Openfinance Seeks to Raise $50 Million

The popular security token exchange, Openfinance filed a Form D with the SEC this week. The company seeks to raise $50 million to further development of its secondary trading platform and security token ecosystem. The news demonstrates growing interests in the security token sector, specifically, exchanges that add liquidity to the market.

According to the SEC filing, Openfinance seeks to secure around $50 million to accomplish its new strategy. Interestingly, the company already raised $8.6 million successfully according to executives. Notably, this initial funding came from a variety of international investors. In total, 19 different investors participated in the first stage of the crowdfunding event so far.

Openfinance

The Openfinance exchange is no stranger to headlines. The platform became one of the first regulated security token exchanges in operation back in August 2018. Since that time, the platform continued to develop its tokenization capabilities. Recently, the company saw heavy coverage for its tokenization of the media firm, Current Media.

Openfinance via Twitter

Openfinance is the dba of Decentralized Securities Depository, LLC. The firm provides a regulated secondary trading market for digital securities. As such, the platform has an alternative trading system (ATS) license. This license allows the platform to service both individual and institutional investors.

Openfinance Partnerships

As part of Openfinance's strategy, the firm partnered with some of the largest tokenization platforms in the market. According to executives, the company has strategic agreements in place with Securitize, Harbor, and Polymath.

Sageworks Capital

In addition to its valuable partnerships, Openfinance opens and operates a licensed broker-dealer named Sageworks. The company also provides enterprise-level financial analysis and risk management software.

Liquidity is King

While the advantages of security tokens are immediately visible, there are still some concerns that the market lacks liquidity. Platforms such as Openfinance provide the additional liquidity needed to further the development of the sector. Both traditional and non-traditional markets benefit from this newfound liquidity.

For example, Openfinance provides investors with 24-hour trading. Comparingly, traditional securities investors must trade between the regular market hours of 9:30 am and 4:00 pm. While these investors can still match with buyers in the after-hours markets, the entire process is cluttered and leaves investors without many options. Tokenized securities are able to transfer and process at any time, including holidays.

Market Opportunities

Additionally, the platform's tokenization capabilities allow for the creation of new market opportunities. For example, tokenization allows firms to add liquidity to traditionally nonliquidable assets such as debt-equity. Also, tokenization allows for more streamlined crowdfunding campaigns.

Available Globally

On top of the added features, the platform is available to both US and EU investors. Developers seek to expand the platform's reach in the coming months. This strategy makes sense when you consider how the EU market continues to show strong security token development.

Openfinance – Moving Forward

It's easy to see a scenario in which Openfinance becomes one of the most dominate exchanges globally. The firm provides smooth integration between brokers, custodians, transfer agents, and investors. As such, Openfinance plays a critical role in security token adoption.