Digital Asset Growth and Regulation

Jersey’s reputation as a forward-thinking jurisdiction for digital assets takes centre stage in the latest Jersey Heard podcast, as global crypto firm MoonPay shares why it chose Jersey to set up as a virtual asset service provider (VASP).

In the fourth episode of the Tokenisation podcast series, our Head of Funds, Elliot Refson was joined by Chris Griffin, Partner at Carey Olsen and Matt Sullivan, General Counsel at MoonPay, for a deep dive into the evolving global regulatory landscape for crypto assets.

MoonPay, a global crypto payments network, enables users to buy, sell and spend crypto assets across both traditional and decentralised platforms. With operations spanning the US, UK, EU and beyond, the firm has sought out jurisdictions that combine innovation with regulatory clarity, a search that ultimately led them to Jersey.

Podcast summary

Jersey’s digital credentials

Jersey has long championed digital innovation, from regulating the world’s first Bitcoin fund in 2014, to issuing ICO guidance in 2018 and most recently updating its framework in 2024 to cover tokenised real-world assets. These regulatory milestones, along with a well-established financial services infrastructure, have helped to position the Island as a competitive destination for VASPs.

Matt Sullivan noted that Jersey’s approach to allowing new entrants to work with local providers for compliance and governance functions offered a fast, flexible way to establish operations without committing immediately to a full on-island presence.

“Using a service provider like Oak Group allowed us to get up and running quickly while assessing our longer-term needs. It’s a model that’s worked extremely well for us.”

A model for responsible innovation

The discussion also touched on the global challenge of regulating crypto in a borderless environment. While blockchain technology enables seamless global transactions, regulatory regimes remain fragmented. Matt highlighted the potential benefits of greater regulatory equivalency, where a licence in one trusted jurisdiction could be recognised by others an approach that would support responsible growth while reducing duplication and inefficiencies.

“A successful crypto ecosystem must be built on trust and accountability,” said Matt. “Jersey is helping to lead the way by offering clear, credible frameworks for businesses like ours.”

Listen to the full episode :