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- 1 Security tokens are regulated, streamlined, and safer options for companies to raise funds.
- 2 Although they are only limited to institutional investors, they have huge possibilities.
As the name suggests, security tokens add some safety into the ownership of digital assets. In essence, it represents or is secured against a real-world asset like real estate, money, etc. For obvious reasons, they are more valuable than ordinary utility tokens. They are accessible to all crypto users who can get them through from various sources.
However, it’s recommended to gain knowledge about it before dealing with it. So let’s dig deeper into security tokens and see what they offer.
Understanding Security Tokens
A security token is essentially a digital representation of real-world assets like real estate, stocks, etc. It brings tokenization into the real world and makes the cryptocurrency more substantial. At the same time, it helps the crypto market get more liquid and stable. Being a blockchain-based entity, an ST transfers the value of an asset into a peer-to-peer network.
Notably, these asset variants are not yet available to retail investors. They are mostly used by institutional investors. According to experts, these assets are more likely to get a nod from regulators. They have better chances of becoming a mainstream means of exchange compared to any other utility token.
Security tokens materialize many possibilities for crypto users. Users must know that security tokens are available in different forms. They could bear the representation of the asset in different ways. It could be either a picture of the asset or it could be its value too.
Besides that, the assets give out information about dividend distributions, values, and other holdings too.
A Peep into the Security Token Mechanism
Essentially, security tokens serve the purpose of investment. Usually, companies can replace shares with these tokens to distribute ownership. The holders of these tokens also gain governance privileges. They are allowed to impact the decision-making process of the company.
Another identifier is that the security token always passes the Howey Test. Since they’re deemed a security, they’re always subjected to regulations. The following are some regulations that affect how security tokens function.
Regulation D
Commonly known as “Form D”, it is fulfilled by the project owners at the time of token sales. It proves to investors that the asset is genuine and can be treated as an investment.
Regulation A+
This one comes with more specific terms and is approved by the SEC itself. It enables the project owner to seek funds from non-accredited investors. Additionally, the ceiling of investment goes up by $50.
Regulation S
This regulation is commonly exercised by all the security token offering (STO) campaigns. The only exception is that it’s not applicable in the United States of America.
Security tokens play a larger role in a company’s overall performance. They bring major changes in the operations and improve them on a large scale too.
Significance of Security Tokens For Enterprises
There are quite a few fronts where security tokens show their impact.
Asset Tokenization– They are most instrumental in presenting a tokenized form of a real-world asset. Companies can use them to tokenize traditional financial instruments, stocks, real estate, and many other objects.
Legal Compliance– Security tokens ensure adherence to security regulations with their very compliant nature. They clarify the terms of ownership, sale, and issuance of tokens for both companies and investors.
Ownership Representation– Security tokens represent ownership in a more assuring manner than utility tokens. Moreover, they extend their ambit and provide other benefits including voting rights, profits, dividends, etc.
Efficient Transfers– Built on blockchain, STs make the transfer of assets very efficient. They reduce the paperwork and human errors to a huge extent while bringing greater speed to the process. In a way, they streamline the whole process of buying and selling assets.
Enhanced Liquidity– Secondary tokens enable the companies to tap a secondary market. At the same time, it covers a larger number of illiquid and physical assets too.
Globally Accessible– There are no border-based restrictions on the transfers of STs. They can be accessed anywhere with the help of the internet and their private keys.
Compliance Automation– Compliance often gets compromised with human meddling. Smart contracts ensure that there is no flaw in the implementation of regulations. They work in an automated way and never miss any specifications.
Fractional Ownership– Security tokens distribute the ownership of one asset to various investors. In this way, they make investment and fundraising easier. They help investors and companies in their endeavors to achieve milestones.
Upshot
The adoption of security tokens has been rising for the past few years. Companies can find different functionalities in security and utility tokens. They both have distinct advantages for businesses and investors. Therefore, investors and enterprises need to choose after a thorough evaluation. They must seek legal advice before engaging with any crypto-based fundraising vehicle.
Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.
