Cryptocurrency Law (2022): Buying and selling real estate with cryptocurrency, and investing in crypto mining farms

Richard L. Barbara, Esq. | Barreto Group

Richard L. Barbara, Esq., was one of the founding partners of the law firm Alvarez Barbara, LLP. He was selected as a “Top Up and Coming Attorney” in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 edition of Florida Trend’s annual publication on top attorneys in the entire State of Florida, while being recognized as a top attorney in the 2015 Florida Trend Legal Elite edition. He was also recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in its 2012, and 2013 edition honoring top lawyers in the State of Florida and recognized as a top attorney in Florida in the 2014 and 2015 edition of Super Lawyers. Mr. Barbara was also recognized as a “top up and comer” by the 2015 South Florida Legal Guide.

He has practiced in the areas of real estate, general civil and commercial litigation, and condominium law. Mr. Barbara is admitted to the practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District and Southern District of Florida, the Supreme Court of Florida, and all local courts within the State of Florida.

Mr. Barbara received his B.A. in Political Science from Florida International University, and his law degree, with honors, from the Stetson University College of Law. While at Stetson, he was a member of The Stetson Moot Court Board and Stetson’s Nationally Ranked Trial Team.

Mr. Barbara was also named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, The International Order of Barristers, and is a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Fraternity.

In 2017, Mr. Barbara took a position as General In-House Counsel for the Barreto Group in Coral Gables. He also serves as Personal Counsel to Rodney L. Barreto and the Barreto Family. Mr. Barbara, along with Rodney Barreto and son Bradley Barreto, founded Coral Gables Title + Escrow, LLC to provide concierge style title agent and escrow services to the community.

Jonathan Asbell | RealPlaces

Jonathan Asbell is a South Florida residential and commercial real estate professional and investor serving the entrepreneur and business community, and the founder of the Realplaces.io platform. Originally from Philadelphia and later NYC, he used to be a professional musician and worked with Will Smith. His background in technology and marketing includes launching online offerings for VNU/Nielsen, Bertelsmann, and McGraw-Hill/S&P/IMS. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Fordham Business School, holds certificates in publishing and technology from UCLA and NYU, speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, and is the father of 2 fearless teenagers that are making the world a better place.

Timothy Spangler | Dechert LLP

Timothy Spangler focuses his practice on the intersection of alternative investment management and financial technology, including the impact of blockchain, cryptocurrencies and digital assets on the financial services industry and the innovation economy.

Mr. Spangler assists clients with the formation, structuring and negotiation of private investment vehicles across numerous jurisdictions around the world. He regularly advises fund sponsors and promoters on the structuring and launch of hedge funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds, as well as with respect to their co-investment arrangements, internal partnerships, and personal investments. On a selective basis, he advises potential investors in private investment funds. Mr. Spangler also has particular experience counseling clients on the ongoing compliance obligations of investment management firms operating in a rapidly evolving global regulatory landscape, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.

He also has wide-ranging experience working both with blockchain-native firms navigating the financial regulatory landscape and financial services firms developing innovative products based on and around digital assets and distributed ledger technology. He advises on all legal aspects of the development and launch of new blockchain protocols and applications, as well as issues related with trading and holding cryptocurrencies and structuring tokenizations and other fundraisings using digital assets.

Recently, Mr. Spangler’s work advising Franklin Templeton on development of the world’s first blockchain-based mutual fund was recognized for “Innovation in Creating New Standards” by the Financial Times in their Most Innovative Law Firms in North America for the Practice of Law list, where Dechert is also ranked among the top five firms.

Mr. Spangler has also been recognized by The Legal 500 (US) in the area of fintech and alternative/hedge funds, one recent edition stating that he is “accessible and helpful – he brings a global perspective to things.” He has also been recognized in Chambers Global in the area of USA Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, Foreign Expert for UK. He is listed in The Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for Investment Funds in both the United States and the United Kingdom. He is also “Recommended” for his work with Investment Funds in The PLC Cross-Border Investment Funds Handbook and is mentioned in The International Who’s Who Legal for Private Funds.

Mr. Spangler has practiced law around the world, including New York and London. He is a frequent author and speaker on issues regarding developments in alternative investment funds and financial technology. He also organizes the firm’s successful quarterly webinar series titled “Private Funds: Nuts and Bolts.”

Session I – Cryptocurrency Is on The Rise: Buying and selling real estate with cryptocurrency | 3:00pm – 4:00pm

1. A crypto primer | 3:00pm – 3:20pm
2. A crypto Real Estate Transaction | 3:20pm – 3:40pm
3. Takeaways | 3:40pm – 4:00pm

Break | 4:00pm – 4:10pm

Session II – An Introduction to Crypto Mining and Staking | 4:10pm – 5:10pm

1. What are cryptocurrencies? | 4:10pm – 4:22pm
2. What is a blockchain? | 4:22pm – 4:34pm
3. Proof of Work consensus protocol | 4:34pm – 4:46pm
4. Proof of Stake consensus protocol | 4:46pm – 4:58pm
5. Key legal issues | 4:58pm – 5:10pm