Inteliumlaw highlights that as crypto regulation tightens around the world, legal strategy is no longer just about “getting licensed” — it’s about building resilient structures that can withstand years of regulatory change. According to Elena Sadovskaya, a senior figure at Inteliumlaw, the crypto businesses most likely to succeed long term are those that treat regulation as part of their growth strategy, not as an obstacle to avoid.
Sadovskaya’s approach is shaped by her early career. While still studying law, she began practicing, and later spent nearly four years at Ernst & Young. She describes her time at the Big Four firm as an accelerated crash course in how global businesses really operate. Working on large cross-border deals and complex tax and transaction structures exposed her to the real-world pressure points companies face: shifting regulations, expansion into new markets, and increasing scrutiny from regulators.
That experience now feeds directly into Inteliumlaw’s work. The firm has grown from a small group of specialists into a full-service legal partner for crypto and blockchain companies. According to Sadovskaya, 2025 marked a major turning point. With the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation coming into force, demand surged for CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) licenses and MiCA-compliant token listings. Inteliumlaw expanded its services to cover CASP licensing in jurisdictions such as Poland, Lithuania, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and others, while also supporting crypto licensing in the UAE (VARA in Dubai), El Salvador, and additional markets. DAO structuring in places like the Marshall Islands and Ras Al Khaimah, as well as foundations in Panama, also became part of the firm’s growing toolkit.
Rather than selling one-size-fits-all legal packages, Inteliumlaw positions itself as a long-term partner. Each client is assigned a dedicated manager, and the firm stays involved as regulations evolve in both home and target markets. This means monitoring changes, flagging risks early, and helping projects adapt before problems escalate. Sadovskaya says this level of involvement is demanding, but it’s what allows companies to build durable structures instead of constantly reacting to crises.
On the common claim that regulation “kills innovation,” she takes a balanced view. Poorly designed rules can slow down development, but a completely unregulated market creates room for unreliable or fraudulent projects. In her view, the strongest crypto firms today are those that learn to adapt to regulation and use compliance as a way to build trust with users and partners.
MiCA, in particular, has changed how crypto companies can operate in Europe. A major misconception, Sadovskaya notes, is that firms can still serve EU clients under old VASP-style setups or from lightly regulated offshore jurisdictions. That era is ending. By 2026, when MiCA’s grandfathering period expires, many firms will either need full CASP authorization or will be forced out of the European market.
Looking ahead, Sadovskaya expects 2026 to bring regulatory consolidation, tighter enforcement, and more pressure on offshore hubs to introduce formal crypto frameworks. She also anticipates more legally recognized DAOs and on-chain governance models, alongside closer scrutiny of hybrid Web2/Web3 projects. For crypto founders, the message is clear: compliance is no longer optional. The projects that plan for tougher enforcement today are the ones most likely to still be standing tomorrow.
Also Read: MSTR Stock Looks Set for Bounce as Saylor Doubles Down on Bitcoin
CZ Criticizes Etherscan Over Address Poisoning Spam