Security Token News
The Top 3 Government Security Token Programs (Global Edition)
Security tokens continue to see increased adoption in the cryptospace. The added protections built into these unique tokens make them ideal for use by both governments and traditional investment firms seeking to enter the blockchain space in a cautious manner.
Investors aren’t the only ones to realize the capabilities of these regulated tokens. Today, there are a growing number of government programs in the works that utilize security tokens. Governments from across the globe continue to develop systems that integrate security tokens as a core component of the protocol’s functionality. Below are the top three governmental security token programs currently under the microscope.
Singapore Settlement System
The government of Singapore is a strong supporter of cryptocurrencies. Government officials took a pro-active role in the market by creating favorable blockchain regulations. As a result, the country is now home to some key players in the industry such as the cryptocurrency NEM.
Singapore via Variety
Earlier in the month, the government revealed an automated payment platform that will allow users to settle security token transactions across multiple blockchains. The program involved numerous parties including the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Singapore Exchange, and Nasdaq. Nasdaq’s senior vice president, Magnus Haglind spoke on the magnitude of the project. The ability to complete cross chain transactions is a “major step” in the integration of blockchain tech into the traditional market.
US Department of Defense
The US Depart of Defense is interested in blockchain technology in a major way. DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans a blockchain workshop for February 2019. According to a public post, DARPA is curious about utilizing the new technology in a couple of different ways including for logistical support, supply chain management, and crowdfunding operations.
DARPA is interested in using security tokens to crowdfund certain aspects of their operations. The concept is revolutionary, and it could lead to a boost in the already multi-trillion-dollar budget the organization enjoys. Additionally, DARPA wants to study the possibilities of a cryptocurrency communication network and a blockchain-based supply chain management system.
Russia Tokenization
A joint venture between The National Settlement Depository (NSD) and the Russian state-owned bank, Sberbank CIB is currently underway to explore the full possibilities of tokenizing assets. Security tokens are ideal for the tokenization of major assets that require that government regulations be adhered to. The intent is to tokenize items such as securities, private equity, and real estate,
One of the main goals of the project is to bring more transparency and consumer protection into the Russian cryptomarket. The hope is that security tokens can bridge the gap between the cryptomarket and traditional investors. The program began over the summer and is currently in the beta testing stage.
It’s Just the Beginning
All of these programs showcase how important security tokens are to the development of the crypto space. The security token sector continues to see more participants as the unique benefits of these tokens come to light. You can expect to see many more government security token projects enter the market in the near future.
FMA Approval in Liechtenstein
In a decision that was long awaited, Neufund has been given more than just the approval to host an upcoming GREYP token sale. The tokenization platform was given the greenlight to host all such offerings, moving forward. This authorization came on behalf of the Financial Market Authority (FMA) in Liechtenstein.
This decision will have huge ramifications for Neufund, as they immediately become one of the few, if not the only, entity that is able to offer such flexibility. This will primarily be seen through their ability to open token sales to a broader range of investors, as minimum purchases can be as low as €10.
Neufund indicates that with the approval of the FMA, they have various token events in the pipeline, spanning various countries. They specifically note India, Croatia, Germany, and Belgium as a few of these.
Go for Launch
GREYP is a smart-mobility company, which strives to develop not only next-gen hardware, but to develop the infrastructure surrounding a ride sharing e-bike platform, enabled through IoT.
With regards to GREYP, in particular, the sale will see Neufund sell and issue digital securities on behalf of the former, which imbue various rights upon their holders. This includes, not only equity within GREYP, but, both, voting rights and dividend rights.
For the finer details on what the tokens entail, check out the Neufund listing page HERE.
Commentary
Upon announcing this development, representatives from, each, the government and Neufund, took the time to comment.
Adrian Hasler, Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, stated,
“I am pleased that Neufund has decided on Liechtenstein. This shows that Liechtenstein, with its open attitude towards new technologies, is perceived as an attractive location for innovative business models.”
Zoe Adamovicz, CEO of Neufund, stated,
“Today, Neufund delivers on its promise to democratize access to funding for entrepreneurs globally and enable anyone to access most innovative investment opportunities with ease, in a compliant and secure environment. It’s a big day – not just for Neufund, but business and finance communities at large.”
Speaking with Zoe
Earlier this year, we were fortunate to have completed an exclusive interview with Neufund CEO, Zoe Adamovicz. In this discussion we touch on what separates Neufund from the pack, and the benefits of STO-like events.
Interview Series – Zoe Adamovicz, CEO of Neufund
Neufund
Neufund was founded in 2016, and maintains headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Above all, the company works to provide a range of services which facilitate tokenization. Neufund was one of the first companies to successfully complete their very own STO in 2019.
CEO, Zoe Adamovicz, currently oversees company operations.
GREYP
Based in Croatia, GREYP is a tech company, which is working to usher in the next generation of ‘smart mobility’. While young, GREYP, has the backing of companies such as T-Mobile, Porsche, and others. They also have experience to draw upon, as they are a subsidiary of Rimac Automobiles – manufacturers of high-end electric sports cars.
CEO, Mate Rimac, currently oversees company operations.
One of the leading tokenization platforms, Harbor announced this week that they successfully tokenized $100 million in real estate funds. The firm tokenized four major funds with the goal to increase liquidity for investors. The move showcases growing interest by investors towards more liquid alternative investments.
