Osake‑tokenit vs. arvopaperi‑tokenit: Mikä on ero?

Digitaalisten omaisuuserien taksonomian ymmärtäminen

For investors navigating the digital asset landscape, the terminology can often be confusing. Two terms that are frequently used—sometimes interchangeably and sometimes in opposition—are “security tokens” and “equity tokens.”

To understand the difference, you must look at the relationship between the technology (the token) and the underlying asset (what it represents). In short: A security token is the broad category, while an equity token is a specific type of asset within that category.

Mikä on security token?

A security token is a digital representation of an investment contract that is recorded on a blockchain. It is the technological wrapper that ensures the digital asset complies with securities regulations, such as the Securities Act of 1933 in the US.

According to the SEC, a digital asset is deemed a security if it passes the “Howey Test.” This test asks four key questions:

• Onko kyse rahasijoituksesta?
• Onko sijoitus yhteiseen yritykseen?
• Onko odotettavissa voittoa?
• Onko voitto peräisin muiden ponnisteluista?

If the answer is “yes,” the token is a security. This means it cannot be traded anonymously like a utility token. It requires strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance. The security token is simply the technology that enforces these rules automatically.

Mikä on equity token?

An equity token is a specific sub-category of security token. It represents ownership (shares) in a company, DAO, or venture. Just as traditional stocks represent equity in a corporation, equity tokens represent the same legal rights, digitized on a blockchain.

Holders of equity tokens are typically entitled to:

• Äänioikeudet: Kyky äänestää yrityksen päätöksissä tai hallituksen jäsenissä.
• Osingot: Osuus yrityksen voitoista, joka usein jaetaan automaattisesti älysopimusten kautta.
• Omistusoikeusvaatimukset: Lainvoimainen vaatimus yrityksen omaisuuteen likvidaatiossa.

Therefore, all equity tokens are security tokens, but not all security tokens are equity tokens.

Muut security token -tyypit

To further clarify, here are other types of security tokens that are not equity:

• Velkatookenit: Nämä edustavat lainaa tai joukkovelkakirjaa. Haltijalla on oikeus säännöllisiin korkomaksuihin ja pääoman palautukseen, mutta hän ei omista osaa yrityksestä.
• Omaisuuteen sidotut tokenit: Nämä edustavat omistusta tiettyyn fyysiseen omaisuuteen, kuten kiinteistöön, maalaukseen tai kultaan.
• Sijoitusrahasto‑tokenit: Nämä edustavat osuutta hallinnoidusta sijoitusrahastosta, samankaltaisesti kuin ETF tai sijoitusrahasto.

Tekniset standardit

Unlike simple cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, security and equity tokens require complex rules to ensure they are not transferred to ineligible wallets. Several standards have emerged to handle this.

ERC-3643 (The T-REX Standard)

The ERC-3643 is the industry standard for permissioned tokens on the Ethereum (ETH ) blockchain. It uses a system of on-chain identity registries. Before a token transfer can occur, the smart contract checks if the receiver is a verified investor. If the receiver has not passed KYC, the transaction is blocked. This standard is widely used for tokenizing equity in private companies.

ERC-1400

The ERC-1400 is a comprehensive standard designed to act as a “library” of security token functions. It allows for complex features such as “partitions” (separating tokens into different tranches with different rules) and document management (attaching legal PDFs directly to the token metadata).

Polymesh

While Ethereum is a general-purpose blockchain, Polymesh (POLYX ) is a blockchain built specifically for regulated assets. On Polymesh, identity verification is baked into the chain itself—users cannot even create a wallet without being verified. This provides a high-assurance environment for issuing equity tokens.

Yhteenveto

When building a crypto investment strategy, accurate terminology matters. “Security Token” refers to the regulatory compliance layer—the technology that makes the token legal. “Equity Token” refers to the asset class—ownership in a business. As the market matures, we are seeing a shift from simple utility tokens toward these regulated, asset-backed instruments that offer investors legal protections and genuine ownership rights.