Exchanges
UBS Managing Director Oi Yee Choo Becomes iSTOX CCO
This week, the Singapore-based digital securities exchange iSTOX announced the appointment of Oi Yee Choo as the firm’s new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). The maneuver follows the larger trend of tokenization platforms hiring from traditional financial institutions over the last year. Additionally, iSTOX gains significant stature with the decision as Choo garnishes much respect in the Singapore market.
Oi Yee Choo
Notably, Oi Yee Choo has over 20 years of experience in the region. Her accolades most recently include a stent as the Managing Director of UBS. Here, the talented Choo was responsible for the firm’s Singapore investment strategy.
MAS
It’s precisely this experience that makes Choo the perfect fit for the iSTOX platform. Importantly, the firm recently became a part of the Monetary Authority of Singapore‘s (MAS) Fintech Regulatory Sandbox. The MAS sandbox allows Fintech Companies to test innovative financial products and concepts in a safe and more efficient manner.
Oi Yee Choo
Discussing the decision to join iSTOX, Choo explained the inevitability of a shift in the financial markets. She took a moment to speak on the pro-blockchain stance of Singapore, and why iSTOX’s positioning in the space makes them uniquely prepared for the upcoming digital revolution.
Oi Yee Choo – A Deep Understanding of the Market
Additionally, iSTOX Co-Founder, Darius Liu shed some light on the firm’s next moves after the appointment. He explained that the company needed someone with the reputation and experience of Choo. iSTOX needed an individual with a deep understanding of the nuances of the Singapore securities market.
Oi Yee Choo – CCO iSTOX
Also, the company wanted someone with relationships across Singapore’s financial networks. Choo provided all of these features. Liu went on to say that Choo possessed all of these traits, plus she has a deep institutional understanding of the challenges faced by issuers and investors.
iSTOX
The iSTOX digital exchange utilizes cutting edge technology, such as blockchain, to streamline the issuance, trading, and management of digital securities. The company is at the forefront of the tokenization sector in the region.
Series A Funding
As previously reported, iSTOX completed Series A funding earlier in the month. Importantly, company officials decided it was a smart strategy to not disclose the amounts of funds invested publicly. However, the company did acknowledge that the Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP) was the only investor needed to meet the company’s crowdfunding goals.
iSTOX – First Regulated Exchange for Digital Securities in Asia
iSTOX seeks to be the first regulated digital securities exchange in Asia. As such, the firm would hold tremendous power in future market developments in the region. As part of this strategy, iSTOX developers want to create an all-inclusive blockchain ecosystem.
iSTOX – Moving Forward
iSTOX continues to make headlines for its pro-regulatory stance in the market. The firm is set to be a major player in the Singapore securities sector moving forward. There is no doubt that Choo’s two decades of experience and network will play a critical role in the company’s future.
Bankruptcy Petition
Unpaid Suppliers
Additionally, a host of suppliers have taken suit against the company. These suits run the gambit from unpaid bills to the alleged fraud. The well-known cybersecurity firm, White Hat Ltd is one of the company’s claiming losses due to DX.Exchange actions. Another lawsuit lists Bee2See Dotan B.S. Solutions. This is the firm that handled DX.Exchange targeted marketing. Even the company supplying the servers never got paid – Malam Team.
Writing on the Wall – DX.Exchange
Employees and suppliers knew to take action earlier in the month after the firm closed its doors unexpectedly. At the time, DX.Exchange owner Pinhas Patarkazishvili cited the rising costs and dwindled profits the exchange had left. He told employees that he was searching for a merger or acquisition and if that he was unsuccessful, the company would permanently cease operations.
DX.Exchange
- DX.Exchange
Security Tokens on the DX.Exchange
Shady Dealings
Will Employees and Affiliates Get Paid?
Platform Launch
While there are many hurdles yet to be cleared on the way to the mainstream adoption of digital securities, there is one that remains obvious. This would be a lack of marketplace solutions within the sector.
Marketplace solutions are vital, as they are what will provide industry participants with the promised, and anticipated, liquidity often associated with tokenized assets.
Looking to fill this void in the sector is VNX exchange. The Luxembourg based company has just announced the launch of their digital assets issuance platform, which will work to facilitate the tokenization and sale of assets. VNX indicates that the potential for a secondary market launch will be evaluated in time.
