Mark Purpura Appointed to Delaware Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force
May 12, 2026
Firm News| Banking| Fund Finance| Legal Opinions| Limited Liability Company & Partnership Advisory| Private Equity Funds| Structured Finance| Trusts & Estates
WILMINGTON, Delaware (May 12, 2026) – Richards, Layton & Finger is pleased to announce that Director Mark Purpura has been appointed to Delaware’s newly established Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force. Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Sokola appointed Mark to one of three industry seats on May 5, 2026.
The Blockchain and Digital Innovation Task Force was created by Senate Concurrent Resolution 143 to examine ways for Delaware to maintain and enhance its position as a leader in blockchain and digital innovation. Its work includes reviewing federal action on digital assets, including the GENIUS Act and rulemakings by the OCC, SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and CFPB; assessing potential enhancements to Delaware’s existing blockchain framework for corporate governance and entity management; and considering 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 by July 1, 2027.
“We’re proud of Mark’s appointment as he carries on the legacy of RLF and its lawyers’ involvement in helping shape Delaware business law,” said Paul Heath, president of Richards Layton. “RLF has a long history of partnering with state government and industry leaders to further Delaware’s leadership positions in the industries that drive its economy. Mark has been involved in recent efforts to modernize Delaware’s banking laws and establish Delaware as a leading jurisdiction for digital asset activities and innovation in the financial services industry. Delaware was the first jurisdiction in the world to recognize blockchain technology for corporate use, going back to 2017, and Mark is exactly the kind of practitioner you want at the table as the state plans its next steps.”
Mark counsels clients 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.
Mark chairs the Delaware State Bar Association’s Banking Law Committee and previously served on the Delaware Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He has been recognized in Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America, where he was named Wilmington Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law in 2023 and for Business Organizations in 2024 and 2020. In 2016, he received the Order of the First State, Delaware’s highest civilian honor for meritorious service.
Mark earned his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.S., magna cum laude, in business administration from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.
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.
# # #