ICN.live Key Opinion | EXCLUSIVE Interview with Irina Heaver, Managing Partner at NeosLegal

ICN.live Key Opinion | EXCLUSIVE Interview with Irina Heaver, Managing Partner at NeosLegal

Irina Heaver is a distinguished Bitcoin and cryptocurrency lawyer with over 20 years of experience, based in the UAE and Switzerland. She has advised more than 250 crypto and Web3 projects across 60 jurisdictions, including entrepreneurs, investors, and governments. Irina holds a Juris Doctorate from Monash University and a Master of Laws in International Taxation and Energy Laws from Melbourne University, with specializations in AI and blockchain technologies. She is a recognized thought leader, contributing to publications like Forbes Digital Assets and speaking at over 200 industry events globally. 

Donald Trump & Tariffs

One of the hottest topics in the global economy right now is Trump’s action on tariffs. We’re already seeing some countries backing down and implementing USA-friendly policies, while others are responding with retaliatory measures under similar conditions. These ongoing tariff discussions are significantly impacting the crypto market. From your perspective, how do you see this situation playing out in the end?

Tariffs are a blunt instrument in international trade and are introducing significant volatility across global markets.

Trump is using tariffs as a go-to geopolitical weapon, and he’s using them strategically to pressure other nations into adopting U.S.-friendly policies. Some countries are folding, others are retaliating; this is economic 4D chess at the highest level. While traditional industries are caught in the crossfire, the ripple effects hit every asset class, including crypto.

In the short term, macro uncertainty like this tends to trigger a risk-off response. Investors pause, wait, and watch as policy, growth, and global supply chains get reshuffled. But longer-term, these exact conditions often lead to renewed interest in non-sovereign stores of value, like Bitcoin. People want financial systems that can’t be manipulated by tariff wars or election cycles. So while volatility may spook traders, long-term holders see this as another validation of why decentralized markets matter. When trust in governments and fiat systems wavers, Bitcoin becomes a hedge, a statement, and a lifeline.

So yes, tariffs might rock the boat in the short term. But in the long game? It’s just more fuel for Bitcoin.

Stablecoins 

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has removed USDT from its offerings in the European Economic Area due to non-compliance with MiCA regulations. How is such a scenario possible for USDT—the largest stablecoin with a current market cap of $144 billion?

The fact that Binance had to remove USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin with a $144 billion market cap, from its offerings in the EEA is both absurd and revealing. It shows just how disconnected certain EU regulators are from the real-world mechanics of crypto markets. MiCA was supposed to provide clarity and foster innovation within the EU. Instead, it’s creating regulatory overreach that pushes legitimate players out.

Removing USDT doesn’t protect consumers; it just fragments the market and pushes users toward less transparent options. USDT is the most liquid, widely used, and battle-tested stablecoin in the world. To treat it like a threat rather than a core pillar of the crypto economy reveals a deep lack of understanding of how this space actually functions.

Innovation moves to the UAE or the U.S. out of Europe. The UAE and the U.S. are welcoming builders, creating regulatory frameworks that work with the industry, not against it. You don’t lead the future of finance by blocking the tools the entire ecosystem relies on. You lead by embracing reality and designing policy that enables smart, safe, and scalable innovation. This is an actual representation of European bureaucrats shooting themselves in the foot.

Global Economy 

Many economic experts are warning of one of the toughest recessions in modern history, while Warren Buffett is reportedly sitting on a record $345 billion in cash, patiently waiting for the right time to invest. What are your thoughts on the global economy over the next 6–8 months, and how might your scenario affect the crypto industry—especially altcoins, given that Bitcoin dominance has already reached 62%?

When Warren Buffett is sitting on $345 billion in cash, you know the smart money is waiting for blood in the streets. The next 6–8 months are likely to be tough. Recession warnings are getting louder, central banks are cornered, and inflation isn’t going away quietly. Consumers are squeezed, credit is tightening, and corporate defaults are on the rise.

In this kind of environment, capital becomes extremely conservative. That’s why we’re already seeing Bitcoin dominance creeping above 62%. Bitcoin is the flight-to-safety play. It’s the only crypto asset
that most institutional players even remotely understand, or even trust, as a hedge against systemic uncertainty.

Altcoins are going to feel more pain. Projects without real utility, user adoption, or strong treasuries will get washed out. This is the part of the cycle where fundamentals matter.
But here’s the opportunity: the noise is quieting down. Real builders can finally breathe. The tourist money is gone. If you’re launching something now and you’re doing it right, you’re in elite company.
Smart founders use downturns to build. Smart investors use them to position. And when the market comes roaring back, they’re the ones who own the future.

