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Research Approach & White Paper

Aaron’s research integrates academic literature, institutional-market practice, and real-world data. His work draws on over two decades of experience across banking technology, consulting environments, and digital-finance system design — combining rigorous theoretical analysis with practical institutional insight.

This research connects institutional-finance theory with applied policy, governance frameworks, and digital-asset architecture. The work forms part of Aaron’s ongoing effort to build a coherent, institutional understanding of modern digital-finance systems.

Aaron Elahi’s white paper examines the institutional architecture that underpins global markets — including digital currencies, tokenised assets, market-structure design, and governance models. This research provides the theoretical foundation for the institutional trading and risk-management methods taught through aaronelahi.com.

Aaron continues to engage with peers and professional networks across institutional finance and digital-asset innovation through ongoing research, collaboration, and industry discussion.

White Paper

The Trust Architecture of Digital Finance: Designing Transparent, Accountable & Interoperable Financial Ecosystems

Examines the interaction between governance, distributed-ledger technology, and institutional standards. Introduces mechanisms for transparency, accountability, and systemic-risk reduction in digital-asset finance.
Read full paper →

About the Author

Aaron Elahi is currently a Consultant (via DigyCorp).

Omar Aaron Elahi — professionally known as Aaron Elahi — is an institutional- finance specialist with over 20 years’ experience in trading-system design, liquidity infrastructure, digital-asset governance, and market-structure engineering. He has advised Tier-1 banks, regulators, and hedge funds on technology, risk systems, and financial-market architecture.

Aaron completed advanced executive education at Oxford Saïd Business School in Blockchain Strategy. His independent research focuses on institutional-liquidity design, digital-asset governance, systemic-risk.

Institutional Events & Industry Developments

Educational & Compliance Notice

The content provided in this research library is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or solicitation.

All reports, articles, and commentary reflect the views of their original authors. References to institutions (e.g., Bank of England, IMF, ECB, BIS, DFSA, MAS) are for educational citation only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation.

Readers should conduct independent due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

Last updated: November 2025

Curated by Aaron Elahi — Institutional Finance & Digital Assets

Global Policy & Research Library (2024–2025)

A curated selection of global policy, legal, and regulatory publications shaping institutinal digital-asset, trading, and finance frameworks.

European Union — Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Framework
  • Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 – Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Primary regulation establishing EU-wide crypto-asset rules. View Full Text (EUR-Lex)
  • Delegated Regulation 2025/299 – Continuity & Regularity for CASPs PDF
  • Delegated Regulation 2025/300 – Information Exchange Between Authorities Summary – CSSF Luxembourg
  • Delegated Regulation 2025/305 – Authorisation Procedures for CASPs Addleshaw Goddard Insight
  • Delegated Regulation 2025/1140 – Record-Keeping & Transaction Standards CSSF Notice
Dubai / DIFC — Digital-Asset Regulation
  • Digital Assets Law No. 2 of 2024 (DIFC)
    Comprehensive legal framework for digital assets (effective March 2024).
    Official PDF – DIFC
  • DFSA Consultation Paper No. 168 – Enhancements to Crypto-Token Regulation (2025) DFSA Notice
  • DFSA Consultation Paper No. 153 – Updates to Crypto Token Regulation (Jan 2024) DFSA Release
Singapore — Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
  • Consultation Paper P003-2025 – Prudential Treatment of Crypto-Asset Exposures for Banks (Apr 2025) MAS PDF
Saudi Arabia / GCC Region
United Kingdom — HM Treasury & FCA
  • HM Treasury: Regulatory Regime for Crypto-Assets (Apr 2025) Policy Note – GOV.UK
  • FCA Discussion Paper DP25/1 – Regulating Crypto-Asset Activities (May 2025) FCA Publication
  • FCA Consultation Paper CP25/25 – Application of FCA Handbook to Crypto Assets (Sep 2025) FCA Consultation
Global / Comparative Studies
  • Cambridge Judge Business School – 2nd Global Crypto-Asset Regulatory Landscape Study (Oct 2024) Cambridge JBS PDF
Bank for International Settlements (BIS) — Policy & Working Papers
  • BIS Papers No 147 – Embracing Diversity, Advancing Together (CBDC & Crypto Survey 2023) – Jun 2024 PDF
  • BIS Papers No 156 – Cryptocurrencies and Decentralised Finance: Functions and Financial Stability Implications – Apr 2025 PDF
  • BIS Papers No 159 – Advancing in Tandem: Results of the 2024 BIS Survey on CBDCs and Crypto – Aug 2025 PDF
  • BIS Working Paper No 1265 – DeFiying Gravity? An Empirical Analysis of Cross-Border Bitcoin, Ether and Stablecoin Flows – May 2025 PDF
  • BIS Working Paper No 1270 – Stablecoins and Safe Asset Prices – May 2025 PDF
  • BIS Bulletin No 108 – Stablecoin Growth: Policy Challenges and Approaches – Jul 2025 PDF
  • BIS Annual Economic Report 2025 – Chapter III: The Next-Generation Monetary and Financial System – Jun 2025 PDF

