The Life-Cycle and Character of Crypto-Assets: A Framework for Regulation and Investor Protection

Abstract

Crypto-assets have the potential for advancing financial exchange, storage of value, venture capital, and contracting, but lack clarity of form, governance, and disclosure for investor decision making. This article reviews the nature of crypto-assets from an investment perspective, clarifying their evolving ecosystem, and making recommendations for classification in order to provide policy makers a framework for elevating investor protection. The review includes advantages and disadvantages of these assets, an evaluation of crypto-investment indicators, governance and regulatory environment. Cryptoassets may change classification over time, and many crypto-assets appear to be more centralized than common belief among market-participants.