Seyfarth Event
Mar 27, 2014
Bitcoins: Retirement Plan and IRA Investment in Digital Currencies
Address
Webinar
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Cost
There is no cost to attend this program, however, registration is required.
Speakers: Antonis Polemitis of Ledra Capital LLC and Arthur H. Kohn of Cleary Gottlieb
Bitcoins’ novelty and potential as an investment asset has resulted in considerable media attention. Illiquidity, speculation and other factors have driven exceptionally large swings in the dollar value of Bitcoins, which today may be considered a prototypical “risky” asset. To some investors, that could be an attractive diversification proposition. While Bitcoins and other digital currencies may turn out to be unworkable or prohibited, they may develop into an integral part of the global economy. Its proponents maintain that, with the significantly reduced cost and transaction speed made possible by the Internet, bitcoins can revolutionize the money transfer industry.
The emergence of Bitcoins raises many legal questions as to whether they are a permissible and compliant investment for retirement plans and IRAs. This webinar is targeted for ERISA and other practitioners to gain a basic understanding of Bitcoins and how pension and related tax laws might apply to investment in Bitcoins.
Specifically, we will address questions such as:
- What are Bitcoins and other digital currencies?
- What are the key considerations for an IRA acquiring Bitcoins?
- Can a retirement plan acquire Bitcoins?
- Is it possible for a bitcoin fund to be included as an investment alternative for a 401(k) plan?