McCarter continues to drive business and industry with our involvement in creating the first-of-its-kind Blockchain Association of New Jersey, which was covered in a special ROI-NJ report highlighting startups and disrupters in the state. The report features Guillermo Artiles, a leader of McCarter’s Government Affairs practice who spent a year as associate counsel to NJ Gov. Phil Murphy, as well as client Crescent Crypto Asset Management and its co-founder Chris Matta, who teamed up with other industry leaders to form the Jersey City–based association. Its mission is to convince Trenton lawmakers to encourage business growth in the blockchain arena and represent the state’s blockchain players as these emerging technologies become more relevant.
Guillermo said, “The association’s goal before anything gets to Gov. Murphy’s desk is to be by the side of industry every step of the way, making sure we have a healthy piece of legislation….Now we’re working with the assemblywoman [Yvonne Lopez] through this association to help create a regulatory framework whereby the state allows young, innovative companies like Crescent Crypto to grow all over the state while also stamping out the bad actors.”
Guillermo explained that business owners connected to these emerging technologies want to be protected against questionable activities for the sake of the industry’s legitimacy and image. New Jersey legislators also want to protect consumers without placing a burden on growing companies.
He added that the industry has an exciting future in New Jersey. “It’s a disruptor and a game-changer,” he said. “The governor talks often about the innovation economy. We think cryptocurrency and blockchain fits right in the middle of that economy.”