Historical & Foundational Research Archive (2018 – 2023)

Learn More Yourself : Global Crypto Research & Insights

Bank of England
IMF
ECB
ECB / BOJ
MAS
OECD
BIS
BIS CPMI
BIS CPMI G7
FATF
Federal Reserve
Philadelphia Fed
Bank of Canada
Bank of Korea
Bank of Thailand
Banque de France
Blockchain for Europe
Blockchain.com
Cambridge CAF
CB Bahamas
CB Iceland
Copenhagen Business School
Deutsche Bank
dGen
DNB
FSBC
OMFIF
OMFIF (& IBM)
Org
Positive Money
R3
SARB
SSRN
Sveriges Riksbank
The Block
The Digital Dollar Project
Vanderbilt University
VISA
WEF
Crypto Guides

Other Research

Story of Money
Wealth Through the Ages
The Start of the Banking System
The Cryptograph Story
Crypto Wars
The story of Bitcoin
Bitcoin Evolution
Bitcoin Networks
Bitcoin as a Asset
Ethereum - Smart Contracts
Tokenization
Venezuela Crypto Asset Adoption
Bitcoin and Ethereum Accepted as Assets by Wall St.
The Metaverse & Digital Assets
Payment Architecture
Different payment Architecture
Transferring Money
Blockchain Payment Architecture
Fiat Currencies on Public Blockchains (USDC and Tether)
Fiat Currencies on Private Blockchains
Distributed Ledger Uses
Distributed Ledger for Verification
The Worlds Blockchain Data
Tokens & Distributed Ledgers
Blockchain Safe?
Interoperability
Governance
Networks and the Effect
Cryptocurrency eco-system
Engineers
The Ecosystem
Competition
Enterprises
Venture Capital
Cryptocurrency Adoption
Governments Policy
The Media and Cryptos
Blockchain Technology Overview
Blockchain Law
Uniswap
Legal Issues
Jurisdictional Issues
Other Legal Open Questions
Cryptocurrency & Crime
Crypto Asset Regulations
Crypto Asset Regulations : China & Europe
Regulatory Domicile Status
New York’s Virtual Currency
Social Challenges & Political Changes
Governance Questions
DAO
Blockchain's Advantage
Organizational Challenges
BitMEX
Blockchain Features & Businesses
Why Blockchain
Five Forces
McKinsey
Game Theory
Interconnected Systems
Blockchain: Private Vs Public
Legal Cost and Implications
Blockchain : Private Considerations
Blockchain : Public Considerations
VC for Blockchain Projects
Enterprise Blockchain Capital Funding
Blockchain Crowd Funding
Angel Funding
Jobs & The Blockchain
Business Team Impacts & Blockchain
Legacy Systems and Blockchain
Alternative Technologies
Defi Explained
The Value of DeFI
DeFi Risks Explained
DeFi and the Future
CBDC - Central Bank digital Currencies
CBDC Competitor to Bitcoin?
CBDC and Negative Interest Rates
Why CBDC's are bad ?
Global Governments & CBDCs
NFTs
NFT Future
Land Registry Tokenization
The Future of Connectivity
Web 3.0 - Your Reputation or your Life
Markets
Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs)
Digital Initiatives
Radical Change
Online Communities
The Future of Offline Communities