In an event held to mark the launch of the platform, the company even drew praise from the Luxembourg Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna. He stated,
“VNX is one of the success stories of Luxembourg House of Financial Technology, the LHoFT”
A Place to call Home
For those that follow the digital securities sector, a geographical trend may have been noted. With forward thinking regulations, and industry clarity, Luxembourg has begun to establish themselves as a nation open to blockchain based endeavours. This has resulted in more than just VNX calling the European nation home. The following companies are just a couple of examples of this.
Competitors
While the VNX launch is a positive development for the sector, they are not the first to the table, and will not be the last. The following companies stand to be a two of the major competitors in the same space in which VNX is looking to carve out a place.
Hot Start
Wasting no time in the launch of their services, VNX is providing investors with access to an STO straight out of the gate.
This event will see Korean based, Streami, issue €3 million worth of digital securities. The company itself is solution provider within the world of blockchain through services ranging from a cryptocurrency exchange, to custody, and fiat gateways.
The event garnered commentary from representatives of each, VNX and Streami.
Alexander Tkachenko, CEO of VNX Exchange, stated,
“Streami offering demonstrates the real use case of asset backed tokens to finance VC investments.”
Junhaeng Lee, CEO of Streami, stated,
“I strongly believe in the development of the assets-backed digital financial instruments. VNX offering shows how fundraising for VC industry may evolve and by extension implications to the financial industry. I am very excited and proud that Streami is the first offering presented at VNX platform.”
To learn more about the structuring of these digital securities, make sure to peruse the Streami investor deck HERE.
VNX Exchange
While first conceived in 2017, VNX exchange was founded in 2018. The company operates within Luxembourg, and hopes to transform FinTech through their platform.
CEO, Alexander Tkachenko, currently oversees company operations.
Japanese Expansion
After spending months developing within the confines of the MAS FinTech Sandbox, digital exchange, ‘iSTOX’, looks to take its first large step forward – towards Japan.
It was recently
announced that Japan based, Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, has acquired a minority share of ICHX Tech (iSTOX ‘mother-company’).
This move represents a first for iSTOX, as the company looks to eventually offer their services to investors worldwide.
Investment Details
iSTOX has had a successful year, as they have been on the receiving end of various investments over this time. The first major example would be the globally renowned, Singapore Exchange (SGX), followed by a series of companies in the following months.
SGX Invests in iSTOX to Develop Security Token Platform
iSTOX Exchange Completes Series A Funding
This latest investment, which totals $4.58M, equates to a 4.58% share in ICHX Tech. By acquiring the position, it is expected that digital securities, hosted on the iSTOX platform, will now be available to Japanese investors; this being possible through the brokerage capabilities of Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings.
MAS FinTech SandBox
One of the reasons behind the success experienced thus far by iSTOX, can be owed to the fact that they are one of a very select group to be admitted into the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) FinTech Sandbox.
This program allows for companies to trial new technologies and products, within a structured environment, allowing for continued public/client protective measures.
MAS FinTech Sandbox Welcomes Capital Markets Platform ‘iSTOX’
iSTOX
iSTOX is a subsidiary of Singapore based, ICHX Tech, which was founded in 2017. The company is fervently working to develop, and attain, adoption for their digital securities exchange. This platform, which is currently operative and accessible by accredited investors, is expected to make a full launch in Q4 of 2019.
CEO, Danny Toe, currently oversees company operations.
The team at iSTOX recently announced new growth, as they welcomed a new CCO – Oi Yee Choo. The following article takes a closer look Oi Yee Choo and what she brings to the table.
UBS Managing Director Oi Yee Choo Becomes iSTOX CCO
Tokai Tokyo
Operating out of Tokyo, Japan, Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings is an investment firm, which was founded in 1929. The company is able to offer its clientele a variety of services, pertinent to securities, such as brokerage, distribution, and more.
Company operations are currently overseen by CEO, Tateaki Ishida.
In Other News
Singapore has rapidly established themselves as a leader within digital securities. With clear regulation, and forward thinking, companies have been able to effectively establish themselves within the Asian nation. The following articles are a few examples, highlighting industry moves which involve Singapore.
1X Launches as First Licenced Private Securities Exchange in Singapore
Propine Accepted into MAS FinTech Sandbox
Singapore Halts STO for Regulatory Breach