Have you heard about Security Token Offerings? There is a lot of hype surrounding them these days. Even though the security token market is evolving at a rather fast pace, the industry is still in its very early stages. As such, there are numerous grey areas lying in both the market presented to token buyers, as well as the business models adopted by entrepreneurs and business owners looking to raise capital via regulated blockchain-based means. So, just what is a Security Token Offering? Lets find out.
What is a Security Token?
To understand what security tokens are, it is crucial to understand what tokens and securities are.
Token
A token is a representation of something in its particular ecosystem. It could value, stake, voting right, or anything. A token is not limited to one particular role, it can fulfill a lot of roles in its native ecosystem.
What is the difference between a cryptocurrency coin and a token? A cryptocurrency coin, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, can be used as a form of currency outside their native environment. Basically, you can use this currency to purchase goods and services. However, on the other hand, OmiseGO, Golem, etc. are examples of tokens which exist on a particular platform, in this case, Ethereum. A token represents an asset or utility that a company has and they usually give it away to their investors during a public sale called ICO (Initial Coin Offering).
Securities
Securities are tradable financial assets such as bonds, debentures, notes, options, shares (stocks), and warrants. And if we take the example of stocks, you might understand that it is a way to own a part in a company without taking actual possession of it.
Companies and governments use this method to raise money from capital markets from various investors. And then these investors are promised a return back in the form of dividends or interest rates or share of company’s profit in some form or other.
Types of Tokens
The SEC and FINMA have broken down tokens into two broad categories:
- Utility Tokens
- Security Tokens
The Howey Test
In the US, any instrument defined as a ‘security’ is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including security tokens. This sounds straightforward enough, but the legal definition of a security is actually quite complex, and many coins sit uncomfortably between the categories of ‘utility’ and ‘security’.
A transaction will be classified as security if all four of the following requirements are met:
- There is an investment of money.
- There is an expectation of profits.
- The investment of money is in a common enterprise.
- Any profit comes from the efforts of a promoter or third party.
Utility Tokens
Because most of the ICOs are investment opportunities in the company itself, most tokens qualify as securities. However, if the token doesn’t qualify according to the Howey test, then it classifies as utility tokens. These tokens simply provide users with a product and/or service. Think of them like gateway tokens.
Since there is an upper cap on the maximum token availability, the value of the tokens may go up because of the supply-demand equation.
Security Tokens
What is an STO token? A crypto token that passes the Howey Test is deemed a security token. These usually derive their value from an external, tradable asset. Because the tokens are deemed security, they are subject to federal securities and regulations. If the ICO doesn’t follow the regulations, then they could be subject to penalties.
In a nutshell, security tokens are cryptographic tokens that pay dividends, share profits, pay interest or invest in other tokens or assets to generate profits for the token holders. This takes care of the liquidity issues.
Since the assets which are represented by the security tokens already exist in the “real world”, they act like a bridge between legacy finance and the blockchain world.
The “S” in STO suggests that the token follows a strict legal framework designed to protect investors and ensure complete clarity over what is being offered.
In principle, STOs should follow the legal framework that other securities have to follow, but there is still huge ambiguity over whether digital assets and tokens should be considered securities. Financial regulators still have some catching up to do.
In some cases, though, like in Beijing, security tokens have already been deemed illegal. In Beijing all financial fundraising must be approved by the government, so you’re likely to get caught short if you try to run an STO as it’s basically no different from an ICO.
4 Layers in STOs
- Blockchain Protocols
Security Tokens are not entitled to their own protocol technology but are constructed on existing protocols with Etherum being the most popular in the space currently. However, it is not the only option as there are more protocols entering the space.
- Smart Contracts
Security tokens are made out of many smart contracts. A smart contract is a simple program designed to execute once a specified criterion is automatically satisfied. Smart contracts also determine how the token can be purchased, traded and sold in a compliant fashion, and since they are blockchain based, the transactions are immutable, traceable, and fully transparent.
- Issuance Platforms
These platforms create and distribute the utility tokens and are also responsible for having compliant, regulated smart contracts for the token issuance.
- Exchanges
The most essential component in the digital asset ecosystem as they facilitate trading, therefore, providing the liquidity in the equation. Without them, there is no worth of the token except if someone else is ready to pay for them.
How to Offer a Security Token?
It is recommended launching an STO to raise capital for a company or start-up which meets 2 or more of the following criteria. As such, consider launching an STO if your company is:
- Expected to generate at least $10m of revenue annually
- Planned to be a high growth start-up
- Conducting cross-border business
- Designed to issue transferable shares of an asset
- Interested in means of funding that connect with the companys customer base
- Looking for higher levels of liquidity for holders of shares of the company
In order to issue a security, you will need to register it with SEC. It is a complex and expensive process meant for the established business.
To avoid this time-consuming process, projects can make use of the JOBS Act from 2012. The JOBS Act was not made for STOs specifically, but it seems to fit the needs of security token issuers. Issuers in the U.S. can apply for three distinct exemptions: Reg S, Reg D, Reg A+, and Reg CF.
