Tokenization allows for data to be stored in a secure location, with several levels of authentication required for access, while a random token is used online as a placeholder. The token alone is useless should hackers or malware gain access to it. Tokenization was first introduced in 2005 and has been recommended since 2011 by the Payment Card Industry Security Standard Council. In this introduction, we provide some elements of comparison between encryption and tokenization and walk you through how tokenization works.
The Future of Blockchain Advertising
Blockchain has been touted as the next Internet, a technology that will revolutionize the way we live. Kim Parlee talks with Brian Wong, founder of kiip and author of The Cheat Code, as his company launches the first ever blockchain mobile ad campaign with AB InBev, the world’s biggest beer company.
Tokenization of Assets from Race Horses to Whiskey
The Security Token Academy presents an expert interview with Benjamin Tsai, president and managing partner of Wave Financial. The company offers early-stage investment, asset management, and treasury management to further the growth of the digital asset ecosystem. In this interview with Adam Chapnick, Security Token Academy’s director of programming, you’ll learn about tokenization and the tokenization process.
What Makes Cryptocurrency Valuable? Tokenomics Part: 2
In this part we discuss economic decisions you’ll have to make about your token– how frequently it should be used, what will it be used for, and how do you actually distribute it. Then we’ll talk about the different types of value that you can create, and what that means for your project.
What Makes Cryptocurrency Valuable? Tokenomics Part: 1
This guide outlines many of the factors that make up a token’s value. This part introduces how the token is minted, where it’s built, what type of tokens have more value and a brief intro to utility and security tokens.
What is an STO? Security Token Offering
Security Token Offerings (STOs), like ICOs, are fundraising tools. However, they have certain regulations which hold the token issuers accountable for their actions. Unlike the regular utility tokens, STOs generate “security tokens” which are real-time digital assets that operate within legal boundaries.
Benefits Provided by STOs
There are three main advantages:
- Superior liquidity options
- Reduced cost against IPOs
- Segmented ownership
Superior Liquidity Options
Fully licensed exchange platforms will now soon be available for security token trading. This will significantly increase trading confidence because of the added credibility. Since a real-world asset can be represented via security tokens, it will enable investors to liquidate security tokens against any product.
Reduced Costs vs. IPOs
In the non-crypto world, only a handful of companies go public because that transition requires a lot of money in the first place. As such, investors have the option of buying the shares of a very few companies.
However, STOs can be started right away since they are a lot cheaper than public companies. They reduce costs by completely removing the middlemen. Also, having more STOs will allow more people to invest in the shares of more companies.
Segmented Ownership
Security tokens will make high-priced assets a lot more accessible for the common man. Security tokens can easily segment an asset into smaller sub-divisions making it possible for an investor to own a fraction of the asset instead of the complete product.
Conclusion: Security Tokens Explained
STOs may become the preferred mode of crowd-funding in the near future. They are a lot more regulated and secure than ICOs while being a lot cheaper than IPOs. STOs also have the potential of opening up asset-ownership to a wide variety of people.
Utility Tokens vs. Security Tokens
A token represents a security or utility that a company has and they usually give it away to their investors during a public sale called ICO (Initial Coin Offering), in the case of utility tokens, and STO (Security Token Offerings), in the case of security tokens.
While utility and security tokens might seem similar on the surface, there’s actually some pretty complex differences behind them. Are they regulated or unregulated? Who can they be sold to? What is the purpose of the token? All of these questions can decided what is or isn’t a utility token. What about the Howey Test?
In 1946, the Supreme Court handled a monumental case. The case was SEC vs Howey which would lay down the foundation for the, now infamous Howey Test. The case was about establishing a test of whether a particular arrangement involves an investment contract or not.
The SEC and Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) have broken down tokens into two broad categories:
- Utility Tokens
- Security 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.
Token Economies at Home
Building blocks and blockchain: preparing kids for the technology of tomorrow — How one tech-savvy parent brought the lessons of a token economy home Entrepreneur, Professor at Singularity University.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
The Importance and Challenges of Token Economics
In this panel at the Malta A.I. & Blockchain Summit, token economics is discussed. The panelists are: Sebastian Markowsky – GP Bullhound; Godwin Schembri – KnowMeNow; Wei Zhou – Binance; Sarah Olsen – Gemini; moderated by Olga Finkel – WH Partners;
Olsen discusses the importance of a stable coin and the challenge of regulation.
Schembri talks about security tokens.
Markowsky talks about what type of tokenization is attractive to investors and getting the incentives right. He advocates an interlinked multi-token model for the purpose of utility and security/investment.
Zhou talks about the “Binance Effect,” which he describes as contributing to the perception that a token is premium, since Binance only lists 3% of the tokens that apply. He emphasizes the need for clarity in regulation.
This discussion was part of the Tokenomics & Crypto Conference.
Blockchain 10: Token Economies
A new set of web technologies are enabling a more distributed economic model based upon the blockchain and token markets. These token markets greatly reduce our dependency on centralized organizations and expand markets as systems of distributed organization. In this video we explain the workings of the blockchain, tokens, distributed markets and token investments.