Irina Heaver, #1 UAE's lawyer, steals the stage at TOKEN2049

 At TOKEN2049, the world’s largest crypto gathering, much of the conversation centered on compliant stablecoins, RWA Tokenization and the fast-moving regulatory frameworks. The stage featured global names, from Donald Trump Jr. to executives of Binance and OKX, yet one of the loudest ovations went to a Dubai-based lawyer: Irina Heaver “the Crypto Lawyer.”

Heaver’s panel appearance underscored why she has become a fixture in the global digital assets conversation. As the Partner of NeosLegal, she has structured more than 300 Web3 projects since 2016 and helped shape UAE crypto laws that are now studied globally. 

In her own words:

“Love me or hate me, my job is to keep crypto founders out of prison and their billion-dollar projects thrive legally in the UAE and beyond. If I need to swing the stick, I will.” 

Her candid style struck a chord in an industry not known for compliance.

Founders and investors crowded around her after the session, seeking clarity on how to navigate the UAE’s rapidly evolving landscape. Her mantra is "regulation is not a roadblock, it is the runway." 

The context could not be more timely. The UAE is spearheading world-first initiatives, including a dirham-backed stablecoin, RWA tokenization and new DAO structures. These frameworks, developed at breakneck speed, are reshaping cross-border payments, trade, and digital finance.

Heaver and her team at NeosLegal work closely with regulators, lobbying for and drafting permissive yet safe laws, and helping founders launch in a way that is both innovative and compliant.

As crypto matures, the role of lawyers like Heaver becomes indispensable. The enthusiasm she drew at TOKEN2049 reflected more than her reputation; it showed a collective hunger for rules that work. In an industry too often defined by hype or collapse, she is known for cutting through noise and delivering the one thing founders truly need: certainty. 

In Singapore today, Irina Heaver reminded the global stage why the UAE has become crypto’s most exciting jurisdiction, and why every founder who wants to build for the long term eventually finds their way to her office.