Decoding Digital Risk: Crypto, Regulation, & Professional Liability in 2026

McDonald Hopkins Juliana Cipolla will be speaking for Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) on digital asset regulation, perspective on emerging D&O, and practical considerations for advising clients during "Decoding Digital Risk: Crypto, Regulation, & Professional Liability in 2026."

Digital asset regulation is evolving quickly, and professional liability practitioners are feeling the impact. Recent federal shifts have signaled a more open, technology-neutral approach to crypto-related activities, allowing financial institutions to expand into services such as custody, tokenization, and crypto-enabled payments. At the same time, global regulators are increasing scrutiny around transparency, consumer protection, and cybersecurity, creating a complex and fast-moving risk environment.

For D&O, Cyber, and privacy professionals, these developments raise critical liability and coverage questions. As institutions move deeper into digital assets, governance expectations are rising, disclosure obligations are expanding, and operational risks are becoming more sophisticated. Meanwhile, the insurance market is shifting from broadly avoiding crypto-related risks to engaging more actively, reshaping underwriting approaches, policy structure, and what risks they are willing to accept.

This session will focus on what these changes mean in practical terms for professional liability practitioners navigating digital asset exposures today.

Attendees will gain:
• Insight into how regulatory changes are influencing digital asset liability exposure.
• Perspective on emerging D&O, Cyber, and privacy risks tied to institutional crypto adoption.
• An understanding of how global scrutiny may affect governance and compliance expectations.
• Awareness of how the insurance market’s appetite and approach to crypto risks are evolving.
• Practical considerations for advising clients, structuring coverage, and underwriting digital asset exposures.