Shopify executives and lobbyists from Invariant, a government affairs firm the company retained in April, discussed “the use of digital assets and blockchain technology” with officials during the second quarter, according to new filings. Shopify also lobbied on carbon removal, tech antitrust legislation and rules proposed to stop the sale of counterfeit goods online. The firm did not respond to The Logic’s request for comment. (The Logic)

Talking point: In the world of mainstream e-commerce, Shopify was a relatively early adopter of the blockchain. Merchants using Shopify’s platform have been able to accept cryptocurrencies since a February 2018 integration with Coinbase, on whose board CEO Tobi Lütke now sits. In February 2020, Shopify joined the Facebook-led Libra Association, which was working to develop a global digital currency; the project was later shrunk, renamed, then shut down after opposition from lawmakers. In June 2021, Shopify started letting merchants sell NFTs through their webstores, and a year later added “token-gated commerce,” which lets them offer exclusive products and experiences to customers who own NFTs. Crypto isn’t Shopify’s only regulatory interest right now. As The Logic first reported, the firm is expanding its government affairs teams in the U.S. and EU, as lawmakers propose new rules to rein in tech giants, including the firm’s rivals and partners.