In an opinion post for a16z crypto, Latham lawyer Jenny Cieplak calls for a new regulatory approach for tokenized securities.
A significant number of projects over the past several years have “tokenized” so-called real world assets, turning more than $20 billion in everything from debt to diamonds and more into tokens. Tokenization may sound like some kind of mysterious alchemy, but the concept is simple: It means creating a digital representation of some physical thing — a
SEC Commissioner Peirce has proposed a three-year safe harbor for qualifying token projects, but regulatory clarity remains elusive.
By Stephen P. Wink, Carolina Bernal, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has been a perennial advocate of innovation in the financial services and digital asset space. Continuing that tradition, she unveiled a Token Safe Harbor Proposal in a speech at the International Blockchain Congress on February 6, 2020. The proposal would allow for a time-limited exemption for token-based projects that seek to raise capital to develop decentralized networks. The exemption would permit fledgling networks to operate unburdened by the onerous registration provisions of the US federal securities laws.
Provided that certain standards and disclosure requirements were met, the three-year grace period would ostensibly allow token developers to pursue “sufficient” decentralization of their network from the time of first token sale, such that purchasers of the token would no longer reasonably expect that that token value was being driven by a person or group via managerial or entrepreneurial efforts. Sufficient decentralization has become the holy grail of initial coin offerings (ICOs) ever since the SEC’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology released a framework for assessing whether a blockchain-issued token or digital asset constitutes an investment contract (i.e., security) under the Howey test. (See New SEC Token Guidance: This Is Howey Do It and Crypto — The Pursuit of Sufficient Decentralization.)
Latham & Watkins lawyers provide an in-depth look at recent issues impacting the use of token presale agreements.
By Stephen P. Wink, Miles P. Jennings, and Shaun Musuka
Token presale agreements are a popular type of financing instrument among startups in the blockchain space. In this article, originally published by Bloomberg Law, Latham & Watkins lawyers explore the initial impact of SEC v. Kik Interactive Inc. on the use of token presale agreements and discuss an
The SEC issues second no-action letter for a digital token, but will “utility” token offerings reach the next level?
By Stephen P. Wink, Cameron R. Kates, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar
Gamers, rejoice! In only its second no-action letter to date for digital tokens, the SEC cleared the way for Pocketful of Quarters, Inc. (PoQ) to issue “Quarters,” one of two digital tokens issued by PoQ on the Ethereum blockchain.[i] PoQ, which was co-founded by a 12-year-old entrepreneur and his father, sought guidance from the SEC as to whether its offering of the stablecoin would require registration under Section 5 of the Securities Act and Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. PoQ explained that Quarters are intended to be a “universal gaming token” that buyers can use across games deployed on PoQ’s platform. The benefit to gamers, PoQ asserts, is more efficient usage of value across participating online games rather than “siloed video game economies [that] result in large unspent balances of in-game currencies.”
The online document generator helps startups raise capital with customizable market standard terms and optional digital token provisions.
By David L. Concannon, Yvette D. Valdez, Stephen P. Wink, Miles P. Jennings, and Shaun Musuka
In collaboration with ConsenSys and OpenLaw, Latham & Watkins recently launched the Automated Convertible Note Generator, a complimentary tool designed to assist startups with capital raises. The Automated Convertible Note is a potential solution for capital formation that also addresses future token sales in a manner compliant with US securities and commodities regulations.