Document Type : Academicm and Research
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran
2
Department of Law, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran
3
, , Department of Law, University of Ilam,iran
Abstract
The rapid expansion of blockchain technology and the growing prevalence of non-fungible tokens have transformed digital markets in Iran, the European Union, and the United States, introducing innovative models of exchange and investment. Alongside these opportunities, however, the NFT ecosystem has also given rise to new forms of fraud and deceptive practices. Understanding the contours of legal liability arising from NFT-related fraud is therefore essential: it not only protects investors and purchasers of digital assets, but also provides a foundation for transparent and reliable regulatory frameworks governing NFT platforms and transactional intermediaries.This study adopts a descriptive-analytical and comparative approach based on domestic and international legal materials, scholarly literature, selected judicial cases, and an examination of operational structures within prominent NFT platforms. The findings reveal that liability for NFT fraud is inherently multi-layered, encompassing both criminal responsibility for fraudulent conduct and civil liability arising from breaches of duty, negligent platform design, or inadequate mechanisms for identity verification and authenticity validation. Smart contracts further complicate the landscape; depending on their coding architecture and the clarity of embedded obligations, they may either mitigate risks or introduce additional vulnerabilities exploitable by malicious actors.A comparative analysis of Iran’s legal position, the European Union’s emerging regulatory framework particularly the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the United States’ decentralized and case-driven approach demonstrates significant divergence among these jurisdictions. While the EU is moving toward a uniform and comprehensive scheme, the U.S. continues to rely on fragmented federal and state doctrines in securities law,
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