ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part provides a summary of the nature of Trusts and the duties of Trustees and fiduciaries, with a particular focus on how the advent of digital economies and crypto-currencies has impacted on the way that Trusts will be administered and regulated in the future. It deals with the particular challenges that face regulators of the Statutory Trustees who manage estates in bankruptcy, proceeds of crime, registered securities, solicitors acting as Trustees in commercial arrangements, and Trustees of digital assets in estate planning. The part reviews some recently collapsed Ponzi schemes and financial scams, as well as some examples of spectacular losses resulting from the mismanagement of crypto-currency exchanges. A traditional Trust will typically govern the ownership-management of property for a group of potential beneficiaries over a lengthy number of years.
