Digital and Blockchain-based Legal Regimes: An Eea Case Study Based on Innovative Legislations – Comparison of French and Liechtenstein Domestic Regulations

Abstract

The financial crisis of 2007/08 had shattered the global financial system and led – besides a flood of regulations – to a wide range of new concepts and business models. One of these new concepts was “Bitcoin”, a private digital monetary system, which is characterized by decentralization, transparency and immutability. To date the underlying Blockchain or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) has evolved and offers an extensive range of possibilities, particularly in the financial industry. So far, an EU-wide legal basis for Blockchain or DLT applications and services is missing. France and the Principality of Liechtenstein took a step forward and adopted national laws trying to offer legal certainty in this field. This article aims to provide a comparison of the two acts and underline the similarities and differences.