Intellectual Property And Cryptocurrencies: Who Owns Digital Assets?

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have disrupted traditional financial systems, raising complex legal questions about intellectual property rights (IPR) and ownership of digital assets. This research explores the intersection of intellectual property law and cryptocurrencies, analyzing issues related to patents, copyrights, and trademarks in decentralized financial ecosystems. The paper examines ownership rights over blockchain-based innovations, smart contracts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), alongside legal challenges posed by open-source protocols. It also reviews regulatory frameworks in different jurisdictions and evaluates potential policy recommendations for balancing innovation with intellectual property protection in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.