Cryptocurrency Task Force

Credentials

Daniel received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

• "U.S. Regulatory Fireside," Blockchain Association of the Cayman Islands (May 23, 2023)
• "Cross-Border Regulatory and Legislative Analysis," Deep Dive into the Metaverse and Web3, New York State Bar Association Symposium (April 29, 2023)
• Managing Partner Roundtable, "Commentary on Current Financial Issues and Potential Impacts" (April 19, 2023)
• "Pushing Back on SEC Regulation by Enforcement – A Discussion of the Chamber's Ripple and Wahi Amicus Briefs," Chamber of Digital Commerce Blockchain Summit (March 21, 2023)
• "Fintech Litigation and ADR - Insights for Today and Tomorrow," iLaw 2023, The ILS Global Forum on International Law (February 17, 2023)
• “Legal Matters in the Web3 Economy,” University of Chicago Law School (January 20, 2023)
• "Navigating Privacy & Regulatory Uncertainty," MiamiWeb3Summit (November 29, 2022)
• "Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, and Blockchain," University of Miami (November 16, 2022)
• "Digital Assets: A Global Perspective from Leading Legal Experts,” UK Ministry of Justice GREAT Legal Futures Conference (November 1, 2022)
• “The Clash of US Regulators," Urbit Assembly (September 24, 2022)
• "The Regulation of Cryptocurrency,” Florida International University (July 29, 2022)
• “Digital Assets/Cryptocurrency,” Spellman-Hoeveler Chapter of the American Inns of Court’s Bench & Bar Conference (February 18, 2022)
• “Crypto, Blockchain, and the Future of the Regulatory Landscape,” University of Miami Law Review Symposium 2022 (February 4, 2022) (with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce)
• “Crypto Risk: Emerging Legal, Regulatory & Criminal Issues,” South Florida Compliance Association (November 9, 2021)
• “Digital Assets/Blockchain Regulation,” Kaufman Rossin (September 2021)
• “Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: The Legal Framework and Future Trends,” Albany Law School Online Graduate Program (February 25, 2021)
• "Blockchain and the Entertainment Industry,” The State of the Entertainment Industry Forum, University of Miami School of Law (October 2019)
• “Espinoza and its Impact on Digital Asset Businesses,” Florida Blockchain Technology Organization, Orlando (April 2019)
• “Digital Assets and Their Risks: Regulatory Panel), Florida International Bankers Association AML Conference (March 2019)
• “Regulation of Digital Assets,” Supply Chain 2.0 (Florida Blockchain Foundation), Orlando (January 2019)
• “Regulation of ICOs,” Blockchain Shift Conference, Miami (October 2018)
• “Cryptocurrencies from a Legal & Tax Perspective,” Financial Planning Association Meeting, Miami (September 2018)
• “U.S. Regulatory Framework of Cryptocurrencies,” Itau Bank, Miami (September 2018)
• “U.S. Regulatory Framework of Cryptocurrencies,” Citibank, Miami (August 2018)
• “U.S. Regulatory Framework for ICOs and Virtual Currency Businesses,” Conference of the U.S. Commercial Service and U.S. Embassy, Mexico City (May 2018)
• “Regulation of Cryptocurrency,” Regulatory Meeting Hosted by Citibank, Dominican Republic (March 2018)
• “Virtual Currencies, Blockchain and their Risks,” Latin American Banking Federation / Florida International Bankers Association Cl@b2017 Conference (Moderator) (August 2017)
• “The Evolving FinTech Regulatory Environment,” Latin American Banking Federation / Florida International Bankers Association Cl@b2017 Conference (Panelist) (August 2017)
• “The Onset of Blockchain Technology,” Florida International Bankers Association (April 2017)

Publications

• Quoted, "FTX's Legal Bill Shows Progress on Exploring a Crypto Exchange Reboot," Bloomberg (April 2023)
• Co-Author, "The SEC’s Approach to Digital Asset Regulation Harms Investors," Bloomberg Law (March 2023)
• Quoted, "Appeals Panel Grills SEC Lawyer Over Bitcoin Trust Exchange Ruling," The National Law Journal (March 2023) 
• Quoted, "Winston & Strawn Attorneys Back Digital Asset Association in Civil Crypto Fight," The National Law Journal (March 2023)
• Quoted, "Trade Group Argues U.S. SEC Case Unfairly Labels Crypto as Securities," Reuters and U.S. News & World Report (February 2023)
• Quoted, "SEC is Using 'Back Door' to Crypto Regulation, Says Group," Law360, (February 2023)
• Quoted, "After FTX's Spectacular Collapse, Where Does Crypto Go from Here?," NBC News (December 2022)
• Quoted, "For Crypto Attorneys, FTX Bankruptcy is a 'Black Swan Event'," Daily Business Review (November 2022)
• Co-Author, "Recovering Digital Assets in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy," published in Bloomberg Law (July 2022)
• Author, “El Salvador’s ‘Bitcoin Law’ Forces Governments and Businesses to Contend with Digital Assets,” Global Banking & Finance Review (September 2021)
• Author, "DOJ Crypto Framework Signals Escalating Enforcement,” Law360 (December 7, 2020)
• Author, “Digital Assets and the Regulation of Blockchain Technology,” Edward Elgar Publishing (2020)
• Author, Virtual Currency & Blockchain Regulation Newsletter (biweekly distribution)
• Author, “Defending TCPA Class Actions Under the ‘Strangest’ of Statutes," In-House Quarterly (Spring 2016)
• Author, “The ‘Strangest Statute’ Chief Justice Roberts Has Seen: Uncertainties of Litigating TCPA ‘Junk Fax’ Class Actions,” The Florida Bar Journal, Volume 89, No. 9 (November 2015), reprinted in The Computer & Internet Lawyer (April 2016)
• Co-author, “New State Law on Subpoenas Changes Financial Privacy Network,” Daily Business Review (September 29, 2015)