Blockchain
Schulte Roth & Zabel Expands Finance & Derivatives Practice with Addition of Martin Sharkey in London
Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ) is pleased to announce the addition of Martin Sharkey as partner in the firm’s London office and member of the Finance & Derivatives Practice.
Martin is a leading structured finance practitioner with 20 years of experience in the CLO space, providing strategic counsel for CLO managers, investors and arrangers. He advises CLO managers on multi-currency, arbitrage, balance sheet, market value and ESG CLOs, as well as warehouse financings, collateral fund obligation transactions, CLO business acquisitions and portfolio sales. Martin is also experienced in risk retention compliance, repackagings, supply chain finance, fund finance and forward flow transactions.
“SRZ has an industry-leading U.S. CLO practice, and a pre-eminent funds and structured finance capability, and I am excited to be joining such an experienced team. I am looking forward to working with my talented colleagues in London and in the U.S. to achieve success for our clients,” said Martin.
“Martin is an outstanding addition to our London team. His expertise builds on our structured finance capabilities in both the U.S. and U.K. and reflects the continued expansion of our London office,” said Josh Dambacher, Co-Head of SRZ’s London office and member of the firm’s executive committee.
“Martin’s longstanding CLO practice in London creates excellent synergies with our U.S. CLO practice, and he will provide a valuable cross-border perspective to our clients,” added Craig Stein, New York partner and co-head of the Finance & Derivatives Group.
Schulte Roth & Zabel continues to add substantial talent across strategic practice areas to address emerging client needs in both the public and private markets. Martin, who previously worked in a magic circle law firm and is ranked by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual, joins recent additions Alexander Kim, head of the Intellectual Property Group with a focus on M&A in IP, and Ned Schodek in the Business Reorganization Group.
Other strategic additions include Gregory Ruback in the Finance and Derivatives Group and Polly O’Brien in the Finance & Derivatives Group, based in London; Mike Flynn, Jeffrey Symons and Brian C. Miner in the M&A and Securities Group; Gayle Klein in the Litigation Group; and Douglas S. Mintz in the Business Reorganization Group.
In an era defined by rapid innovation and regulatory shifts, today’s blockchain briefing spotlights five pivotal developments: enterprise-grade data integration, municipal crypto pilots, state-level policy hearings, AI-powered token growth, and secure communications on a public ledger. Across these stories, three key trends emerge:
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Enterprise Adoption & Data Integration
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Government Experimentation & Oversight
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AI & Security Innovations in Crypto
Below, we dissect each story’s essence, unpack its broader implications, and offer opinion-driven insight for Web3 stakeholders.
1. Space and Time Joins Forces with Microsoft Fabric
Source: Chainwire / The Defiant
On May 20, 2025, Space and Time Labs (SXT)—a zero-knowledge data platform backed by Microsoft’s M12 Ventures—announced integration of its multichain index (Bitcoin, Sui, Ethereum) into Microsoft Fabric’s OneLake environment. This partnership delivers real-time, verifiable blockchain data directly within Azure, enabling developers and enterprises to build data-driven Web3 and AI applications without custom pipelines.
Opinion: Embedding verifiable on-chain data into mainstream analytics tools marks a watershed moment. As traditional enterprises crave decentralized insights, Fabric’s native access to SXT’s ZK-proven data could accelerate blockchain analytics, foster hybrid cloud-Web3 solutions, and reduce vendor lock-in. Expect more legacy tech giants to pursue similar alliances.
2. New York City Eyes Crypto for Taxes & Records
Source: DL News
Mayor Eric Adams revealed plans to form a Digital Assets Advisory Council to explore crypto-based payments for municipal services, including taxes, birth/death certificates, and land records. While specifics remain under wraps, Adams highlighted zero-knowledge proofs as a privacy-preserving tool for public documentation on distributed ledgers.
Opinion: New York’s initiative signals growing municipal appetite for blockchain beyond investments. By potentially accepting tax payments in crypto and securing vital records on-chain, NYC could pioneer use cases that blend transparency with privacy. However, pilot programs must rigorously address volatility, regulatory compliance, and digital inclusion to avoid disenfranchising underserved communities.
3. Wyoming Committee Explores Blockchain, AI & Right-to-Repair
Source: Wyoming Public Media
During its first interim meeting (May 14–15, Jackson Hole), Wyoming’s Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation reviewed the state’s proposed Wyoming Stable Token—tethered 1:1 to USD—and examined AI governance and right-to-repair legislation. The Stable Token Commission anticipates a July 4 alpha launch, while lawmakers debated CBDC distinctions, tokenized real-world assets, and consumer repair rights.
Opinion: Wyoming continues to cement its reputation as a blockchain haven. Explicit carve-outs distinguishing stablecoins from CBDCs, coupled with regulatory sandboxes for AI and repair laws, underscore a holistic approach to innovation. Other states should monitor Wyoming’s alpha testing outcomes to inform balanced policy frameworks that nurture Web3 while safeguarding consumer interests.
4. AI Tokens Surge in Crypto’s New Tango
Source: The Economic Times
Himanshi Lohchab reports that AI-centric utility tokens—built to autonomously execute services like compute renting (Render), predictive analytics (SingularityNET), and data marketplaces (Ocean Protocol)—have seen market caps soar from $2.7 billion to nearly $30 billion within a year. Key players include Near Protocol’s AI modules, ICP, The Graph, and emerging AI agents that generate revenue per usage. Institutional interest from Grayscale, BlackRock, and Fidelity further validates the trend.
Opinion: The AI-blockchain convergence is no fleeting fad. AI tokens promise programmable revenue streams and decentralized toolchains, but they also introduce autonomous risk vectors—buggy smart contracts, accountability gaps, and regulatory ambiguity. Security audits, standardized interoperability protocols, and clear legal frameworks will be crucial to sustain investor confidence.
5. BSV Association Selects Binarii Labs for Secure Communications
Source: CoinGeek (via PRNewswire)
The BSV Association has designated Binarii Labs to implement BinariiDSM, an encrypted file exchange and messaging suite that logs proofs of record on the BSV blockchain. This integration ensures immutable audit trails, data resilience, and end-to-end confidentiality for enterprises seeking verifiable trust without centralized intermediaries.
Opinion: As data privacy regulations tighten globally, blockchain-anchored communication platforms like BinariiDSM offer a compelling alternative to legacy VPNs and secure email. By immutably recording metadata on-chain, organizations can demonstrate compliance, simplify audits, and deter insider threats. Look for BSV’s secure-messaging model to inspire similar offerings on other smart-contract platforms.
Conclusion: Navigating a Dynamic Blockchain Frontier
Today’s stories reaffirm that blockchain is no longer an experimental niche—it’s permeating analytics, public services, legislative agendas, tokenomics, and secure communications. To thrive:
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Forge Strategic Alliances: Enterprises should partner with ZK and data-fabric innovators to embed blockchain insights into their analytics stacks.
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Pilot Pragmatically: Municipalities must balance visionary crypto use cases with compliance, volatility management, and equitable access.
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Craft Balanced Policy: States can emulate Wyoming’s sandbox approach—distinguishing stablecoins from CBDCs, while addressing AI and repair rights.
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Secure the Autonomous Agent Era: As AI tokens multiply, enforce rigorous security audits and interoperability standards.
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Leverage On-Chain Trust: Consider blockchain-anchored communications for immutable audit trails and enhanced data resilience.
By embracing these actions, organizations and policymakers can harness blockchain’s transformative power while mitigating emerging risks.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 21, 2025 appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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