Recently, there has been an interesting case in the crypto world—a project that was investigated by multiple countries unexpectedly hired renowned lawyer Barry Pollack as their legal advisor. This name may not be familiar to everyone, but in the industry, it carries a label: the exclusive lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who, under the intense pressure of global warrants and multi-country pursuits, managed to secure a settlement opportunity for his client.

This case actually reflects a deeper logic in the current crypto market— as regulations become increasingly strict, having only technology and a team is no longer enough. Legal barriers are becoming a standard feature for top-tier projects.

From an operational perspective, Pollack’s typical approach is to reframe political accusations and public opinion pressure within the framework of legal procedures, using procedural rigor and the opponent’s rules to constrain them. If litigation can cause delays or ultimately lead to a settlement, it becomes an opportunity for the project to turn the tide from despair to reversal.

The takeaway for the entire crypto ecosystem is—under the wave of compliance, professional legal resources are becoming a more scarce chip than technological innovation. Projects that seem doomed often succeed in turning around because they have a strong legal team laying out the defenses behind the scenes.

So next time you see a project suddenly under investigation, don’t rush to conclusions—first check what level of legal team they’ve hired. True industry giants often have already built their firewalls in places you don’t notice. In this era, compliance capability is becoming a key variable for a project’s survival and growth.