Operating in Fintech, Blockchain, or Crypto in 2026: What Every Founder Needs to Know Before It's Too Late

The fintech, blockchain, and crypto regulatory landscape has shifted dramatically between 2024 and 2026. Enforcement is accelerating, banking relationships are harder to secure, and the cost of guessing wrong has never been higher.

Join Allison Maffitt, Joshua Radbod, and José Paulo Miler, Partners at Cogent Law, for a practical, in-depth webinar on exactly which licenses your business requires, what founders need to know before entering this industry, and how to structure your company to scale without regulatory catastrophe.

From navigating the SEC's updated digital asset framework to securing banking relationships, money transmission licensing, and protecting your IP, this session delivers the clarity founders, operators, and investors need to move forward with confidence.

What You'll Learn

• The 2026 MSB and MTL licensing roadmap: which licenses your business requires and how to prioritize applications
• How to navigate the SEC's updated digital asset framework and avoid enforcement
• The DAO legal structure that actually works in 2026 and how to implement compliant governance
• Banking strategies for high-risk crypto and fintech companies, including who is accepting new clients in 2026
• IP protection for blockchain innovations, including international filing strategies

Who Should Attend

• Fintech and crypto founders pre-launch or in early revenue
• Blockchain companies raising capital
• Crypto exchanges, OTC desks, wallet providers, and liquidity platforms
• Bitcoin ATM operators, NFT platforms, and DeFi protocol teams
• Investors and fund managers conducting due diligence on crypto and blockchain startups

Meet the Speakers

Joshua Radbod

Partner, Cogent Law

Josh leads Cogent Law's crypto, fintech, and banking practice, specializing in nationwide money transmitter licensing and regulatory compliance at the federal and state levels. He is also the Co-Founder and CEO of the CBC Summit, Crypto Banking, Compliance & Stablecoins, and the PBC Conference, the leading B2B event for payments, banking, and compliance in the cannabis industry. Cogent Law has served the crypto industry since 2014 and was among the first law firms to do so. Josh's clients value his unique perspective as both an attorney and a business owner, and he has spoken on Capitol Hill and national forums on financial services issues in crypto and cannabis.

Allison Maffitt

Partner, Cogent Law

Allison Maffitt is an attorney with deep experience in regulatory, litigation, real estate, and contracts law, now focused on serving clients in the fintech and blockchain industries. She advises startups, entrepreneurs, and established companies nationwide, guiding them through every stage of business development and regulatory compliance. Before her legal career, Allison worked as an analyst in the oil and gas industry, conducting detailed market research and forecasting. She later served as counsel for an independent production company, gaining hands-on experience with regulatory and operational challenges. She is an active member of the Government Blockchain Association, where she co-leads the design of the Digital Asset Management course.

José Paulo Miler

Partner, Cogent Law

José Paulo Miler is a Portuguese-qualified attorney at Cogent Law focusing on fintech, blockchain, digital assets, and cross-border regulatory strategy across Europe and international markets. Previously, José held executive legal roles, including General Counsel, Head of Legal, and Deputy to the CEO at ZOOP, Baanx Group, and Unlimit, with deep experience in MiCA, EMI licensing, stablecoin structures, and cross-border M&A. José also advises startups, founders, and established companies on licensing, compliance, and corporate structuring, and is a regular speaker on Web3, crypto, and emerging financial technologies.