Adrian McCullagh is an Australian lawyer, researcher, and specialist in information technology law, cybersecurity, blockchain, cryptography, and emerging digital technologies. He is the Principal of ODMOB Lawyers, a specialist law firm focused on legal issues affecting technology and IT organisations. According to the firm, McCullagh has more than 30 years of legal practice experience and holds a Ph.D. in IT Security, in addition to an LL.B. (Hons) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Computing).
Dr. McCullagh has been associated with the Law Futures Centre at Griffith University as a research fellow and has contributed extensively to research and professional discussions concerning blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital assets, smart legal contracts, cybersecurity, and technology regulation. He has also participated in standards work relating to blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.
His recent research focuses particularly on the intersection of quantum computing, cryptography, Bitcoin, blockchain technology, and law. In 2026, he co-authored the research paper “Chasing $85 Billion: The Impact of Quantum Computing on Nakamoto’s Investment” with Alan Davidson and Vallipuram Muthukkumarasamy. The paper examines the potential legal consequences if a sufficiently capable quantum computer were used to derive private keys associated with Bitcoin attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto, addressing issues including property law, theft, conversion, succession, taxation, and money laundering across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
McCullagh has also published research on blockchain standards and cryptocurrency regulation, including work examining the development of standards within decentralized blockchain communities and the regulatory treatment of initial coin offerings and crypto-assets.
Current affiliation: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia / ODMOB Lawyers.
Research interests: Quantum Computing, Cryptography, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Digital Assets, Technology Law, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Contracts, and Regulation of Emerging Technologies.