On February 1, 2018, the Ontario Securities Commission approved Canada's first
exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks blockchain-based companies.
There appear to be at least two additional blockchain ETFs in the
pipeline and more will likely follow. Earlier this year, similar
ETFs were launched on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
Blockchain is the technology most commonly associated with
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, this relatively new
technology has applications in countless other industries, from
banking to finance to retail to healthcare.
It seems inevitable that it will also affect the legal
profession. Indeed, LawPro Magazine recognized the
blockchain as a potential legal disruptor in its February 2018 Top Legal Disruptions
Issue. Lawyers should become familiar with blockchain
technology and the various ways it may impact their practice.
