Regulation, Compliance, and Institutional Adoption
Program Overview
CRYPTO 501 surveys the global regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency and digital assets with systematic attention to regulatory rationales, jurisdictional variation, and compliance implementation. The program treats regulation not as external constraint but as institutional infrastructure shaping market structure and system design.
Students examine how different jurisdictions approach securities classification, anti-money laundering requirements, tax treatment, and consumer protection. The curriculum covers major regulatory frameworks including US securities law, EU MiCA, and approaches in major Asian jurisdictions, with attention to both stated policy objectives and practical enforcement patterns.
The program covers compliance frameworks, institutional custody solutions, and the integration of cryptocurrency into traditional financial systems. Students analyze case studies of regulatory enforcement actions, examining how agencies interpret existing law and signal future policy direction. Particular attention is given to the interaction between technical design choices and regulatory classification.
Students develop frameworks for analyzing regulatory risk, implementing compliance programs, and understanding how institutional adoption requirements shape product design and market access. The curriculum acknowledges regulatory uncertainty while providing tools for systematic analysis of compliance obligations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of CRYPTO 501, students will be able to:
- Analyze securities classification frameworks including Howey test application, investment contract analysis, and the treatment of various token types
- Evaluate AML/KYC requirements across jurisdictions including travel rule implementation, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting
- Assess tax treatment approaches including property versus currency classification, taxable events, cost basis methods, and reporting requirements
- Examine institutional custody requirements including qualified custodian standards, insurance, and operational controls
- Understand cross-border regulatory challenges including jurisdictional arbitrage, mutual recognition, and international coordination efforts
- Analyze regulatory enforcement patterns and extract predictive frameworks for compliance risk assessment
Assessment Structure
Competency is demonstrated through multiple assessment types.
Regulatory Framework Examination
Comprehensive assessment covering regulatory structures, compliance requirements, and jurisdictional approaches. Tests ability to analyze fact patterns for regulatory implications, identify applicable frameworks, and assess compliance obligations. Duration: 120 minutes. Includes case-based analysis problems.
Compliance Case Study
Written analysis (4000-5000 words) of a regulatory enforcement action or significant compliance challenge. Must include detailed factual analysis, identification of applicable legal frameworks, assessment of regulatory reasoning, and policy recommendations. Demonstrates ability to extract generalizable lessons from specific cases.
Regulatory Impact Assessment
Applied project evaluating the impact of proposed or actual regulation on a specified cryptocurrency use case or business model. Must include systematic analysis of compliance requirements, cost assessment, product design implications, and strategic recommendations. Professional-quality deliverable suitable for decision-maker audience.
Progression
Completion of CRYPTO 401 is required. Understanding of crypto-economics and governance provides essential context for regulatory analysis, as many regulatory questions turn on economic function and governance structure. Students should be comfortable with formal analytical frameworks.
CRYPTO 401
CRYPTO 601
Intended Audience
Students seeking to understand the legal and regulatory environment for cryptocurrency at professional depth. Essential for those in compliance, legal, policy, or institutional roles. Valuable for entrepreneurs, product managers, and technologists whose work requires regulatory awareness. Does not provide legal advice or substitute for qualified legal counsel.
Credential Issued
Certificate of Completion — CRYPTO 501
Verifiable through the MIDAS credential registry. Confirms completion of structured coursework and demonstrated competency through assessment.