
Blockchain Technology and the Law
Opportunities and Risks
Muharem Kianieff(Author)
Informa Law (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 29. June 2026
Book
Hardback
366 pages
978-1-032-62478-5 (ISBN)
Description
Blockchain Technology and the Law: Opportunities and Risks was one of the first texts to offer a critical analysis of Blockchain and the legal and economic challenges faced by this new technology. It offered those who are unfamiliar with Blockchain an introduction as to how the technology works and demonstrates how a legal framework that governs it can be used to ensure that it can be successfully deployed. This second edition features a discussion of issues that did not exist at the time the first edition was published, presenting new topics will help to reinforce the central premise of the book that the acceptability of Blockchain-based applications will depend on whether they can enhance efficiency and lower transactions costs.
Significant new content added to this edition includes an examination of the proliferation of new applications of distributed ledger technology, such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and, in the payments realm, Stablecoins and proposals that relate to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). High-profile incidents in the payments realm (for instance, the DAO case and a new case currently working its way through the Canadian and American Courts, the Cicada case, as well as Celsius and FTX) and also in the securities realm have forced regulators around the globe to take a hard look at enforcing existing regulations more vigorously, and promulgating new ones where existing regulations may be found lacking. There have also been new changes on the privacy law side (with respect to open banking proposals) and in the emergence of what is referred to as "big data" generally.
These and other developments have led to a consideration of new legal issues that had not been considered at the time of the original book; as a result the second edition is greatly expanded throughout and features two new chapters. The book is written for practicing lawyers, jurists and academics. It should be found on the shelves of libraries of law firms and law faculties, business schools and universities in general.
Significant new content added to this edition includes an examination of the proliferation of new applications of distributed ledger technology, such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and, in the payments realm, Stablecoins and proposals that relate to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). High-profile incidents in the payments realm (for instance, the DAO case and a new case currently working its way through the Canadian and American Courts, the Cicada case, as well as Celsius and FTX) and also in the securities realm have forced regulators around the globe to take a hard look at enforcing existing regulations more vigorously, and promulgating new ones where existing regulations may be found lacking. There have also been new changes on the privacy law side (with respect to open banking proposals) and in the emergence of what is referred to as "big data" generally.
These and other developments have led to a consideration of new legal issues that had not been considered at the time of the original book; as a result the second edition is greatly expanded throughout and features two new chapters. The book is written for practicing lawyers, jurists and academics. It should be found on the shelves of libraries of law firms and law faculties, business schools and universities in general.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Academic, Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, and Professional Reference
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-032-62478-5 (9781032624785)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
approx. 06/2026
2nd Edition
Informa Law
€264.99
Available for download

E-Book
approx. 06/2026
2nd Edition
Informa Law
€264.99
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
04/2019
1st Edition
CRC Press
€312.60
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Muharem Kianieff is Full Professor of Law at the University of Windsor, Canada. Professor Kianieff works in the area of banking law and payment mechanisms. He specialises in blockchain, financial technologies, payment mechanisms, consumer protection, financial reform and privacy. He is also co-author (with Professor Leonard Rotman) of the 5th edition of Canadian Corporate Law: Cases, Notes and Materials (2024).
Content
1. Introduction 2. Overview of Blockchain and the trust problem 3. Introduction to Blockchain-based transactions and smart contracts 4. Blockchain and consumer payment mechanisms 5. Blockchain governance and error correction issues 6. The privacy law implications of blockchain technology 7. Blockchains, Initial Coin Offerings and the challenges facing securities regulators in North America 8. Non-Fungible Tokens and Stablecoins 9. The Emergence of Central Bank Digital Currencies 10. What does the future hold for Blockchain? 11. Postscript: The State of Blockchain in the Mid 2020's