As part of the tokenization, Harbor provides investors with access to an iCAP-branded platform and private marketplace for secondary transfers. Here, investors can trade their securities in full compliance with the SEC. Speaking on the decision, Harbor’s CEO, Josh Stein described the maneuver as the natural evolution.
The tokenized real estate fund includes a mash-up of 17 broker-dealers, a myriad of placement agents, and approximately 1,100 private investors. Importantly, iCAP Equity is the fund’s manager.
Harbor Tokenizes $100 Million in Real Estate Funds via Twitter
iCAP’s CEO, Chris Christenson spoke on the decision in detail in a recent interview. Here he explained why it was important to create the best investment experience possible for his clients. In his words, the best way to accomplish this monumental task was “providing liquidity for them.”
Harbor Tokenizes Funds on Ethereum Blockchain
Harbor chose Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard for the tokenization of the funds. Importantly, the ERC- 20 token standard is the most popular in use today.
More than Issuance
Stein envisions Harbor as more than just an issuance platform. Now, the company seeks to provide businesses with a solid tokenization infrastructure. In this manner, companies can tokenize their existing assets.
Stein explained that the demand for newly issued tokens was far less than previously expected. Interestingly, Harbor noticed that ICO investors were of the speculative nature versus more traditional alternative investments.
Tokenizing Existing Assets
Notably, Harbor discovered that tokenizing the cap tables of existing assets provides a clear benefit to everyone involved – sponsors, placement agents, and investors. They are also more geared towards the traditional investment community.
Harbor Tokenizes Shares to Add Liquidity to the Market
Traditionally, securities investors agree upon a multi-year lockup. Basically, you can’t sell your shares until an agreed-upon date. The problem here is that in many instances, investors need to access those funds for certain reasons prior to the agreed-upon date.
In the traditional system, an investor would have to wait out the years until granted sales access or find an investor willing to take over the waiting period. Harbor’s platform does away with this nonsense and allows investors to trade their tokenized shares as soon as the SEC mandatory one year lockup period ends.
Experience Equals Lessons
Like any true pioneer, hard lessons were part of the learning process. Last year, Harbor attempted to issue tokenized shares in an apartment building. While the concept was solid, discrepancies arose between the mortgage lender. In the end, the deal was scrapped before launch.
Harbor Tokenizes the World
Harbor appears to have the flexibility and forward-thinking needed to adjust to the ever-changing crypto landscape. You can expect to see more major players in the tokenization sector begin to duplicate this strategy in the coming months. For now, Harbor appears to be a step ahead of the curve.
The popular security token exchange Prometheum announced the acquisition of the InteliClear clearing system this month. The addition places Prometheum as the front runner to be the first SEC-registered all-inclusive Alternate Trading System (ATS). The news showcases the growing competition in the sector and symbolizes a shift in strategies amongst the top exchanges.
An Industry First
Currently, no ATS has the ability to clear transactions in house. Traditionally, exchanges utilize a third-party clearinghouse to complete trades per the Security Exchange Act (SEA). This process adds time and additional fees to the transaction. Prometheum seeks to speed up the entire process via the InteliClear integration. Now clients can settle transactions in hours versus days.
A Milestone
Discussing the maneuver, Prometheum CEO, Aaron Kaplan called the acquisition a “milestone” for the security token industry. He spoke on why InteliClear’s system is an excellent addition to the company’s portfolio. Finally, he discussed the importance of Prometheum becoming the first end-to-end security token trading solution.
Prometheum
The Prometheum exchange entered the market with the goal to provide users with a complete ecosystem for tokenized securities. The New York-based firm was one of the first SEC approved tokenized securities platforms available to the public. The company originally filed with the SEC back in November 2017.
Prometheum via Homepage
Today, the platform hosts some of the most notable security tokens ever launched including Lottery. The Lottery STO made headlines after providing investors an opportunity to participate in revenue derived from the company’s gaming platform for charitable fundraising.
InteliClear
Investors now gain access to more value after the InteliClear acquisition. InteliClear provides businesses with a host of helpful pre and post-trade services. The company uses a custom-built transaction engine that enables importation of trades and transactions from multiple sources. These turnkey and custom solutions enable businesses to fulfill their STO ambitions with the least amount of funding necessary.
The InteliClear system supports tokenized equities, options, fixed incomes, mutual funds, money/market products, and of course, tokenized assets. The global network is able to utilize a host of national currencies and can handle real-time, high volume, operations. The platform automatically calculates trade compression, fees, commissions, and billing to simplify the entire process for businesses.
Security Token Sector Gets More Competitive
The security token arena continues to see more competition develop. The recent SEC approval of numerous A+ filings enables platforms such as Prometheum to take its platform to the next level. Today, the number of security token exchanges in operation continues to expand at an impressive rate. Already, the SEC approved Blockstack, the Props Project, and YouNow’s STO platforms this year. After taking over a year to approve some of these projects, the news is welcomed by the cryptocommunity.
Prometheum Leads the Race
Prometheum now has the tools and capabilities to take a strong lead in the developing security token sector. You can expect to hear more from this exchange as it continues on its STO launch course. For now, Prometheum is the only security token exchange to provide such robust functionality in the market.
