Michael Nonaka Named "Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Fintech Trailblazer"

WASHINGTON—The National Law Journal has named Covington's Michael Nonaka to its inaugural list of "Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, & Fintech Trailblazers." This list profiles 50 lawyers who have "moved the needle" and are making great strides as finance and technology grow more entwined.

Mr. Nonaka is co-chair of the firm’s Financial Services Group and advises banks, financial services providers, and non-bank companies on a broad range of compliance, enforcement, transactional, and legislative matters. He has worked extensively with federal and state banking agencies and with other federal agencies authorized to regulate financial services. Mr. Nonaka plays an active role in the firm’s Fintech Initiative and works with a number of banks, lending companies, money transmitters, payments firms, technology companies, and service providers on innovative technologies such as blockchain, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, big data, cloud computing, and online lending.

In its feature, The National Law Journal highlights how Mr. Nonaka's knowledge of the banking regulatory framework has helped fintech companies navigate the FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve requirements as they increasingly partner with banks or seek to charter banks to provide financial services.