Report: Lawsky to Consult on Digital Currencies After Leaving NYDFS

A new report suggests Benjamin M Lawsky will seek to advise clients on matters relating to digital currency when he leaves office in late June.

AccessTimeIconMay 20, 2015 at 8:15 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 11:41 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) superintendent Benjamin M Lawsky is stepping down next month and is said to be planning to establish a legal consulting firm.

While the news created a slew of headlines, some media outlets were able to uncover new details. For example, The New York Post indicated that Lawsky would seek to advise clients on matters involving bitcoin and digital currencies, citing anonymous sources.

According to a 20th May press release, the NYDFS announced that Lawsky will leave office in late June after serving as superintendent of New York’s top banking regulator for four years.

He said in a statement:

"I am deeply proud of the work our team has done building this new agency and helping strengthen oversight of the financial markets. We have assembled a great team at NYDFS and I have full confidence that the critical work of this agency will continue seamlessly moving forward.”

Lawsky garnered both support and criticism for his office’s development of the BitLicense, a still unreleased regulatory framework that would establish guidelines for the operation of bitcoin and digital currency businesses in New York.

Notably, a source told that publication that Lawsky has no intention of working with companies that the NYDFS regulates, a list which would likely include a number of US-based bitcoin startups serving New York.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the NYDFS said that the agency still anticipates releasing the final version of the BitLicense before the end of May.

The NYDFS did not immediately respond to questions related to Lawksy's proposed consulting activities.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.