Bitcoin Resources

Sanctions Tools
  • Chainalysis Sanctions Screening Tools Chainalysis have release new, free to use sanctions screening tools, making it easier for any organization to integrate sanctions screening for cryptocurrencies into their existing operation. "The inherent transparency of the blockchain can make cryptocurrency a powerful deterrent to sanctions evasion...Cryptocurrency compliance professionals with the right data and technology are effective at identifying transactions by sanctioned entities and taking action."
  • Hogan Lovells Sanctions Navigator The Sanctions Navigator provides a practical and straightforward overview of the key international sanctions regimes. It allows you to assess key sanctions risks at a glance, evaluate the impact of sanctions on your business, and keep abreast of the latest developments by receiving insight and analysis from the Hogan Lovells International Trade team.
  • TRM Labs Sanctions Screening Tool TRM Labs has launched a free API-based sanctions screening tool. In the wake of unprecedented sanctions on Russia, it is more important than ever that every crypto business - no matter size or maturity - has the ability to mitigate the risk of sanctions exposure. Users of the free tool will benefit from TRM’s unique cross-chain coverage, which spans 25 blockchains and enables users to be notified when a sanctioned address matches a corresponding address on multiple blockchains.
Crypto Industry Guidance On Sanctions
  • Building Sanctions-Ready Compliance Programs Malcolm Wright led a discussion on the industry’s role in the crisis, and what actions might be taken. Panellists included Elaine Sun, Huobi, Bill Hughes, ConsenSys, Liat Shetret, Solidus Labs, and Che Sidanius, Refinitiv.
  • Chainalysis Guidance For ExchangesWith the Russian invasion of Ukraine ongoing and extensive sanctions being levied accordingly, cryptocurrency-specific designations may be close behind. Chainalysis outlines six steps that exchanges can take to strengthen compliance.
  • Elliptic’s Financial Crime Typologies In Cryptoassets: The Concise Guide For Compliance Leaders Elliptic's concise guide for compliance leaders identifies key red flags to strengthen AML protocols associated with cryptoassets. This guide is for compliance leaders to assist cryptocurrency businesses in identifying specific money laundering and terrorist financing risks they may face, highlighting the key red flags to look out for to ensure you stay ahead of criminal actors to prevent crime associated with cryptoassets.
  • FinCEN Alert On Potential Russian Sanctions Evasion Attempts And Virtual Currencies The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is alerting all financial institutions to be vigilant against efforts to evade the expansive sanctions and other U.S.-imposed restrictions implemented in connection with the Russian Federation’s further invasion of Ukraine. This alert provides select red flags to assist in identifying potential sanctions evasion activity and reminds financial institutions of their Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reporting obligations, including with respect to convertible virtual currency (CVC).
  • How Could Russia Use Crypto To Evade Sanctions? TRM Labs breaks down where the risks are, and how they can be mitigated.
  • Joint Statement From UK Financial Regulation Authorities On Sanctions And The Cryptoasset Sector The UK financial regulatory authorities reiterate that all UK financial services firms, including the cryptoasset sector, are expected to play their part in ensuring that sanctions are complied with. Read the full statement on legal and regulatory requirements for crypto and digital asset firms here.
  • OFAC FAQs On Virtual Currencies Use the OFAC toolkit for frequently asked questions on virtual currencies and digital assets.
  • Office Of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Guidance For Crypto Industry The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is committed to engaging with the virtual currency industry to promote understanding of, and compliance with, sanctions requirements and due diligence best practices. In October 2021, they released this guidance to assist the virtual currency industry in mitigating these risks.You can find the OFAC Sanctions List Search tool here. https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/
  • Parts Of The GDF Code Referencing Sanctions Divided into 10 parts, the Code addresses each component of the digital finance value chain, and is written from the perspective of general global regulatory frameworks. The following is a summary of where and how sanctions are covered throughout the Code.
  • The Implication Of Russian Sanctions: Preparing Your Compliance Teams David Carlisle, Ellitpic, and Erin Colocillo, Block, discuss the recent major sanctions developments targeting Russia, the impact of targeted sanctions, and how compliance teams can identify high risk cryptoasset exchanges and other services that might enable sanctions evasion.
  • The US National Security Council Approach To Crypto And Sanctions Speaking at the GDF Emergency Summit, Carole House, Director of Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation at the US National Security Council, gave an overview of the US sanctions. Below are the key messages.
  • Travel Rule, VASP Due Diligence, And Sanctions Joseph Weinberg, co-founder of Shyft, highlighted three main points at the GDF Emergency Summit [link] on the Travel Rule and sanctions. Read more and watch the keynote here.
  • TRM Talks Russia Sanctions With U.S. Government Officials Watch the full video of the exclusive interview with senior U.S. government officials Carole House and Todd Conklin as they join TRM Talks to discuss Russia sanctions and the role, if any, of cryptocurrency.
  • TRM Talks Russia Sanctions With U.S. Government Officials: 5 Key Takeaways In the midst of a steady drumbeat of escalating and unprecedented economic measures taken against Russia this week in response to its invasion of Ukraine, senior U.S. government officials Carole House and Todd Conklin joined TRM Talks to discuss Russia sanctions and the role, if any, of cryptocurrency.
General Resources On Sanctions
Industry Response To Ukraine Conflict

