Web3 / Blockchain & Digital Assets
Blockchain technology, distributed ledgers, and digital assets today constitute an autonomous legal field, at the intersection of corporate law, financial law, regulatory law, economic litigation, and digital law.
Projects based on these technologies raise specific challenges, particularly with regard to the legal classification of assets, business structuring, regulatory compliance, governance, and liability.
Sentinel Legal supports its clients in Geneva and across Switzerland in structuring, securing, and developing their blockchain-, DLT-, and digital-asset–related projects, through an integrated legal approach focused on protecting their economic, strategic, and regulatory interests.
The firm acts as a strategic, hands-on legal practitioner, working closely with multiple crypto ecosystems and industry players, thereby possessing a practical understanding of operational realities and market developments.
Our scope of practice notably includes:
Creation and structuring of legal vehicles for blockchain projects
- Incorporation and structuring of legal entities dedicated to crypto and Web3 projects (companies, foundations, associations, hybrid structures),
- Choice of jurisdictions, organization of governance, allocation of roles and responsibilities, and safeguarding of relationships between founders, investors, and partners
- Opening of bank accounts
Legal analysis of blockchain and DLT models
- Analysis of the legal and regulatory risks of decentralized models, protocols, dApps, DeFi, and other distributed architectures.
- Support in the development of decentralized projects
Tokenization & Token Offerings
- Legal structuring of token offerings (utility tokens, security tokens, tokenization of real assets)
- Token classification, drafting of offering documents, and regulatory opinions
Structuring and regulatory compliance
- Establishment of legal structures in compliance with applicable regulations (DLT Act, FinIA/FinSA, MiCA, AML, etc.)
- Drafting of white papers and other regulatory documents
Licenses and authorizations
- Assistance in obtaining licenses
- Approvals for digital asset providers, trading platforms, payment services, custody services, and other regulated activities.
Regulatory advice and interactions with authorities
- Preparation of files, representation, and communications with FINMA and foreign authorities,
- Management of compliance and supervision procedures.
Smart contracts & innovation
- Legal qualification of smart contracts, analysis of their enforceability,
- Contractual structuring and assessment of associated liabilities.
Governance of decentralized organizations (DAOs)
- Legal structuring of DAO ecosystems,
- Selection of the legal framework,
- Organization of authorities and implementation of accountability frameworks.
Legal structuring and Web3 transactions
- Negotiation of contracts with business partners
- Support for growth and restructuring operations within the Web3 ecosystem
- Acquisitions, investments, mergers, IP transfers, tokenized transactions, protocol consolidations
Investment instruments and hybrid models
- Design and structuring of investment contracts (SAFEs, SAFTs, token warrants, and hybrid equity–token models)
DeFi and advanced regulatory structuring
- Regulatory analysis and structuring of DeFi protocols (lending, AMM, liquidity pools, algorithmic strategies, AI agents)
Litigation and criminal proceedings
- Representation in civil and commercial disputes related to blockchain projects
- Representation in criminal offenses in Switzerland, particularly in cases of fraud, mismanagement, and breach of trust
Key Strengths
1. Support for blockchain projects
Legal involvement in numerous blockchain-related projects at various stages of development
2. Practical understanding of technologies
Mastery of the technical mechanisms underlying blockchain architectures, protocols, and decentralized infrastructures
3. Presence in the blockchain ecosystem
Extensive network of industry players, founders, developers, investors, and partners
Would you like to discuss a blockchain-related project?
An initial discussion allows us to learn more about your project.