UAE as a Global Crypto Hub

You’re recognized as one of the most active and influential voices supporting the UAE’s blockchain vision—a country that has introduced multiple strategies to attract digital asset companies. What should be done next to maintain the UAE’s leadership in this space, especially considering how fast things are moving in this industry?

The UAE has done a phenomenal job establishing itself as a global crypto hub. From launching the world’s first dedicated crypto regulator to embedding blockchain into national strategies, this country doesn’t just talk innovation, it executes it. That’s why founders, protocols, and entire ecosystems are choosing the UAE as their launchpad. But, leadership in this space must be continuously earned. Crypto moves fast, and so must we.

To maintain its edge, the UAE should focus on four key priorities:
Regulatory agility – We need faster licensing approvals and a shift away from excessive caution. Innovation doesn’t wait, and neither should regulatory greenlights.
Fix the banking bottleneck – Founders are still struggling to open bank accounts. You cannot build a compliant, scalable business without a basic financial infrastructure. Local banks must step up so that legitimate crypto ventures can operate seamlessly.
Ease of doing business – It is time to reduce the high cost of company formation, visas, and recurring free zone fees. Now that corporate taxes are in place, founders should not also face a maze of ongoing administrative costs. High friction kills innovation. If we want to attract the best, we need to make building here affordable.

The UAE’s superpower is its founder-first mindset. That must be protected at all costs. Let others get tangled in red tape. The UAE should stay focused on what it does best: building the future.

AI & Personal Strategy

A recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns of a major shake-up in the global job market, revealing that more than 40% of jobs worldwide are at risk due to the rise of generative AI. While we enjoy exciting AI startup ideas and innovative applications, do you see a real risk in your industry—for example, an AI agent handling all legal services without clients ever needing to visit a law office?

There’s no doubt we’re witnessing a historic shake-up. Generative AI is already reshaping industries at lightning speed, and yes, law firms are firmly in the blast zone. The recent UNCTAD report warning that over 40% of global jobs are at risk isn’t just alarmist – it’s real. But risk also means opportunity, and in our industry, it’s both.

At NeosLegal, we saw this coming. That’s why we built NeosLexAI, our proprietary AI platform, using LoRA fine-tuned open-source LLMs, advanced RAG pipelines, and domain-specific legal agents. These tools can already replicate the output of a lawyer with up to five years of post-qualification experience; beyond that, some human intelligence is still needed, although not for long. Will AI replace legal services entirely? Not yet. And not for everyone. While AI can supercharge the productivity of an individual lawyer and automate repetitive legal tasks, it still hallucinates and lacks the human judgment, nuance, and ethics required in complex, high-stakes legal work.

Most importantly, clients want trust and best judgment, not just efficiency. They want strategic thinking, contextual advice, and a human who takes responsibility when things go wrong. That’s not something an AI agent can currently provide.
So yes, law firms that ignore AI are in danger. But law firms that integrate AI, build with it, train on it, and use it to deliver better results will absolutely dominate the future.

The goal isn’t to compete with AI. The goal is to lead with it.
A lawyer with the right AI tools will replace 500 lawyers.

When it comes to the general public relying on AI tools for legal advice, the risks are significant. AI still hallucinates, and sometimes very convincingly. So who is responsible when faulty legal advice is given to a consumer? Is it the prompt engineer, the dataset provider, or the platform itself? In reality, it is the end user who bears the consequences, which is deeply concerning. The same applies to medicine and engineering. Self-diagnosing stomach pain or asking AI how to rewire electrical systems at home and then acting on that advice can be literally life-threatening.

The technology is powerful, but without expert oversight, it is also risky. Caution is essential.

Open Mic: Your Thoughts on the Market 

We’d love to give you the floor for an open-ended response. What are your personal thoughts on current market conditions, and do you have any insights on the future of the industry you’d like to share?

We’re at a pivotal moment in the market. On the surface, things may seem shaky, there’s macro uncertainty, regulatory clampdowns in some jurisdictions, and a lot of noise. But underneath, the infrastructure is solidifying, the builders are heads-down and real value is being created. This is the phase where ecosystems are refined, bad actors are filtered out, and serious founders gain an edge. It reminds me of 2018–2019, when the market was quiet but foundational. The winners of the last cycle were born then. I believe we are in that kind of moment again.

To help founders navigate this complexity, we have written “Founders’ Guide to UAE Crypto Laws” a practical, no-fluff resource for entrepreneurs looking to launch, relocate, and scale in the UAE.

We’ve made it available for free because this space deserves more clarity and less confusion. Your readers can request their copy at https://neoslegal.co/founders-guide-to-uae-crypto-laws-2025-edition/

The future of the industry lies in decentralization, but that doesn’t mean disorder. Those who build legally, strategically, and with vision will be the leaders of the next bull run.

This was the KEY OPINION with Irina Heaver brought to you by ICN.live.

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