If Bitcoin hard-forks, what happens to your Bitcoin? Are exchanges holding your Bitcoin obligated to offer you both?

In mid-November, the Bitcoin blockchain is expected to split into two. Segwit2x, the controversial proposal intended to upgrade the Bitcoin network, may cause it to hard-fork, creating two competing chains. The implications are similar to the recent splitting of Bitcoin into both Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. This hard-fork left exchanges and their users in the difficult position of what to do about the newly created coin. This potentially upcoming fork will be even more complicated though, with exchanges already taking different sides of what they will consider Bitcoin. Bitfinex has come out and said they will support both tokens, while others, including Xapo, state that they will assign the label “Bitcoin” to the blockchain with the highest accumulated difficulty.

Further Reading:

• Explainer: What Is SegWit2x and What Does It Mean for Bitcoin?
• B2X: Bitcoin Exchange Bitfinex Reveals Ticker for SegWit2x Fork
• Xapo: Bitcoin is the Blockchain With the Most Accumulated Difficult

One of the world's largest futures exchange wants in on Bitcoin. In early November, CME, announced it is launching bitcoin futures by the end of the year, pending regulatory review. Once approved, this will allow more institutional investors to participate in the cryptocurrency market, what does this mean for Bitcoin? Also in recent news is the $150MM in ether that is currently locked up in Parity wallets after a developer stumbled upon a bug. What recourse do wallet holders whose funds are frozen have?

Further Reading:

• ICO Funds Among Millions Frozen In Parity Wallets
• Derivatives Giant CME Group to Launch Bitcoin Futures Contract
• CME's planned bitcoin futures will attempt to rein in big price swings

Join us on November 13th where you will hear from leading industry experts on these topics and more.

Get answers to questions like:

• What is Segwit2x?

• What should I do with my Bitcoin in regards to the potential upcoming hard-fork?

• Can my exchange withhold my coins after a hard fork? What are my rights?

• If my funds are frozen in a third party wallet, and the code is open source, is anyone liable?

• What does it mean for Bitcoin when institutional investors start to get involved?

Spend an evening discussing these topics and more with:

• Gregory J. Rigano Esq., Counsel at Elixr.One

• Conor O’Hanlon Esq., Associate at Allen & Overy LLP

• Matt Corallo, Bitcoin Dev & Co-Founder at Blockstream

• Joshua Rittenberg Esq, Associate at Kramer Levin

• Joseph B. Doll Esq, Corporate and Blockchain Attorney at Cole Schotz, P.C.

Be sure to join the meetup group to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events.

Topics Recently Covered:

• Gregory J. Rigano & Conor O’Hanlon- SEC Charges 2 ICO's w/Fraud! Legal Analysis & What You Need to Know
• Nick Scannavino - SAFT: A New Legal Framework for Token Sales
• Josh Garcia - ICOs: The New Fundraising Sensation
• Shawn Wilkinson - ICOs: The New Fundraising Sensation
• Gregory J. Rigano - Analysis Of SEC DAO Report

"Anyone who’s anyone in tech today knows the three-letter acronym for jumbo-size fundraising: ICO."

- Huffington Post, July 4, 2017

"Forget an IPO, Coin Offerings Are New Road to Startup Riches"

- The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2017

These Events Sell Out Fast! Seating is Limited. Purchase Today.

For those of you not able to make it in person this event will be Livestreamed.

SCHEDULE:

6:30p: Networking

7:00p: Panel Discussion (LIVESTREAM on YouTube)

Moderator: Gregory J. Rigano

Panelists: Conor O'Hanlon | Matt Corallo | Joshua Rittenberg | Joseph B. Doll

8:00p: Post-event Networking

PANELISTS:

Conor O'Hanlon, Esq.

Associate at Allen & Overy

Conor is an associate in Allen & Overy’s FinTech group in New York and focuses on the legal and regulatory aspects of cryptocurrencies, blockchains and distributed ledger technology. He is also a member of the firm’s Derivatives and Structured Finance team and has experience in hedging, central counterparty clearing, OTC derivatives and underlying industry regulation in the United States and Europe. He is admitted to practice law in New York and England, and previously worked in Allen & Overy’s London office.

Matt Corallo

Bitcoin Developer & Co-Founder at Blockstream

Matt Corallo is a long-time Bitcoin developer who has been contributing to Bitcoin Core since 2011. Matt helped co-found Blockstream where he co-authored the Sidechains whitepaper and implemented the Elements Sidechain. Matt also built and maintains the Bitcoin FIBRE project, the latest generation of low-latency Bitcoin block relay.

Joshua Rittenberg, Esq.

Associate at Kramer Levin

Joshua Rittenberg advises clients on matters related to FinTech, blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and other digital math-based assets. Joshua also provides counsel on legal and regulatory issues related to emerging technologies including initial coin offerings and initial token offerings. In addition, Joshua handles cybersecurity and general intellectual property issues, including technology, data governance, privacy, software-related transactions and IP licensing.

Joseph B. Doll, Esq.

Joseph B. Doll, Corporate and Blockchain Attorney at Cole Schotz, P.C.

Joseph Doll is a first year corporate associate with Cole Schotz, and is developing a blockchain practice at the firm. Joseph is a Rutgers Law and MBA graduate. In addition to work on mergers and private placements, Joseph and the team at Cole Schotz are structuring an ICO private investment fund and helping blockchain startups raise capital through ICOs.

MODERATOR:

Gregory J. Rigano, Esq.

Counsel at Elixr.One

Gregory is a corporate tech lawyer with a deep interest in cryptocurrencies and intellectual property. He was an Associate at the international law firm Chadbourne & Parke LLP (now known as Norton Rose Fulbright) and the New York law firm Rigano LLC, representing both international and domestic enterprise in various healthcare technology transactions. His experience includes licensing of venture backed intellectual property portfolios, advising on various cryptocurrency matters and advancing healthcare R+D through utility of blockchain enabled fintech.