The offer for sale of digital tokens, also known as initial coin offerings (“ICOs“), has been a popular means for blockchain companies and technology companies to access capital by, basically, crowdfunding.

On 30 November 2018, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS“) released an updated version of “A Guide to Digital Token Offerings” (the “Guide“). Following MAS’ clarification on 1 August 2017 and the Guide, token issuers should be fully cognisant of the Guide and must comply with MAS regulations and applicable laws if the digital tokens offered by token issuers constitute securities and/or capital markets products under the Securities and Futures Act (Cap. 289) (“SFA“). Each token issuer should therefore obtain independent legal advice from Singapore-qualified lawyers and a legal opinion on (amongst other things) whether their tokens constitute “securities” and/or “capital markets products” under the SFA. If the tokens planned to be issued by a token issuer constitute “securities” or “capital markets products”, such tokens will be considered “securities” under Singapore law and the offer for sale of securities tokens is referred to as an “STO” or a securities token offering.

According to the Guide and the SFA, a digital token may constitute:

  1. a share, where it confers or represents ownership interest in a corporation;
  2. a debenture, where it constitutes or evidences the indebtedness of the issuer of the digital token issuer in respect of any money that is or may be lent to the digital token issuer by a token holder;
  3. a unit in a business trust, where it confers or represents ownership interest in the trust property of a business trust;
  4. a securities-based derivatives contract, which includes any derivatives contract of which, the underlying thing is a share, debenture or unit in a business trust; or
  5. a unit in a collective investment scheme (“CIS“), where it represents a right or interest in a CIS, or an option to acquire a right or interest in a CIS.

An STO planned to be conducted in Singapore would be subject to the same regulatory regime as an offer of securities and/or capital markets products, including prospectus filing requirements under the SFA (“Prospectus Requirements“).

Generally, an STO may, subject to certain conditions, be exempt from the Prospectus Requirements where:

  1. the STO is a small offer that does not exceed S$5 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) within any 12-month period;
  2. the STO is a private placement offer made to no more than 50 persons within any 12-month period;
  3. the STO is made to accredited investors[1] only; or
  4. the STO is made to institutional investors[2]

STO Platforms

We note that as of 14 January 2019, there are no recognised or approved cryptocurrency exchanges, asset tokenization platforms or STO platforms in Singapore (collectively, “STO Platforms“). However, there may be an emergence of STO Platforms in Singapore in the near future.

In a previous article, we discussed the expansion of MAS’ Recognised Market Operator regime which is aimed to facilitate new and innovative market operators. (Click here to access our previous CNPupdate article)

It is also worth mentioning that the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) and Heliconia Capital Management (an investment firm), invested in iSTOX, a capital markets platform which will allow issuers to raise capital via STOs. (Click here to access the press release dated 8 November 2018)