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 assists its clients, in Switzerland and Europe, with the structuring, securing, and development of their projects related to blockchain, DLT technologies, and digital assets. We offer an integrated legal approach focused on protecting economic, strategic, and regulatory interests.
Our law firm acts as a legal partner deeply rooted in the ecosystem, working directly with industry stakeholders. We possess a thorough understanding of operational realities and legal developments.
Disappointed investor in a Swiss crypto project, failure, fraud or misappropriation
Scam money passed through a Swiss account, what the victim can do
Legal involvement in numerous blockchain-related projects at various stages of development
Mastery of the technical mechanisms underlying blockchain architectures, protocols, and decentralized infrastructures
Extensive network of industry players, founders, developers, investors, and partners
It depends on the economic function of the token, not on its technology. FINMA distinguishes payment, utility and asset tokens. An asset token is treated as a security; a payment token triggers the Anti-Money Laundering Act. We classify the token, prepare a request to FINMA where useful and structure the issuance accordingly.
Yes. Since 1 February 2021, the Code of Obligations allows rights to be registered on a distributed ledger as ledger-based securities (art. 973d et seq. CO): shares, bonds, units. You need a registration agreement, a ledger that meets the statutory requirements and adapted articles of association. We draft all three and support the set-up of the ledger.
If you hold crypto-assets for third parties, exchange them for currencies or other tokens, or execute transfers for clients, very probably yes (art. 2 para. 3 AMLA). You then need to join a self-regulatory organization or obtain a FINMA licence, and set up client identification, transaction monitoring and reporting to MROS. We carry out the analysis and handle the affiliation.
Trace the funds on-chain, identify the platforms that received them, file a criminal complaint for fraud and money laundering (art. 146 and 305bis SCC) with a request to freeze assets, and request mutual legal assistance if the money has left Switzerland. Speed is the first success factor: funds move within hours. See our Criminal law page.
A structuring memo or a legal opinion is done on a fixed fee, set after a first 45-minute consultation (CHF 200). You know before starting what you pay and what you get. For projects that evolve, monthly support is possible.