BCG Publications - Crypto

Digital Assets Resources

Annual Reports

Whitepaper

Taxonomy

NFT Resources

Explaining NFTs
  • Demystifying Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) A thematic report prepared by the European Union Blockchain Observatory & Forum (a European Commission initiative). Covers the history of NFT’s, the technology of NFT’s, future challenges and policy recommendations.
  • The Fractionalization Of NFTs Will Lead To Better Social Tokens Bryan Flynn explains the social value of NFTs, how fractionalization enables more contributors to creative works, and its relationship to social tokens.
  • NFTs Make The Internet Ownable An explainer on how NFTs allow creatives to take ownership of the content they share online, and the impact this will have on the relationship between creators and platforms or network providers.
  • Do You Really Own Your NFTs? “Ownership” is discussed a lot with regards to digital assets, but in the digital age, “ownership” can be a malleable term. This article explores the degrees of ownership, degrees of centralisation, data storage questions, and off chain solutions surrounding NFTs.
  • The Greatest NFT Film Ever Made From the numbers to platforms and artists, the Defiant set themselves the goal of creating the most comprehensive guide to the world of NFTs - in a film.
  • NFT Canon Another set of resources bringing together the world of NFTs, from blogs to podcasts, covering news, market data, and standards.
Market Data
  • NFT Marketplaces Overview of non-fungible token trading volumes, number of traders per NFT marketplace and more key metrics.
  • NFT Valuations The University of Nicosia’s NFT Valuation tool sets out not only to establish a robust and defensible methodology for calculating Non-Fungible Token (NFT) market capitalizations on an ecosystem basis, but also to establish a robust and automated methodology for valuing individual NFTs with relevant confidence intervals.
Legal Perspectives
  • MiCA (Updated July 2022): A Guide To The EU’s Proposed Markets In Crypto-Assets Regulation A comprehensive guide to MiCA (the EU’s Proposed Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation). While Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFT’s) are largely left alone by MiCA, NFTs with fractional ownership fall under the law’s remit. This report is usually updated monthly and can provide a good overview until the final text is approved.
  • Shariah Principles Of Royalties In NFTs In NFTs, royalties can be built into the code by way of smart contracts, a method of pushing a portion of the resale proceeds back to the original creator. Amanah Advisors breaks down royalties, intellectual property and intangible rights in Shariah, and how this fits in with NFTs.
  • Ownership And Possession In NFTs From A Shariah Perspective Read Amanah Advisors' overview of possession, ownership, and NFTs from the perspective of Shariah.
  • The Anatomy Of NFTs From A Shariah Perspective "Being digital does not disregard it from being an asset in Shariah, as the driving factor in being Māl (property) – and therefore a valid asset – is the ability to benefit from the asset in a reasonable manner." Read Amanah Advisor's overview of NFTs and Shariah.
  • Non-Fungible Tokens: The Global Legal Impact As well as covering ownership and rights, Clifford Chance’s report looks at how jurisdictions across Europe, America, and Asia are developing approaches to NFTs
  • The Rise Of NFTs – Opportunities And Legal IssuesWhite & Case's article discusses the opportunities and legal challenges that follow the emergence of NFTs, with a particular focus on data hosting, storage, royalties, data protection laws & IP rights.
  • The Rise Of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) And The Role Of Copyright Law – Part II Part ii of this chapter on NFTs covers where copyright meets blockchain, looking at how the technical characteristics of NFTs mean that NFTs so not easily match existing conceptions of ownership as they relate to digital objects, and the implications of this with regards to the transfer of copyright ownership.
  • Legal Challenges Of Non-Fungible Tokens NFTs CMS Law-Now’s article looks to establish a legal framework for NFTs as a new asset class taking into account licensing obligations and copyright issues with respect to the digital original piece.
  • Non Fungible Tokens From A Legal Perspective Tatiana Roberdo’s article takes a look at how to determine the jurisdiction and the respective rights of NFT creators and their buyers.
  • Copyfraud And Copyright Infringement In NFTs Andres Guadamuz does his best to cover the many questions that emerge surrounding copyright and NFTs as the industry evolved. This blog looks “under the hood” of minting NFTs and what happens when copyfraud happens in NFTs.
Protocol Standards
NFTs And Creativity

Global Crypto Policy & Regulation Authorities

UK Regulatory Authority
  • FCA - Financial Conduct Authority (UK)
  •  Bank Of England
US Regulatory Authorities
  • FinCEN - Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (US) 
  • FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (US) 
  • CEA - Commodity Exchange Act (US) 
  • CFTC - Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (US) 
  • DFS - Department of Financial Services (New York, US)
  • SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission (US) 
EU Regulatory Authorities
  • EU - European Union 
  • EC - European Commission, the executive branch of the EU 
  • FATF - Financial Action Task Force (G-7, Group of Seven) 
China Regulatory Authorities
  • CBIRC - China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission 
  • CAC - Cyberspace Administration of China
  • CSRC - China Securities Regulatory Commission 
  • PBOC - People’s Bank of China 
  • MIIT - Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (China) 
Japan Regulatory Authorities
  • PSA - Payment Services Act (Japan) 
  • FIEA - Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (Japan) 
Canada Regulatory Authorities
  • CRA - Canada Revenue Agency 
  • OSC - Ontario Securities Commission (Canada)