An equity token is a digital representation of ownership on a blockchain. It’s like a modern version of traditional equity certificates. Still, instead of being stored in a physical share register, all the ownership details are securely recorded in encrypted blocks on a distributed ledger.
Companies can use blockchain technology and smart contracts to issue shares and voting rights without going through the traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO) process. Similarly, lenders can create debt tokens, representing financial obligations, which can be easily traded in a highly liquid environment.
Equity tokens fall under security tokens, often issued during Security Token Offerings (STOs). These tokens signify ownership in an underlying asset, typically a company’s shares. The contract associated with equity tokens outlines the terms and conditions, including entitlements like dividends and voting rights. They may also encompass appraisal rights, subscription rights, and other privileges.
Equity tokens can mirror the value and performance of traditional shares on the blockchain, but they don’t grant ownership of the security itself. This distinguishes them from most blockchain coins available through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).
Companies looking to raise funds through Equity Token Offerings (ETOs) might undergo due diligence from regulators or investment banks to ensure compliance with fundraising regulations. Platforms like the SIX Swiss Exchange’s SIX Digital Exchange provide regulated marketplaces for ETOs. Examples of equity tokens include The Elephant Private Equity Coin, and Neufund.
Features of ETOs
Equity tokens have distinct advantages that set them apart from other crowdfunding methods. Here are some key features that make equity token offerings unique:
Backed by Real Assets: Equity tokens represent ownership in a company’s assets. When you hold these tokens, you own a portion of the company’s assets, which adds real value to your investment.
Regulated and Legitimate: Equity tokens are subject to regulations and comply with legal requirements on the token offering platform. This regulatory oversight lends legitimacy to the project, providing confidence to investors.
Trustworthy Structure: Equity token offerings have a well-defined structure that instills trust in potential investors. This structured approach enhances investor confidence and interest in the project.
Cost-Effective: Equity token offerings enable direct investment from individuals, eliminating the need for intermediaries like brokers and brokerage costs. This cost-effectiveness benefits investors and the company and allows for direct communication with investors to address concerns.
Transparency: All essential information, including ownership details, exercise rights, and transaction history, is encoded within the token. This transparency ensures that investors have access to clear and authentic information.
Accessibility: Equity tokens are accessible to a broader audience, making investment opportunities more inclusive. Transactions on the network are automated and efficient, ensuring a fast and streamlined process.
The Purpose of Equity Tokens
Equity tokens were introduced to revolutionize fundraising and protect investors from the risks associated with Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Unlike ICO tokens, which can resemble financial instruments, equity tokens are digital representations of real assets like equities and derivatives. This distinction can make them qualify as transferable assets.
For example, in the European Union, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) requires companies to obtain licenses to issue security tokens during Security Token Offerings (STOs) because these tokens are considered transferable securities. Additionally, companies participating in STOs must assess whether they provide investment services related to security tokens to comply with MiFID II requirements.
Equity tokens offer versatility, as they can be sold in public and private offerings. Investors in equity tokens may also gain valuable rights, including the ability to contribute to the development of blockchain networks and receive compensation based on token performance in the cryptocurrency market.
Equity tokens were created to replace traditional IPOs, safeguard investors from ICO scams, and offer a more regulated and secure way to invest in digital assets.
Types of Equity Tokens
Equity tokens can be broadly classified into two main types, each with its unique characteristics:
Dilutable Tokens
In the case of dilutable tokens, only a portion of the total tokens generated is initially offered to a group of shareholders. The remaining tokens are held in reserve and may be sold later.
When these reserved tokens are eventually released, they dilute the ownership percentage of existing shareholders. To illustrate, a company creates 10 million tokens and initially offers 1 million tokens, representing 100% ownership.
The remaining 9 million tokens are kept for future sales. When these additional tokens are introduced, the ownership structure changes and the value of each share increases.
While this may seem unfair, it rewards early investors who took on greater risk. As more investors join later, the overall risk to the company decreases.
Non-Dilutable Tokens
Non-dilutable tokens are quite different. All the tokens generated are immediately available in the market, and each token represents a fixed percentage of ownership that remains constant over time.
However, as more tokens are added to the market, the value of each share may decrease due to the increased supply. To protect the interests of investors, an anti-dilution premium can be applied to maintain their rights and assets in the face of a growing number of shares.
It’s worth noting that companies often opt for dilutable tokens despite their complex nature, as they can incentivize early investors and align their interests with the company’s growth.
In addition to these token structures, Equity Token Offerings (ETOs) offer compelling features that make them an attractive fundraising option for companies.
How Are Equity Tokens Issued?
Equity tokens are issued through various methods to raise funds or distribute ownership in a company. Here’s an explanation of the two primary methods:
Public Offering of Tokenized Equity
When a company wants to offer tokenized equity to the general public, several steps must be taken to ensure compliance with Equity Token Offering (ETO) regulations. These regulations vary by country and govern the tokenized buying and selling of shares or securities.
This method allows a broader audience to participate in owning a stake in the company, but it requires careful adherence to legal requirements to protect both the company and investors.
Private Token Sale
In some cases, venture capitalist (VC) firms invest in startups in exchange for equity or ownership in the company. Traditionally, they receive their return on investment when the company goes public, or another company acquires.
However, there’s an alternative approach that is increasingly popular among blockchain firms. They engage in private token sales to VC investors. This means that the company sells tokens to VC firms instead of giving away ownership stakes.
For example, Solana (SOL) raised over $300 million from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Unique Square Ventures through a private token sale. In this scenario, the blockchain-based company retains ownership control, while VC firms benefit from staking, holding, and potentially reselling the tokens for profit. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
Private token sales enable young blockchain enterprises to secure VC funding without diluting their ownership stake, and VC firms can profit from the tokens they acquire.
