J. Dax Hansen is a technology transactions and regulatory attorney who has pioneered blockchain, digital currency, payments, and fintech law. Hansen serves as chair of the firm’s leading Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency industry group, which publicly launched in 2013 after the firm spent several years helping innovators lay the groundwork for blockchain infrastructure. Since 2006, Hansen has chaired the firm’s Electronic Financial Services (Fintech) practice, which, for decades, has served clients innovating and operating at the intersection of emerging technologies and money. He combines his technology experience with knowledge of complex financial services regulatory regimes, including money transmission, anti-money laundering, prepaid access, unclaimed property, consumer credit, privacy and data security, payment processing, and securities, to assist clients with product counseling, consumer and commercial contracting, business formation and industry consortia. Much of Hansen's work is international, and he maintains a Japan-related technology practice.

Hansen is internationally recognized by Chambers and Partners as a pioneer of the fintech industry, having played a key role in the development of the practice area. He is also regarded as a leading figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrencies field, with particular experience advising startups and financial services businesses on regulatory matters.

With nearly two decades of experience practicing payments and fintech law, Hansen has advised leading technology companies, startups and financial services firms on dozens of projects. These projects include physical and online-stored value, mobile payments, loyalty, and points programs, online marketplaces, crowdfunding, local couponing, pay with points integrations, co-brand, and private label credit, e-commerce, payment processing, tokenized payments, e-commerce and payment standards, and best practices.

Beginning in 2010, soon after the release of Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin white paper, early blockchain and decentralized cryptocurrency innovators sought Hansen's legal help as they built blockchain infrastructure and new businesses, including exchanges, wallets, vaults, and altcoin protocols. Since those early days, Hansen's blockchain and digital currency work have expanded at a tenacious pace. Hansen has advised and continues to work with many of the leading companies, industry associations, and consortia. Projects include U.S. and international digital currency exchanges, vaulting and custody solutions, bitcoin kiosks, tokenized gold and commodities, decentralized exchanges, autonomous smart contracts, and stable coins. Beginning in late 2016, Hansen expended significant effort to apply a new level of legal counseling to established software projects undertaking token sales related to decentralized and distributed protocols. Hansen has participated in early initiatives to develop standards and software tools for security token offerings (STOs), and to advise clients offering private placements through STOs. He has helped found and represent blockchain industry associations and consortia from the early days, including the Bitcoin Foundation, the Chamber of Digital Commerce, the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance and RiskBlock. Hansen and his colleagues have authored white papers on cutting-edge topics, such as Bitcoin under U.S. property law, smart contract applications and self-sovereign identity. Hansen regularly contributes to global education efforts through the firm’s VirtualCurrencyReport.com blog and International Tracker of global blockchain regulatory developments.