In this episode of Beyond the Code, I’m joined once again by Justin Wales, Head of Legal for the Americas at Crypto.com and author of the Crypto Legal Handbook — now in its newly released second edition.

Justin and I dive into:

• The real-world impact of the SEC's changing posture on crypto enforcement;

• Why version 2 of the Crypto Legal Handbook is more than just a light update — and how it was rewritten to reflect today’s evolving landscape;

• Crypto.com’s legal journey through Wells notices, proactive litigation, and ultimately a no-action letter;

• How the shift in administration is restoring confidence and innovation to the U.S. crypto ecosystem;

• The tension between traditional finance and crypto-native companies;

• Big Law, legal rankings, and why the current system of legal prestige is broken;

• And a candid take on what excites Justin about the future — including AI x crypto, real product innovation, and global regulatory convergence.

We also plug some amazing legal tools like Justin’s AI-powered GPT search tool for the Crypto Legal Handbook and Crystal, the AI platform purpose-built for crypto lawyers.

Whether you’re in-house, in practice, or just trying to understand the regulatory momentum in crypto today, this episode is essential listening.

🎧 Listen now.
📚 Grab the Crypto Legal Handbook v2 on Amazon.
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