One of the biggest problems associated with security tokens is liquidity. Prior to advent of the blockchain, trading fractional ownership of assets with low liquidity levels, such as private equity funds, or real estate investments, was almost impossible. With blockchain-based asset tokenization, the problem is much less prominent. However, there are a few catches. Tokens have to remain legally compliant as they change hands, which mandates ongoing implementation of KYC/AML regulations all through the lifecycle of the token.
Security token buyers must have a legally compliant platform to find one another: a security token exchange. The SEC has decreed that all crypto exchanges which list security tokens should register themselves as securities brokers. Consequently, you have to pick one of the registered security issuance platforms to launch your STO. These include one of the security token platforms such as Polymath, Harbor, Securitize, and others.
What Regulations Affect Security Token Offerings?
Many ICOs are trying to avoid being defined as security tokens, and in fact, a profitable line of business has opened up advising companies on how to avoid their tokens being classed in this way. The motives behind this are clear enough: with this definition comes the need to make tokens compliant with the SEC’s rules, and potential fines if promises to investors are not met.
In USA, security tokens need to follow these regulations:
- Regulation D
- Regulation A+
- Regulation S
Regulation D
Regulation D will allow a particular offering to avoid being registered by the SEC provided “Form D” has been filled by the creators after the securities have been sold. The individual who is offering this security may solicit offerings from investors in compliance with Section 506C, that requires a verification that the investors are indeed accredited and the information which has been providing during the solicitation is “free from false or misleading statements.”
Regulation A+
This exemption will allow the creator to offer SEC-approved security to non-accredited investors through a general solicitation for up to $50 million in investment.
In order for the requirement to register the security, the issuance of Regulation A+ can take a lot more time compared to other options. For the same reason, Regulation A+ issuance will be more expensive than any other option.
Regulation S
This happens when a security offering is executed in a country apart from the US and is therefore not subjected to the registration requirement under section 5 of the 1993 Act. The creators are still required to follow the security regulations of the country where they are supposed to be executed.
STO vs ICO
Generally speaking, the SEC is more open to the security tokens than to non-security tokens. Greater protection shields investors from more volatile tokens. However, the main problem of ICOs lies in the divergence of interests between the token holders (speculators) and the token users.
Most ICOs propose a huge discount for early adopters. While this might seem like a good way to build a community, the real effect of this discount is negative for platform users. Very often, the benefactors of this discount have an incentive to sell the token as soon as it’s tradable in order to get an instant profit.
There is thus a divergence of interests between the users of a decentralized application and the speculators of the underlying token. That’s where STOs can help.
Security Tokens Pros&Cons
Security Tokens Advantages
Tokens classified as securities tend to provide investors with another option of generating dividends as well as profits and voting rights as is the case with owning shares of publicly traded companies.
- Bringing Credibility Back
There is a real deficit of accountability in the space because of a lack of regulation for utility tokens. In order for the ICO space to regain some credibility, it should make sense to somehow amalgamate the crypto space and the legacy finance space together.
- Improving Traditional Finance
Traditional financial transactions can be a little expensive because of all the fees associated with the middlemen like bankers. Security tokens remove the need for middlemen which reduces fees. In the future, smart contracts may reduce the complexity, costs, and paper works.
- Speeding up Execution
Traditional finance institutions have a lot of middlemen involved which simply increases the execution time. By removing these middlemen, securities allow for faster execution time for successful issuance of security tokens. Because of this increased speed, the security tokens are bound to become attractive investments.
- Exposure to Free Market
Investment transactions today are extremely localized.
- Huge Number of Investors
Since creators can now present their deals to anyone on the internet, the investor base increases exponentially. This is another huge incentive for creators.
- Reducing Lawyer Service
In the future, there security token projects will use smart contracts which will automate service provider functions through software. These functions are currently provided by players such as lawyers which add on to the potential middlemen involved in the project.
- Lack of Institution Manipulation
Because the number of middlemen decreases drastically, the chances of corruption and manipulation by financial institutions decrease drastically as well and may even be removed from the investment process.
- Easier Liquidation
Secondary trading on security tokens will be made simple through licensed security token trading platforms and it will be extremely easy for investors to liquidate security tokens.
Security Tokens Disadvantages
Too many regulations, as well as limitations on who can invest in security tokens, is one of the factors that could stifle mass adoption of security tokens. Regulations affecting people who can take part in Security Token Offerings STOs also go a long way in affecting such securities liquidity.
There are some disadvantages which will invariably come along with security tokens. Removal of middlemen leads to the shifting of responsibilities onto the buyer or the seller in the transaction.
Conclusions
STO token might potentially overtake ICOs. They will be legal, regulated and one can invest in them with a genuine expectation of returns. As of right now, security tokens have a far less share of the market as compared to utility tokens, however, security tokens are something which can become huge in the nearest future.