Agenda

Registration:                    8:00 – 8:30 am

Morning Session:             8:30 am – 12:15 pm

Lunch (On your own):      12:15 – 1:15 pm

Afternoon Session:           1:15 – 5:00 pm

 

The Creation of Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
S. Stein Smith

   Bitcoin – the dawn of cryptocurrency
   Who were the people that influenced cryptocurrencies in the early days?
   Cryptocurrency’s “dark side”
   Cryptocurrencies and their evolution into smart contracts and blockchain applications
   Regulatory and government actions and how they affected cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Blockchain and the Technology behind Cryptocurrencies
S. Stein Smith

   What is blockchain and how does it differ from bitcoin?
   How blockchain differs from traditional databases and ledgers
   Main features and benefits of blockchain technology for industry and government
   Private and permissioned blockchains, and how they differ from open consensus blockchains
   Blockchain-based smart contracts and how they work
   Commercial and governmental blockchain pilots and experiments currently being examined

Cryptocurrencies as Payment Methods
S. Stein Smith

   Which companies are currently accepting Bitcoin for payments?
   How are Bitcoin payments made and accepted?
   How are the payment processors adapting to Bitcoin payments?
   Pros and cons of using Bitcoin as the payment mechanism from both buyers’ and sellers’ perspectives

Investing in Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies
K. Phillips

   Bitcoin and alt-coins, take your pick
   Where to buy: the exchanges, a sordid history
   Picking the right exchange
   Differences and similarities
   Where to store the coins
   The exchanges
   Cold storage
   Safety Initial coin offerings (ICOs)
   The SEC finally speaks
   The international response

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance in the Age of Bitcoin
K. Phillips

   Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) 2013 and 2015 guidance on the application of its regulations to the world of virtual currency
   Federal AML enforcement actions against Bitcoin-related parties
   Why use of Bitcoin is high risk, not least the compliance culture of the Bitcoin community means that they will always be targeted by the Feds

Navigating the Legal and Regulatory Waters in the World of Bitcoin
K. Phillips

   Developing a checklist of key issues for:
   • Buying, selling or exchanging cryptocurrencies
   • Deploying block chain technology in your business
   • Creating tokens• Launching an ICO
   Determining what laws apply and when including:
   • Anti-money laundering, money transmitter licensing, tax, securities
   Developing and executing your strategy

Credits

Certified Public Accountants
   8.0 CPE Hours

Attorneys
   Non-Credit Massachusetts CLE 
   7.0 Maine CLE Hours 
   7.0 New Hampshire CLE Hours 
   8.0 New Jersey CLE Hours 
   7.0 Vermont CLE Hours

Certified Financial Planners
   8.0 Continuing Ed. Hours 

Continuing Education Credit Information

This seminar is open to the public and offers continuing education credit to attorneys, accountants and financial planners.

The Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy accepts courses from providers that are members of NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

HalfMoon Education Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org. Complaints can also be directed to Doug Chapman at doug@halfmoonseminars.org. Sponsor No. 103015.

This course offers a CLE opportunity to New Hampshire attorneys. Courses are no longer subject to preapproval in New Hampshire. HalfMoon Education is an approved CLE provider for Vermont attorneys and this course offers 7.0 CLE hours.

The Maine Overseers of the Bar has approved this course for 7.0 CLE hours (no ethics) for attorneys.

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 8.0 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 0.0 qualify as hours of credit for ethics/professionalism, and 0.0 qualify as hours of credit toward certification in civil trial law, criminal trial law, workers compensation law and/or matrimonial law.

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a CFP Board-registered continuing education sponsor. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. has granted 8.0 hours of continuing education credit for the completion of this seminar.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.

Speakers

Kirk Phillips

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Advisor, TheBitcoinCPA™

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Advisor, TheBitcoinCPA™Mr. Phillips, aka The Bitcoin CPA™, is an entrepreneur, certified public accountant (CPA) and a self-taught woodworker therefore an artist of sorts in all areas of life. He brings the same attention to detail necessary for creating finely crafted furniture into the business world. He is fanatical about technology, business processes, fraud prevention, time management, learning and peace of mind. Mr. Phillips brings more than 20 years’ experience working in public accounting including McGladrey, private industry while also starting multiple businesses. His journey since writing The Ultimate Bitcoin Business Guide™ has turned into a niche consulting practice in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space for both startups and individuals. Mr. Phillips is also a principal with Blockchain Catalytics working on several projects in the space to transform traditional financial market approaches and ways of doing business. He is also creating CryptoProResource.com, the premier website for accounting, audit and tax resources in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. He’s written numerous articles and blogs in publications such as yBitcoin Magazine, Bitcoin Magazine and CoinDesk. Mr. Phillips wrote and produced the AICPA’s Blockchain Fundamentals Course in 2018 and also contributed to the AICPA’s Virtual Currency Task Force in issuing a revised IRS comment letter on virtual currencies. Over the past six years he has attended numerous conferences, been featured on many podcasts, and regularly speaks and educates CPAs and attorneys about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.

Dr. Stein

Assistant Professor at Lehman College (CUNY)

Assistant Professor at Lehman College (CUNY)Dr. Stein Smith is an expert and sought after speaker focusing on the intersection of financial services, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. He is a regular contributor to the official IBM’s Blockchain Unleashed website, analyzing applications for blockchain technology on business at large, as well as being a regular expert guest on China Global TV Network discussing blockchain and related applications. Dr. Stein Smith is a member of the Advisory Board for the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, which coordinates with the AICPA in developing standards and reporting frameworks in this emerging area. He continuously works with, and consults for the AICPA and several professional training organizations in the creation and delivery of blockchain and cryptocurrency related content. Additionally, his analysis and thought leadership in the blockchain and cryptocurrency area has been featured in dozens of articles, including a 2018 feature article in the CPA Journal. Dr. Stein Smith has given dozens of presentations of blockchain technology, both domestically and internationally. He is currently under contract to publish two full length books focusing on blockchain applications for financial services and other industry sectors.