Sarah (Hody) Shtylman

Sarah Shtylman is a prominent attorney specializing in blockchain and fintech law. With her expertise in these emerging fields, she has become a trusted advisor and advocate for businesses and individuals navigating the legal complexities of blockchain technology and the financial technology sector.

As a blockchain and fintech attorney, Shtylman possesses a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding digital assets, cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and decentralized finance (DeFi). She stays up to date with the rapidly evolving legal frameworks and industry trends to provide her clients with the most relevant and effective counsel.

Shtylman's legal practice revolves around helping businesses navigate the legal challenges associated with blockchain and fintech projects. She advises clients on matters such as regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, contract negotiation, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Her guidance enables organizations to develop innovative solutions while ensuring adherence to legal requirements and mitigating potential risks.

In addition to her legal practice, Shtylman is actively involved in the blockchain and fintech community. She frequently speaks at conferences and industry events, sharing her insights and knowledge with fellow professionals and enthusiasts. Shtylman's contributions to the field extend beyond legal counsel as she educates and raises awareness about the legal considerations and implications of blockchain and fintech innovations.

Throughout her career, Shtylman has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of the blockchain and fintech sectors. She advocates for clear and sensible regulations that foster innovation while protecting consumers and ensuring market integrity. Shtylman believes in the transformative potential of blockchain technology and fintech to revolutionize traditional financial systems and create a more inclusive and efficient global economy.

Sarah Shtylman is a highly experienced and versatile blockchain and fintech attorney, specializing in providing legal counsel and guidance to innovators in the fintech and blockchain industries. Her client base ranges from entrepreneurs and startups to large technology companies and regulated financial institutions.

With a deep understanding of both financial services regulations and transactional matters, Shtylman offers comprehensive legal advice on a wide range of regulatory, commercial, compliance, and product development projects. Her expertise covers various areas, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), regulated digital asset platforms, in-game currencies, and payment services integrations. She provides actionable regulatory assessments that drive product development, marketing strategies, and regulatory licensing strategies. Additionally, Shtylman drafts and negotiates commercial agreements, vendor contracts, and terms of service to support her clients' product launches.

Shtylman's knowledge extends to state and federal financial services regulations, with a particular focus on payments and money transmission. She has guided clients through the application and compliance processes for state and federal trust charters, money transmission licensing and registration, and lending licenses. Shtylman has engaged directly with state and federal regulators to navigate the applicability of financial services regulatory frameworks to emerging blockchain technology platforms and protocols being developed by her clients. She frequently supports clients on matters related to marketplace payments, application-specific virtual currencies, points and rewards programs, stored value devices, and other in-app value systems or payment mechanisms. Notably, she has successfully negotiated co-brand card deals, buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) payment integrations, and significant payment processing arrangements on behalf of international companies. Furthermore, Shtylman represents both investors and emerging companies in financings, conducting due diligence on payments integrations and money services regulatory concerns.

Prior to her private practice, Shtylman gained valuable experience working as in-house counsel at Coinbase, where she provided guidance to the compliance, product, and business teams. This experience at one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges further enhanced her understanding of the intricacies of the industry. Additionally, she has litigated on behalf of banks, broadening her legal experience within the financial services sector.

With a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for advising fintech projects that are transforming electronic payments and international commerce, Sarah Shtylman brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her practice. Her extensive legal experience, combined with her deep understanding of blockchain technology and fintech, positions her as a trusted advisor and advocate for her clients in the rapidly evolving landscape of fintech and blockchain.

As an attorney in the fintech and blockchain industries, Sarah Shtylman's vision is likely focused on helping her clients navigate the complex regulatory landscape in these industries and enabling them to launch innovative products and services that are compliant with applicable regulations. 

Her expertise in payments and money transmission regulations, as well as her experience in negotiating commercial agreements and advising product teams, suggests that she is committed to helping her clients build successful and sustainable businesses in these fast-evolving industries. Additionally, her involvement with The First State Fintech Lab’s Advisory Board suggests that she may be interested in promoting innovation and collaboration in the fintech industry more broadly.