Launching an Equity Token Offering
Launching a successful Equity Token Offering (ETO) involves several logical steps. Let’s break down the process step by step:
Choose the Asset
Begin by selecting the asset that you intend to tokenize. This asset should have a high market value and promising prospects to attract investors.
Develop an Event Plan and Determine the Token Value
Create a comprehensive event plan that outlines how your ETO will be executed. This plan should clearly define the token’s value, the total token count, and the target investor base on your tokenization platform.
Set Up an ETO Hosting Platform
One crucial step is establishing a hosting platform that facilitates token exchanges and transactions. Register your company with well-known exchanges or collaborate with a reputable ETO development company to build a custom platform.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance
Compliance with strict regulations is essential for generating equity tokens and listing them on your platform. Seek assistance from a legal team to navigate this regulatory landscape effectively.
Prepare an Informative White Paper
Craft a well-structured and informative white paper for your ETO. This document should provide a clear introduction, an overview of your project’s concept, and the potential it holds to attract experienced investors.
Launch a Pre-ETO
Before the main event, consider launching a pre-ETO phase. During this special offering, offer a limited number of tokens at a reduced cost to entice early investors. This pre-launch aims to raise initial capital and generate interest.
Main ETO Campaign
Finally, open your ETO campaign to investors worldwide on your registered platform. Once these steps are completed, your project will be ready to accept investments online.
Advantages of ETO for Investors
Equity Token Offering (ETO) is significant in the crypto sector and offers profitable opportunities for investors entering the crypto realm. Here are some of the advantages of ETO for investors:
Dividends: ETO directly transfers company earnings’ dividends to investors’ wallets, eliminating concerns about delayed payments and ensuring timely returns.
Legitimized Token Holding: Investors benefit from holding legitimate tokens with high market value and liquidity, enhancing their investment attractiveness.
Voting Rights: Investors have the right to vote on crucial decisions related to the company’s growth. This ensures equality and transparency in the relationship between investors and the company.
No Brokerage Fees: ETO’s decentralized network reduces listing costs, brokerage fees, and other miscellaneous expenses for companies and investors, making it a cost-effective option.
Key Challenges in Implementing Equity Tokens
The adoption of equity tokens comes with several significant challenges that must be addressed for successful implementation:
Legal Framework Uncertainty: Developing a compliant legal framework is paramount. Clear regulations are needed to protect the interests of investors, issuers, and regulators. These regulations should clarify ownership rights, voting rights, dividend payments, and other corporate governance matters. The lack of legal clarity can impede the widespread use of equity tokens.
Lack of Transaction Transparency: Equity token transactions need more transparency due to their decentralized nature. Investors often struggle to track ownership and monitor trades, exposing them to potential fraud or market manipulation. Robust security measures and transparent reporting are essential to give investors visibility over their investments.
Regulatory Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements is a complex challenge. Equity tokens must comply with a myriad of financial and securities regulations. Navigating these regulations to ensure compliance can be a time-consuming and costly process.
Investor Protection: Protecting investors from risks such as fraud and market manipulation is crucial. Implementing Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols during the onboarding process for investors can help mitigate these risks.
Market Acceptance: Achieving broader market acceptance is another challenge. Convincing traditional investors and institutions to embrace equity tokens can take time, as they may be unfamiliar with the technology and regulatory landscape. Education and awareness efforts are essential to overcome this challenge.
ETOs vs IPOs vs ICOs: A Comparative Overview
An Equity Token Offering (ETO) is a unique investment approach that combines elements from Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and Venture Capital (VC) rounds into a single investment vehicle. It’s crucial to note that IPOs and ETOs must adhere to legal regulations in the jurisdictions where they seek investments from the public.
Equity Tokens Deliver Crucial Benefits
Equity tokens offer investors and issuers essential equity-like rights, making the entire venture legal and transparent. Investors gain ownership in a successful and growing company with dividend rights, providing a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Advantages of ETOs Over IPOs
ETO offers significant advantages over IPOs, primarily in cost and time efficiency. Going public through an IPO can be lengthy and expensive, often taking six months to over a year. In contrast, conducting an ETO to issue tokenized equity is quicker and more cost-effective.
Distinguishing ETOs from ICOs
ETO stands apart from Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in that it targets established companies seeking additional funding for growth. ETO issuers have already demonstrated their ability to build successful businesses, and tokenizing their company represents a strategic step toward future expansion. In contrast, ICOs are formed when individuals seek financing for new initiatives.
Conclusion
Equity Token Offerings (ETOs) present a dynamic and innovative approach to fundraising and investment in the modern financial landscape. ETOs combine the advantages of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and Venture Capital (VC) rounds, offering a unique blend of benefits to both investors and issuers.
ETOs provide investors with equity-like rights, ensuring transparency and legality in the investment process. Investors become owners of successful and expanding companies with the potential for dividends and a stake in the company’s growth.
Compared to traditional IPOs, ETOs offer a more cost-effective and time-efficient way for companies to raise capital. The lengthy and expensive IPO process is streamlined in ETOs, making them an attractive option for businesses seeking rapid access to funds.
Furthermore, ETOs distinguish themselves from ICOs by targeting established firms with a track record of success and a need for additional funding to support growth. ICOs, on the other hand, are typically formed for new and innovative projects.
ETOs represent a compelling investment vehicle that combines the best elements of traditional and blockchain-based fundraising. They provide a pathway for established companies to access capital while offering investors the opportunity to participate in the success of these ventures. ETOs exemplify the evolving nature of finance and the potential for innovation in capital markets.
