Delaware Establishes Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force
May 12, 2026
Publication| Banking| Fund Finance| Legal Opinions| Limited Liability Company & Partnership Advisory| Private Equity Funds| Structured Finance| Trusts & Estates
Mark Purpura of Richards, Layton & Finger Appointed to Industry Seat
The Delaware General Assembly has established the Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force, a body charged with examining how Delaware can maintain and enhance its position as a leader in blockchain and digital asset innovation. Senate Concurrent Resolution 143 (SCR 143), sponsored by Senator Darius J. Brown and Representative Michael Smith, was passed by both chambers earlier this year. Appointments to the task force are due within 90 days of the resolution’s effective date, with the first meeting to follow within 45 days after that.
On May 5, 2026, Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Sokola appointed Richards Layton Director Mark Purpura, to one of three industry seats reserved for the President Pro Tempore. Senator Brown was named co-chair, and the remaining industry seats appointed by Senator Sokola went to Nektarios Tsoutsos and Luke Wilson. The Speaker of the House will appoint the House co-chair and three additional industry members. Five state agency heads (or their designees) from Banking, Finance, Justice, Treasury, and Labor round out the task force as ex officio voting members.
Delaware’s Blockchain Framework
Delaware has been at the forefront of blockchain regulation for corporate use since 2017, when amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law authorized Delaware corporations to use distributed ledger technology to maintain stockholder lists and other corporate records. That step, the first of its kind in the world, was followed in 2018 and 2019 by parallel amendments to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. Together, these amendments give Delaware entities a clear statutory foundation for using blockchain in their internal records, share registers, and other governance functions.
What the Task Force Will Examine
SCR 143 directs the task force to examine, among other matters:
- The current and potential impact of blockchain technology and digital assets on Delaware’s economy and business environment;
- Opportunities to attract and retain blockchain and digital asset businesses in the state;
- Potential enhancements to Delaware’s existing 2017–2019 blockchain framework for corporate governance and entity management;
- Applications of blockchain technology beyond corporate records, including in government operations and services;
- Regulatory approaches adopted in other states and their competitive implications;
- Federal legislation and regulatory action affecting digital assets, stablecoins, and distributed ledger technology, including the GENIUS Act and rulemakings by the OCC, SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and CFPB;
- Federal preemption issues affecting state regulatory authority; and
- Appropriate regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with consumer and market participant protections.
The task force will deliver a final report with its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor no later than July 1, 2027. Each recommendation must specify whether implementation should occur at the state, local, or private level, and whether it would require legislation, regulatory changes, or additional resources.
What This Means for Clients
For corporations, financial institutions, and other Delaware entities active in or considering digital asset and blockchain applications, the task force’s work bears watching. The questions it has been asked to address could shape the statutory and regulatory environment for the next decade. The resolution expressly invites the task force to consult with industry participants, consumer advocates, academic experts, and other stakeholders, and clients with views on any of the issues above may want to consider engaging with the task force during its information-gathering phase.
This appointment also reflects the broader pattern of Delaware’s approach to its corporate franchise. The state has consistently treated its leadership as something that must be maintained through deliberate, ongoing work rather than assumed. The 2017–2019 blockchain amendments, the 2025 enactment of Senate Bill 21, and the establishment of this task force are all part of that pattern.
For More Information
Mark Purpura’s practice focuses on complex transactions involving Delaware limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, and statutory and common law trusts. He also represents Delaware banks, trust companies, and other financial institutions on formation, governance, mergers and acquisitions, and federal and state regulatory issues.
Members of Richards, Layton & Finger’s Banking, Limited Liability Company & Partnership Advisory, Structured Finance, and Trusts & Estates groups are available to assist clients in understanding the implications of these developments. For questions about this alert or about Delaware’s blockchain and digital asset framework generally, please contact your Richards Layton attorney.
About Richards, Layton & Finger
Defining Delaware law since 1899, Richards, Layton & Finger helps sophisticated clients navigate complex issues and the intricacies of Delaware law. We advise global companies, business partnerships, leading financial institutions, local businesses, and individuals across a wide range of practices, including corporate law, alternative entities, commercial law, bankruptcy and restructuring, and litigation.